So You Want to Start A Dog Walking Business?

You could have been given him or her as a gift, or maybe it was a planned event. Soon, your family has expanded to include a loving, playful canine companion. Whether your new pet is a pedigreed dog from a long line of show dogs or a mixed breed, you will have the same result: an adoring, devoted dog ready to warm your lap and give you kisses. Faster than you know, you can't imagine your life without your dog. As you come to look forward to your morning walks outdoors with your dog, enjoying the fresh air and exercise, you wonder why you couldn't spend every day walking dogs. This career path may be possible. Professional dog walking can be a wonderful opportunity to do what you love and get paid for it. If you are a person who loves the outdoors and all breeds of dogs, this will open your eyes to a career that lets you enjoy your love of dogs while earning a living.

What Does a Dog Walker Do?

Professional dog walkers usually have a schedule of dogs that they walk on a daily or weekly basis, depending on the preference of the dog owner. The dog walker will walk the dogs, individually or may walk many dogs at one time. Dog walkers may have a set walking route in which they pick up the dogs on the route. After the walk, the dogs are often brought to a fenced area so the dogs can play with other dogs while not on a leash. This gives the dog some time to run and burn off energy before going back inside the house. While some dogs are fine being at home all day by themselves, other dogs benefit from a afternoon walk and bathroom break. Dog owners that would benefit from hiring a professional dog walking service include owners of puppies, owners of dogs who cannot hold their bladder for an entire workday, or owners of breeds with lots of energy. Even on rainy days, a dog will benefit from someone just visiting them and giving them undivided attention. As you can see, dog walking is an important and needed service. Most jobs will not allow a person to take an extended lunch break to take his or her dog outside, and often a person's commute is over an hour long, which does not allow time to get home and take care of pets before they need to be back at the office. Even people who are at home may experience times where they cannot give their the exercise that they need. Seniors, people who are recovering from surgery, or new parents may find it difficult, if not impossible, to walk their dog every day. There are many benefits that a dog owner will experience when hiring a dog walker. The dog will have had a chance to burn off energy and go to the bathroom, which means the owner of the dog is less likely to get home from work and have a mess to clean up from their dog. They will not have to walk their dog the minute they get home, rather, they will have time to take care of the dinner chores and relax before they have to venture out and walk their dog. To start a dog walking business, there is very few physical items that you will need to have. It doesn't require a building, adapting your home, or paying additional fees. The most important thing to have to start a dog walking business is a love of dogs and a reliable method of transportation. A dog walking business may be right for you if you: • Have the ability to work around client's schedules • Are physically able to walk dogs • Enjoy the outdoors • Have the ability to work nontraditional hours such as weekends and holidays. You can customize a dog walking service to what you want to offer. You could offer private or group dog walking. You could also specialize in a particular size or breed of dog. Before you limit the breeds or sizes of dogs that you will walk, however; you should check to see if there is enough dogs of that type in your area. Dog walking is attractive for many people because it lets them make money while working with adorable dogs, requires minimal training, offers the dog walker a chance to exercise, and can be done part time. Dog walking also offers a flexible schedule so you can work around other commitments.

Numbers Don't Lie - There's Money to Be Made

According to the 2007-2008 National Pet Owners Survey, 44.8 million U.S. house- holds have at least one dog, and there are approximately 74.8 million dogs owned in the U.S. This number is rising, and with that rise in pet ownership comes the increase in the need for dog walking services. The entrepreneur who starts a dog walker business is going to experience unlimited earning potential. There are minimal start-up costs. You can get everything you need to start your business with as little as a few hundred dollars. You can control the amount of clients you want, adding to your client base until your schedule is as full as you need it to be, and you could also add employees to increase your potential earnings. Most important, you can start a dog walker business right now. The best areas for dog walking businesses are cities or well populated areas. If you are considering if you should start a dog walker business but are unsure if you will have enough clients, you could offer additional pet services such as pt sitting, pet massage, or pet transportation. These additional services are described further in this guide.

The Flexibility is The Best Part

Becoming a professional dog walker is a flexible career that can fit your lifestyle. It is a great career choice for parents who want to keep their children out of daycare or be home for them when they get off the school bus. Being a professional dog walker is a dream job for a dog lover who is looking for a career that they can be enjoy each day. A career as a dog walker offers flexibility in the event you need to schedule your work around family commitments. As a professional dog walker, you may have busy times when you are working longer days or may experience a lighter client load on certain days of the week. The benefits of being a dog walker are more than just monetary. Your clients will frequently tell you how they appreciate the work that you do, and you will become trusted by the dogs you walk. You will get the chance to see that you make a difference in your canine client's health, happiness, and quality of life.

We'll Help You Get Started in Your New Business

This dog walker guide will teach you how to take your passion and talent with dogs and turn it into a business. This guide is designed to help you start your dog walker business by providing industry information and how-to tips, information on how to obtain new clients. In this guide, you will find samples of registration forms for your clients, budgeting tips, marketing materials, and checklists that you can customize for your dog walker business. In this dog walker guide you will find information, resources, and advice that can help you save time on research. The time you save can be used to start your dog walker business. You will avoid common mistakes and will make business decisions with confidence. With the inside knowledge this guide provides, you will soon be earning money as a professional dog walker.