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.

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.

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

1
Create a weekly schedule template with coverage rules for peak times
2
Standardize cleaning and safety checklists and track completion
3
Set up a simple inventory reorder point list for critical supplies
4
Document intake requirements including vaccination rules and behavior notes
5
Build a training plan for new hires with a 30 day checklist
6
Track key metrics such as occupancy, repeat customers, incidents, and staff turnover
7
Pursue a recognized animal first aid course and supervisor training