Becoming a Kennel Technician is a rewarding career choice, as it allows you to provide a safe, comfortable, and nurturing environment for animals in need of care. The responsibilities of a Kennel Technician can range from caring for animals to cleaning up after them and monitoring their health. While the job may sound daunting, with some dedication and hard work, you can become a certified Kennel Technician and start your career in this rewarding field.
In this blog post, we’ll explain the steps needed to become a Kennel Technician. We’ll cover the educational requirements, certifications, and other qualifications needed to begin a career in this field. We’ll also discuss some of the skills you’ll need to become successful and the potential salary you can earn. Finally, we’ll provide some helpful tips and advice to make sure you are prepared to start your new career.
What does a kennel technician do?
Kennel technicians can work in a variety of settings, so their daily tasks may change depending on their employers’ needs. Some of their typical job duties include:
What is a kennel technician?
A kennel technician oversees and takes care of the animals housed in kennels. They may work in animal shelters, veterinary offices, and kennels within pet boarding facilities. When employed by veterinary clinics, they collaborate with the doctors and technicians who oversee the care of the animals. Kennel technicians provide a variety of animal care services, such as walking, feeding, and medication administration. While they may also come into contact with other domesticated animals like rodents or birds, working with cats and dogs is the norm in this position. These professionals are sometimes called kennel assistants or attendants.
Necessary skills for kennel technicians
To be successful in this job, kennel technicians must possess both hard and soft skills. Through your relevant education or on-the-job training, you can acquire hard or technical skills. These abilities could be used to deliver medications or treatments or provide grooming services. You could use the following abilities in this position:
Communication
As a kennel technician, you frequently interact with coworkers, superiors, and possibly customers. Strong verbal communication abilities enable you to speak to these people clearly and authoritatively. For instance, you might need to communicate information about an animal’s health and safety. Kennel technicians frequently work under the supervision of others, and listening is a communication skill that they should develop. You can establish trust with your coworkers by being able to pay attention and carry out the instructions given.
Customer service
As previously stated, certain kennel technician positions may call for you to speak with customers or clients. Empathy can be used in conjunction with communication skills to forge enduring connections with the clients you work with. These abilities aid in your comprehension of the company’s clients, enabling you to carry out your duties in a manner that meets or exceeds their expectations. Having good or informed customer interactions can help you win their trust because these people might also depend on you to take care of their pets.
Responsibility
It takes a strong sense of responsibility to look after animals and make sure they have a happy, safe experience. By completing the tasks requested of you in a timely, effective, and accurate manner, you can show that you are responsible. When managers see that you complete tasks like cleaning animal cages without much direction or prodding, they may have more confidence in your abilities. Their trust may lead to career advancement opportunities. This ability also entails taking responsibility for your deeds and acknowledging your errors.
Problem-solving
As a kennel technician, you are responsible for keeping an eye on the welfare of the animals in your charge. Your knowledge of animal care and problem-solving abilities will be useful in helping you come up with solutions when you identify problems. For instance, if you see a dog acting strangely, you can examine them and assess the situation to decide what to do next. You can ask a supervisor or coworker for help if you are unable to create or implement a solution on your own.
Patience
Even though you might enjoy working with animals, it can occasionally be difficult. You may occasionally encounter frustrating or challenging circumstances because animals do not communicate or behave like people. Even in high-stress situations, patience can help you control these annoyances and continue to give compassionate care. Similar to this, being more composed yourself can assist you in providing a calmer environment for anxious or stressed animals.
Attention to detail
Keeping a record of the time that animals spend in kennels and sharing it with clients or supervisors may be necessary for kennel technicians. Attention to detail ensures that they provide accurate work. They also carry out a variety of housekeeping tasks, so this ability may also assist them in recognizing and thoroughly cleaning all essential areas and objects to create a sanitary and secure environment. This neatness can support preserving high standards and a favorable reputation for the company.
How to become a kennel technician
The steps listed below can help you find work as a kennel technician if you’re interested in doing so:
1. Obtain a high school education
Kennel technician jobs typically do not have specific educational requirements. Employers, however, frequently look for applicants with a high school diploma. Although not required, you can take animal sciences courses in high school to broaden your knowledge and comprehension of animals. Kennel technicians occasionally work for veterinarians, so having this knowledge may help you get ready for a career in the veterinary industry. If you are older than 16 and did not complete high school, you may obtain your GED at any time.
2. Gain relevant experience
You can also find opportunities to volunteer at animal shelters. These volunteer positions frequently involve duties similar to those of kennel technicians, such as caring for the animals and maintaining the facilities. You might be given training that gets you ready for full- or part-time kennel technician positions depending on the shelter. Working in shelter environments can help you gauge your interest in becoming a kennel technician because of the similarities.
3. Review additional education options
You may pursue additional education or training to better prepare for kennel technician roles even though employers are not required to. You can look up any associate’s degree or certificate programs in animal care and management at local community colleges or vocational schools. While a certificate program can be completed in a year or less, an associates degree program could take up to two years to complete.
When possible, try to enroll in programs that emphasize domestic animals because those abilities may be more applicable to this career. You can learn specialized knowledge and abilities about caring for and handling animals in these programs. Depending on the program, you might even learn how to treat sick or hurt animals. Some schools have agreements with nearby animal care facilities that let you gain useful, practical experience while still a student.
4. Consider gaining certification
Although they are not necessary, certifications can show potential employers that you possess the knowledge and abilities necessary to work as a kennel technician. Making the extra effort to obtain certifications can also demonstrate your interest in and enthusiasm for the field. To find potentially pertinent certifications, you can look up animal or pet care professional associations. For instance, the Certified Professional Animal Care Provider title is offered by the Professional Animal Care Certification Council. The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters and Pet Sitters International both provide pet-sitter certifications that can show your applicable and transferable pet care skills, despite not being directly related. Depending on the program, you might need to have a specific amount of experience, obtain letters of recommendation, or pass an exam in order to qualify for these certifications.
5. Apply for kennel technician roles
As previously mentioned, having a high school diploma or GED as well as relevant experience are the minimum requirements for kennel technician positions. Even if you lack prior experience, some employers offer on-the-job training to equip you with the specific abilities and knowledge required to carry out the duties of the position. When applying for jobs, be sure to carefully review the job description to determine the qualifications required by the employer.
With the help of your resume and job interviews, you can emphasize the ways in which your abilities, encounters, or interests meet those needs. Including information that is pertinent to the employer will help you show them how you would benefit and contribute to their team. As previously stated, having additional training or certifications can help demonstrate your expertise and enthusiasm for the subject. It can also differentiate you from other candidates.
Frequently asked questions about kennel technicians
If you’re thinking about becoming a kennel technician, you might have some questions. To assist you in evaluating this position, the following frequently asked questions and their responses are provided:
What is the work environment like for kennel technicians?
Kennel technicians can work in kennels at veterinary clinics, boarding houses, or animal shelters, as was previously mentioned. They frequently come into contact with animal waste or foul odors because their job requires them to perform cleaning tasks. The behavior or noise levels of large groups of animals can occasionally make working with them stressful. Additionally, kennel technicians need to be aware of the animals they work with and take precautions against illnesses, bites, and scratches.
Kennel technicians can choose to work full-time, 40 hours per week, or part-time as far as their work schedule is concerned. They might have to work on the weekends, during the week, or on holidays to care for the animals. Candidates for this position may also need to possess physical attributes like strength and stamina because they may be required to stand for long periods of time or move and lift heavy objects.
Are there advancement opportunities for kennel technicians?
Consider a career in veterinary medicine if you enjoy working as a kennel technician. You can better understand a veterinary clinic’s daily operations by taking on this role there, and you can also gain useful experience administering and assisting with treatments.
What is the average salary for kennel technicians?
What is the job outlook for kennel technicians?
Kennel Technician
FAQ
Is being a kennel tech hard?
With so many dogs to feed, clean, and let out before the kennel opened, it might be very stressful. Everyone was divided into groups and hardly ever spoke to one another unless it was to exchange work-related information.
What skills do you need to be a kennel technician?
Cared for dogs, including grooming and administering medication, performed light maintenance, and kept social media up to date. Care and supervision of Boarded Dogs and Puppies Kennel Tech Medication Administration Dog Walking Bathing and Grooming
What is the job of a kennel tech?
A kennel technician oversees and takes care of the animals housed in kennels. They may work in animal shelters, veterinary offices, and kennels within pet boarding facilities. They collaborate with veterinarians and veterinary technicians, who oversee the animals’ medical requirements, when working in veterinary offices.
Is working at a dog kennel hard?
Labor-intensive, but enjoyable. Even though it was challenging to care for so many dogs in one day, I enjoyed my work because I have always been passionate about helping animals. Spraying out food and water bowls and refilling them with clean water and new food were typically the daily routine.
