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It is important to comprehend from the first that dog walking and
pet sitting comprise strenuous work. You have to acquire
substantial knowledge about dogs and other pet animals to be
successful in this field. The profession demands physical stamina
and technical skill. You also must have a sweeping idea of a
broad plethora of knowledge ranging from animal behavior to
giving first aid to pets. Understanding city laws are a plus.
Not a bed of roses
Health insurance is non-existent. There is no paid time off.
Extra money can be earned from taking care of the client's pet on
weekends and holidays. Many clients may ask you to take care of
their pets during week evenings too. It means substantial driving
from one client's place to another and limited parking spots in
downtown areas. Then again, taking care of pets is a business,
and like any other money-making scheme, there are a lot of
similarities to other professions. You will be responsible for
generating invoices, marketing, banking, and advertising. There
are a number of other important tasks which keep the business
running. You should answer the phone and return calls. You must
also reply to important emails and do all the things that must be
done. Do not be discouraged by such bureaucratese. Dog walking
and pet sitting are extremely profitable professions. The
monetary returns are truly spectacular. You may find people from
other professions resigning their jobs and joining your venture.
Finding afoot
By this time, you feel comfortable beginning your own dog-walking
business. It is now important for you to examine yourself as to
whether you have the acumen to make this venture a successful
one. The first factor is, of course, doing a market survey as to
whether there is a market demand for walking dogs in the area you
wish to operate. Do not venture if there is no demand or too much
competition already exists. The easiest way to find out the
quantity of demand is to visit the local pet store and make a few
discreet inquiries. Classified advertisements in newspapers offer
a mine of information in this regard. Go through the lists and
find out the number of people offering the dog walking business.
It is important that you must love the pet you are hired to
pamper or walk. It is also vital that you must have the
experience or skill in keeping control over the dogs. If you were
around only a few dogs before, volunteer at the local dog pound
or animal shelter. It is no harm to take a formal course in
caring for animals. Once you take the course, you will feel much
more confident when walking the pet.
Top Five Tips To Choose A Dog Walker
For people who have full-time jobs or highly energetic dogs, a
dog walker can be a real godsend. A dog walkerโs job is to stop
by your house and take your pup out for a stroll, for anywhere
from 15 minutes to a full hour. This time outside not only gives
your dog a chance to relieve themselves, but it also provides
them with exercise and a break from the boredom that can set in
during hours spent alone.
So to choose a good dog walker?
The first thing to remember is that because professional dog
walking is a fairly new business, there are no regulations in
place. What this means is that anyone can become a dog walker
without any sort of training or certification, and itโs up to you
to find an individual who will keep your pal safe and be worth
your money. Take a look at these tips for how to choose a dog
walker.
#1 Ask Around
When beginning to choose a dog walker, start with the people you
know. Ask your dog-owning friends and neighbors if they use a dog
walker, and if so what they like or donโt like about them. Who
knows -- you may just end up with a phone number for the perfect
canine companion.
#2 Search the Web
The internet can be a great place to search for a dog walker (or
dog walking company) in your area, and sites like Yelp make it
easy to read reviews from real customers. Pay close attention to
any negative reviews, but give the positive reviews a glance too.
This can be a good way to get an overall picture of the dog
walker and their practices.
RELATED STORY: How to Teach Your Dog to Heel
#3 Decide What Is Important to You
Some dog walkers are also obedience trainers. Some dog walkers
take your dog to new locations every time, while others always
stick to the same stroll around the block. Some dog walkers offer
weekly or monthly report cards on your dogโs behavior and
activities. Some dog walkers will take pictures of your dog and
send them to you. Decide what is important to you, and go from
there.
#4 Ask Questions!
Once youโve zeroed in on a dog walker, itโs time to ask lots of
questions. Here are some that you should be sure to
ask:- What will you do with my
dog when youโre with them? (Walk? Play? Feed
them?)- Where will you take my
dog? (Just the neighborhood? Outside of the
neighborhood?)- How much time
will my dog spend actually walking? (Excluding any
car time).- How many dogs do
you walk at once? (Fewer dogs mean that your dog will
get more attention and the risk of conflict or injury will be
less than with a large group).- What sort of punishments or rewards do
you use? (If you use positive reinforcement training,
for example, youโll want to find a dog walker who does the
same).- How do you handle emergencies? (Such as
injuries and natural disasters). - Do
you have any professional training or certification, such as
obedience training or pet first aid?- Are you licensed, bonded, and
insured? (Professional dog walkers
should have a business license, carry insurance, and all
employees should be bonded). - What
are your rates?- Do you
have references, and may I contact them?
RELATED STORY: Which Type of Dog Behaviorist or Trainer Do You
Need?
#5 Trust Your Instincts (and your dogโs, too!)
You can often get a good feel for a person just by meeting with
them, and if a little voice inside of your head is saying that
something is not quite right, itโs a good idea to listen in order
to choose a dog walker. Dogs can also be great judges of
character, and seeing how your dog and a potential walker
interact can be a good way to make the final decision. Do you
like the way they are interacting with your dog? Does your dog
seem comfortable? You may even want to pay the dog walker to take
your pal for a stroll around the block and walk behind them to
see how things go.
Do you use a dog walker? What or what donโt you like about
them? Leave a comment and let us know, and consider signing up
for PetPlus, a benefit
program for pet owners that provides member-only access to
medications at wholesale prices, plus discounts on food,
supplies, vet visits, boarding, and more.
