Kennel Manager

Career Guide

A Kennel Manager runs the daily operations of an animal care facility such as a boarding kennel, daycare, grooming and boarding center, rescue, or veterinary boarding unit. The role blends animal welfare, staff leadership, customer service, scheduling, and safety to ensure consistent, high-quality care.

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Key Responsibilities

Oversee daily animal care routines including feeding, cleaning, exercise, and enrichment
Ensure safe handling practices and reduce stress for animals in care
Manage staff schedules, task assignments, and shift coverage
Train team members on handling, sanitation, and customer service standards
Maintain facility cleanliness, odor control, and infection prevention routines
Monitor animal health observations and escalate concerns to veterinary partners when needed
Coordinate intake and release processes including documentation and owner instructions
Handle customer questions, complaints, and service recovery
Order and manage supplies such as food, cleaning products, and bedding
Maintain records for vaccinations, medications, incidents, and capacity planning
Support pricing, promotions, and occupancy targets where applicable
Ensure compliance with local animal welfare rules and workplace safety expectations

Top Skills for Success

Animal Handling

Animal Behavior Awareness

Sanitation Standards

Infection Prevention

Team Leadership

Staff Training

Scheduling

Customer Service

Conflict Resolution

Safety Management

Inventory Management

Basic First Aid

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Senior Kennel Manager

Operations Manager

Facility Manager

Veterinary Practice Manager

Animal Shelter Manager

Transition Opportunities

Dog Trainer

Grooming Manager

Client Services Manager

Animal Welfare Program Coordinator

Small Business Owner

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

People ManagementBudgetingIncident ReportingCustomer Complaint HandlingProcess ImprovementMedication Administration

Development SuggestionsBuild a simple operations playbook for daily routines, cleaning checklists, and intake procedures. Ask to shadow the person responsible for ordering and budgeting. Practice writing clear incident reports and role-play common customer issues with your team. If your facility allows, complete training in safe medication administration and basic first aid.

Market Intelligence Report

Kennel Manager is part of the Pet Care category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

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Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry LevelUSD 30,000 to 38,000

Mid LevelUSD 38,000 to 50,000

Senior LevelUSD 50,000 to 65,000

Growth Trend

Stable to moderately growing demand, supported by steady pet ownership and increased use of boarding and daycare services. Hiring levels vary by region, season, and local competition.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

Pet boarding and daycare centersVeterinary hospitals with boarding servicesAnimal shelters and rescuesGrooming and boarding facilitiesPet resorts and luxury boarding facilitiesMunicipal animal services

Industry Sectors

Pet Care ServicesVeterinary ServicesAnimal WelfareLocal Government

Recommended Next Steps

Create a weekly schedule template with coverage rules for peak times

Standardize cleaning and safety checklists and track completion

Set up a simple inventory reorder point list for critical supplies

Document intake requirements including vaccination rules and behavior notes

Build a training plan for new hires with a 30 day checklist

Track key metrics such as occupancy, repeat customers, incidents, and staff turnover

Pursue a recognized animal first aid course and supervisor training