How to Become a Professional Dog Walker

There are many interesting ways to make money. If you are someone who likes animals, you may consider spending your spare time in becoming a "professional" dog walker. The following article provides you with ways of how to begin.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• An interest in all breeds of dogs; you must be in good shape as you will be walking a considerable distance.

1. The first thing you will want to be aware is what precisely is expected out of a professional dog walker. The following will give you a general idea of the process.
   
   It will be your job to provide daily walks for the "pooches" of busy professionals or individuals whose schedules are extremely demanding.
   
   Here is what one professional dog walker in California related to me about the process:
   
   "Each day, I pick up at least a half-dozen to nearly a dozen dogs, loading them all into my van and taking them to a nearby beach."
   
   "I must get in at least twelve miles of walking or more daily."
   
   "I began this profession when I was out of work. One day, I was taking my own dog for a walk along with my neighbor's dog. Someone asked me what I did for a living and I came up with: I walk dogs. They then asked me if I'd be interested in also walking their dog and also inquired how much I charged. I 'threw out' $10.00 and through word-of-mouth, the whole enterpirse just seemed to 'blossom' from that point forward."
2. Of course, you may not meet up with such precise, good fortune as our example dog walker; however, there are still a number of ways you may market your services:
   
   The first suggestion is to make up flyers and ask if you may display or leave them off at the following locations:
   
   * Pet Stores
   * Vet offices
   * Public Bulletin Boards
   * Distribute flyers in neighborhoods - just don't leave any off where 'no soliciting' signs are posted. Also, make sure you leave the flyers at the resident's door and not inside or near their mailbox.
   * Since you will need a van or similar type vehicle to carry the dogs, have a sign made up by a professional sign company advertising your services and place a sign on each side of your vehicle.
3. Here is another suggestion for those without cars: You may try just walking dogs in your general area, organizing yourself so that you take different dogs for walks on different time schedules.
   
   In example, you take two dogs for walks between 10:00 a.m. andd 11:00 a.m. and another set of dogs between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.
   
   With the high cost of gas, this may be a great way to earn a little extra spending money without incurring the traditional associated costs.
4. In conclusion, you will need a van if you decide to make this a widespread, full-time business; otherwise, you might try taking it on, on a smaller scale as mentioned in the preceding step.
   
   You will also need to be in fairly good shape and have patience.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes; however, don't dress shoddy. You are still a business person even though you are walking dogs.