How to Become a Professional Dog Walker
Work as a professional dog walker is a good occupation for anyone who is physically able to walk, has a love for dogs, and has free time available along with a desire to make money. Pet owners commonly work long hours and are not able to give their dogs enough exercise. Having someone trustworthy come to their home daily and take their dogs out for their walks is helpful. This makes dog walking ideal for anyone who is free during the business day. Start out small and you can expand as the business grows.
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Instructions
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Calculate how many hours each day you are able to walk dogs. Dog walkers usually offer a variety of services, including "potty" breaks of 15 minutes, short walks of 30 minutes and full one-hour walks. Research dog walkers in your area and find out what they offer and what their fees are; this will help you to decide what to charge and calculate how much you can make.
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Take a course. A basic course in dog training, animal care or first aid will help you to understand dogs and will improve your credentials for prospective clients. Find courses that are available online or through local dog clubs and training facilities.
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Practice walking a dog belonging to a friend or business acquaintance. This will ensure that you understand fully what the work entails, including scooping the feces, and that you are physically fit enough to walk the distances. You will also need references; ask your first client to provide these for you to start with.
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Investigate whether your city or state has specific requirements for dog walkers. Some cities require a dog walker to have a business license, while others have bonding and insurance criteria. You are more likely to attract reliable clients if you can prove that your business is legit.
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Find out whether there is a dog walkers association in your region that you can join. For example, in San Francisco, California, dog walkers may join the San Francisco Professional Dog Walkers Association, which provides useful information for clients and dog walkers alike. The association also offers a list of dog walkers for clients to find a reliable service.
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Advertise your business. Build a website showing the services that you offer and the rates you charge, as well as the areas that you operate in, your credentials and your references. Print some business cards and flyers that give your website address, and approach local pet stores, veterinarians and other small businesses to leave your marketing materials on their counter.
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Familiarize yourself with your area. You will need to know where the dog parks are, what areas are safe places to walk dogs in a group, and any time restrictions on off-leash walking.
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Begin taking on clients. Have a plan for rainy days, such as taking the dogs to a local indoor stadium or parking garage for their exercise.
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