How To Start A Dog Walking Business



If you love dogs and are a good people person, then a dog walking business might be for you. Another service that many dog walkers offer is pet sitting, since the two services are very similar. The industry of dog walking and pet sitting is fairly new, and some estimates say that only 3 percent of all households nationwide pay for pet sitting or dog walking services. The good news is, this number is steadily increasing.

dog walking business

The idea of a dog walking business is very simple. Basically, you get hired to walk dogs for people who either don't have the time to do it themselves, or that aren't physically able to go out and walk their own dog each day. It sounds easy, but there a few other things to keep in mind.

If you don't have any experience being around dogs, then you'll need to get some. Luckily, most people have been around dogs their whole life and are comfortable with them, and if you're reading this, then you probably already have a lot of experience with dogs.

Another basic qualification is that you need to be in good enough shape to walk several miles per day. That might sound pretty easy too, but walking while controlling one or even several dogs is very different than just walking by yourself. But, you get used to it very quickly, as it's not extremely physically demanding.

The most important qualification is that you're a good people person. If you can't relate well with other people and get them to like you, then it doesn't matter how good you are with the dogs. People only hire and pay other people that they like, especially when it comes to someone that will be walking their dog everyday while they're not around. You need to be trustworthy and likable to have a successful career as a dog walker.

It's important to realize that many dog owners think of their dog as a member of the family, and sometimes even as their own child. Whether you think that's weird or not, it doesn't matter. If you don't treat their dog with respect and great care, then you won't be their dog walker for very long. Clients want to see that you take as good of care of their dog as you would your own, or even better. They need to completely trust you when you take their dog on a walk.

There are other formalities that come with starting any business, but the main thing to keep in mind when starting a dog walking business is that you need to be good with dogs, good with people, and you need to be completely trustworthy. If your clients don't like you and completely trust you, than you won't be in business very long.

how to start a dog walking business