If
you love taking care of animals then Dog Walking might be an ideal opportunity
for you. Many people need Dog Walkers for a variety of reasons. We've
devised this article for you to help you on your quest to becoming a
professional dog walker.
Dog Walker
Dog
Walking is becoming increasingly popular in today's busy society, with
more and more people seeking out the services of reliable, honest and
caring dog walkers to exercise their pet. As dog walker you will required
to collect your clients pet from their home and walk them for an agreed
time, usually an hour. This
might be whilst your client is at work or because they are unable to
walk their dog due to a busy schedule or illness.
Who will my clients be?
Your
clients may be people
who are out at work all day and don't have enough time to walk their
dog. Or they may be elderly people, or those who are unwell or infirm
and therefore unable to take their dog for the long walk that he/she
requires. Your clients may also be dog owners with hectic schedules
who are unable to fit this daily routine into their rota.
What skills are required?
You
do need to be reasonable fit to be able carry out this type of work
as you will be walking quite a few miles per day. Other basic requirements
include comfortable walking shoes, a readiness to work outdoors in all
types of weather and a genuine love of animals.
How much can I earn?
Pay ranges from £50.00 - £400.00 per week depending on the
services you provide and how many hours you work. Typically a dog walker
will charge between £7 - £15.00 per hour, per pet for their
services. If you are used to handling dogs then you can take more than
one dog on each run, which will double, triple and quadruple your income.
Do I need transportation?
If you are walking several dogs then the simple answer
is 'yes'. You will need a car, preferably an estate to collect your
dogs and then drop them off to their homes. If you don't have transport
then choose clients that live close by so that you can do your rounds
on foot.
Dog Walking Insurance
Although
Dog Walking doesn't require any special skills, there are some laws
and regulations that you need to abide by. Primarily, you must remember
that whilst the dog is in your care, you are responsible for it (and
its actions), thus if it causes any damage whilst you are out walking
the dog then you will be liable, not the owner. So, if you decide to
become a dog walker then do take out some insurance, such as Public
Liability Insurance,
to safeguard you against any legal claims. Compare
public liability insurance here.
Can you handle it?
Only
take on dog walking if you are confident that you can handle all types
of dogs. And don't walk more than one dog at a time if you don't feel
confident enough. The last thing you want to do is lose your client's
pet! The general maximum recommendation is no more than 6 dogs at a
time for any dog walker.
Get some FREE Business Cards printed
A
cost effective way to advertise your pet or dog walking services is
by having leaflets/cards printed for local distribution. Placing an
ad in your local pet shop, vet surgery, newsagents and supermarkets
will help generate interest and clients. We
highly recommend VistaPrint
for a great range of marketing products. They
offer FREE business cards (you only pay approx £3.00 for postage
and package) as well as notecards, postcards, flyers and posters. They
constantly have special deals and deliver a quick and efficient service.
Clean up after your pooch!
You
will also be required to clean up after the dog you are walking, this
is law enforced by The
Environmental Protection Act (1990) Dog Fouling AND The Clean Neighbourhoods
and Environment Act 2005. So
do make sure that you have a poop scoop and/or sufficient biodegradable
poop scoop bags to clean up the waste and dispose of it responsibly
or you could face a fine of up to £1,000.00.
Some other Law Enforced Rules for Dog
Walkers
Please familiarise yourself with the
following legislations, which apply to dog walkers. You can find out
more about each rule by doing an online search.
The Control of Dogs Order 1992
The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
The Road Traffic Act 1988
Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953
Dogs Act 1871
The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment
Act 2005
Join a Dog Walking Agency
We
are in the midst of researching recommendedDog Walking agencies for
you to join so do bookmark this page and come back for updates. Meanwhile,
you could advertise your dog walking services on free online classifieds
such as Vivastreet
or UK
Classifieds.
Another good source of advertising is Preloved.
They offer for Business Users a free two month trial and a flat fee
of £20.00 per month thereafter (correct at time of publication).
If you cancel your membership before the two month period is up you
will owe nothing. This is a good way to see if this classified works
for you.
Do you want a FREE website to promote your
Dog-Walking or Pet-sitting business?
Moonfruit
will give you:
- 20MB Storage Space
- 1GB Monthly Bandwidth
- up to 15 Pages
- Over 4000 Templates to choose from
- Free Hosting
- Advert Free
- Picture gallery and more
All for FREE. Find
out more...
Get yourself a Dog Walking Franchise
If you're keen on setting up your own dog walking
agency and are business minded then you might want to consider a dog
walking franchise. The advantage of a franchise over going it alone
is that your franchiser will provide you with the setup and backing
to help make your dog walking agency a success. If you are interesting
in buying a franchise then you might find our franchise
article useful.
Income Tax
Don't forget to register as self-employed when you
start your pet-sitting or dog walking business. You can read our page
on Income Tax and registering as self-employed here.
SUMMARY....
This is an ideal job for anyone who enjoys working
with animals, and it's worth remembering that once you become established
as trustworthy and reliable people will recommend you to family, friends
and acquaintances, which will give you a constant flow of work.
Advantages:
Making new canine friends
Working outdoors
Getting plenty of exercise
Good hourly rates
Meet new people
