How to Start a Dog Walking/Pet Sitting Service

Hiring pet sitters has become increasingly popular and is a trend that continues to grow. Many pet owners work long hours and feel more comfortable having someone check on their pet and give them needed exercise. Pets left alone for long periods often get bored which can lead to destructive behavior. Then there are pet owners who go on vacation and feel more comfortable leaving their pets in their own surroundings rather than boarding them. All of these scenarios may require a professional pet sitter.

Pet sitting/dog walking can be a lucrative business--however--there is more to it than just loving animals and showing up. Here are some important steps for starting your business.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• A love of animals
• Reliable transportation
• Comfortable shoes and clothing
• Spare house keys
• Plastic bags for poop cleanup
• Internet access

1. Check online to see what pet sitters work in your area and in surrounding areas. It helps to know your competition and should give you a good idea where the demand is.
2. Be familiar with the basics of dog and cat care, such as walking dogs and changing litter boxes. A course in pet CPR & First Aid would be very helpful.
3. Become licensed, bonded and insured (professional pet sitting organizations offer these services). Check online to see your options. However, you might want to start out on a small scale working with people you know before spending money on these services.
4. Join a professional pet sitting organization such as Pet Sitters International (PSI). They keep you informed of the latest trends and developments in professional pet care and offer helpful advice. You will also have the opportunity to network with other pet sitters. Pet owners may feel more confident knowing you belong to one of these organizations.
5. Leave your business card at local veterinarians and pet supply stores. Also high traffic places such as markets, car washes, spas, restaurants and large companies.
6. List your business in an online directory or local pet publication. Many cities have local pet magazines that charge for advertising but are free to the public and have a wide readership. It's often the first place people look for a pet sitter.
7. Create a website for your business including your bio and animal care experience, services, rates and the areas you serve.
8. Offer incentives such as discounts for handicapped people, multi-pet households, first-time visits and referrals. Providing services such as watering plants and bringing in mail at no additional charge is a plus. Also offer a free consultation to meet with the "clients" and their humans.
9. Draw up a contract that includes the pet(s) you will care for, the days, dates or periods of time you will provide services, the types of services you will provide, the rates you will charge and anything else you consider to be important. Get the owner's signature in addition to signing the contract yourself and be sure to give them a copy.
10. Get a vehicle with enough room to amply accomodate a few of your "clients." There may be situations that arise such as: overlapping jobs, a last-minute call to pick up a pet while you still have others or an emergency arises and you have to transport an animal to the vet.

Tips & Warnings

• Many pet owners appreciate it if you leave a daily diary sheet describing your visit (e.g. if the dog or cat was happy to see you, if they ate their food, if you played with them, if they tried to bite or scratch).
• If you have more than one dog to walk at the same time, get the owners' permission to take them to the off-leash dog park--but remember to observe the three-dog limit; it's hard to keep an eye on too many dogs at once.
• If you don’t have a lot of daily clients you can make up for it with overnight stays.
• Don’t be discouraged right off the bat. It takes time to build your clientele. You’ll most likely get the bulk of your initial calls during holidays such as Christmas, Thanksgiving and Labor Day and establish regular clients from there.
• When you start to get more calls than you can take on, instead of turning down business, consider hiring additional help.
• In addition to cats and dogs, keep in mind you may be asked to care for other pets such as fish, birds, rabbits and guinea pigs. Never accept a job you don't feel comfortable with.
• If you’re not in good enough shape physically, don’t take on dog walking. It’s not fair to the dog (or the human who's paying you).