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