INTERVIEWS - Kennel Technician - Spring, Texas

B&W Kennel Tech Interview Guide
Barks & Wildlife Retreat · Spring, TX

Kennel Technician Interview Guide

Questions · Scoring rubric · Green & red flags · Facility introduction  |  Sat & Sun, 6:30 AM – 7 PM
Round 1 — Heart & physical readiness (first 10 min)
Rate each candidate 1–5 per trait. Totals update automatically.
Weekend shift context: This is a Sat & Sun, 6:30 AM – 7 PM role. Score schedule fit and physical readiness with extra weight — these are the top two reasons new kennel techs leave within 90 days. Culture fit is weighted equally high at B&W, where daily owner communication and the 1 PM activity block are part of the job.
Candidate scoring matrix — 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent) · 11 traits · max 55
Candidate name
TraitC1C2C3C4C5
Total (max 55)—————
What each trait means for this role
Signals that tell you to move fast — or walk away
Hire them if you see this
Walk away if you see this
The tiebreaker — when two candidates score the same
"If one of these dogs got sick on a Sunday afternoon and no one was watching — which of these two candidates would notice, would care, and would do the right thing without being told?"
That's your hire. A kennel tech's most important moments happen when no one is looking.
After the interview — walking them through the facility
The tour serves a dual purpose for this role

Unlike the receptionist walkthrough, this tour will tell you something the interview can't: how they actually respond when surrounded by dogs. Watch their body when a dog jumps on them. Watch their eyes when they see the cleaning areas. Their instincts show up in their feet and face, not their words.

Send them these before day one
Pre-first-day checklist