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A career as a Kennel Attendant can be a lot of fun but it’s also hard work. You’ll look after pet dogs staying in a boarding kennel while their owners are away. You’ll usually have quite a few dogs in the kennel at any one time and you’ll have to make sure they are fed with nutritionally sound meals and given plenty of fresh water. You’ll also have to keep the facility clean, including their bedding and enclosures. Kennel Attendants make sure dogs have plenty of exercise during their day and give each dog some individual attention. A Kennel Attendant also liaises with dog owners during check in and check out times.
Kennel Attendants will need to be energetic and have plenty of patience. You’ll be dealing with all breeds of dogs and you’ll need to be confident in all aspects of their care. It’s quite a physical job and you’ll often work long days and some weekends. It also involves people skills so you’ll need to be good at teamwork and communication.
There are 2 courses available for people who want to become a Kennel Attendant.
Possible job outcomes:
Get started as an animal carer with the ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care. This nationally recognised training course qualifies you for support roles at animal shelters, kennels, pet shops, and wildlife centres. The course covers: feeding and watering animals, cleaning pens and enclosures, assisting with animal health care, communicating with co-workers, keeping safe at work, assisting with animal enrichment and welfare, providing animal first aid, basic grooming, and much more. Enquire now for the full list of study units, animal care career outcomes, and upcoming enrolment dates..
Average duration: 6 months.
Get a job at a pet shop, rescue shelter, or grooming organisation with the ACM30122 Certificate III in Animal Care Services. This nationally recognised qualification allows you to choose specialist electives in animal care and welfare, pet grooming, or customer service. Career competencies include: understanding animal behaviour, interacting safely with animals, providing basic animal first aid, communicating with clients and your work team, staying safe at work, ensuring the health and wellbeing of animals in care. Enquire now for the list of study units, animal care career outcomes, and upcoming enrolment opportunities in your region..
In Australia, a full time Kennel Attendant generally earns $960 per week ($49,920 annual salary) before tax. This is a median figure for full-time employees and should be considered a guide only. As you gain more experience you can expect a potentially higher salary than people who are new to the industry.
The number of people working as a Kennel Attendant is expected to increase over the next five years. There are currently 16,500 animal attendants in Australia and a small percentage of these workers are employed as Kennel Attendants. Kennel Attendants can be found in all areas of Australia.
Source: The Labour Market Information Portal – 2019 Occupation Projections
If you’re interested in a career as a Kennel Attendant you could start by enrolling in a Certificate II or III in Animal Studies. This is a great course if you’re working with animals and it covers animal nutrition, health care and grooming. You could also consider a Certificate III in Companion Animal Services.
We’ll find nearby campuses and check if you’re eligible for funding in your state.
Here are some potential career pathways within animal care. Click on an occupation to learn more about the role and the qualifications that can help you get started in this industry.
Animal Care
Animal Attendant
$960 weekly pay
Cattery Attendant
Kennel Attendant
Kennel Hand
Pet Groomer
Animal Technician
$1,150 weekly pay
Ecologist
$1,540 weekly pay
Wildlife Carer
Wildlife Conservator
$1,250 weekly pay
Zoo Keeper
$1,300 weekly pay
Zoologist
$1,440 weekly pay
Learn more about Kennel Attendant courses in your area.