How To Land Dog Walking Jobs

Written by Kolby Shepherd Sunday, 14 August 2011 09:48

Getting started in dog walking jobs is great idea to earn additional income or even start a new business for dog lovers. There's no formal training or certification required to do this kind of job, but experience in handling dogs is definitely an advantage.

Getting started in dog walking jobs is great idea to earn additional income or even start a new business for dog lovers. There's no formal training or certification required to do this kind of job, but experience in handling dogs is definitely an advantage.

Whether you just want to be a casual dog walker or start your own dog walking business, there are really only two things you need to do. The first is be a genuine dog lover. If you love dogs, then dog walking will be a great fit. The second thing is to be a people person. Both of these things are important in order to be a successful dog walker because you will have to interact with not only the dog, but the dog's owner. If you aren't a people person, then you'll have a hard time finding clients.

There are a couple of things you need to consider when you're deciding on taking on dog walking jobs and this include the following:

Rate. This is among your clients' primary concerns. How much will you charge for walking their dogs? Note that most people want their dogs to be walked for thirty minutes a day, so you need to have a clear answer as to how much you will charge for thirty minutes to an hour. Decide if you will give discounts or not for families who want you to walk more than just one dog. What matters about rate is that it is reasonable and should be based on your experience, the average rate in the area and the proximity of your client's location.

Another thing to consider is what other types of services you'll offer. Some dog walkers offer clean up services or basic obedience training in order to land more clients and differentiate themselves from other dog walkers. These types of services can get you higher-end clients that are willing to pay more for premium services.

Your schedule is another important aspect that you need to plan before you start setting up agreements with clients. If you're willing to work six days a week, then you'll get a lot of clients because some customers will want to do errands on Saturdays while you walk their dog. In the end, it will be up to you to decide what days you're willing to work.

Another thing you'll have to decide is if there are any types of dogs that you won't work with. If you don't want to walk small dogs such as Yorkshire Terriers, then you should make that clear on your brochures or website. Again, everything is up to you, so decide beforehand what your willing and not willing to as a dog walker, so that you can make decisions easier later.

Working as a dog walker can be very rewarding whether you are working for a company or running your own business. Dogs are fun to be around, and if you provide a great service and show the dog's owner how good you are at it, they will continue to work with your for a long time.