So You Want To Be...A Dog Walker

By Jamie Damato Migdal, CEO & Pet Industry Entrepreneur

We know a lot of pet industry entrepreneurs who got their start in the biz as a dog walker, either as a side job or student employment. Although in most cases you don’t have to have previous experience as a dog walker to get a job as a dog walker, you do need to be able to handle a variety of responsibilities and “non-negotiable” job requirements, such as:

• Be consistently available during one or more time slots every day (e.g., 11am – 2pm or 4pm – 7pm), and have good time-management skills.

• Be willing to commit to a certain period of time in the job, sometimes as long as a year.

• Be willing and able to take on a variety of assignments, from yappy Chihuahuas to stoic Great Danes.

• Be prepared to go out in all types of weather, and be able to get around on foot, by car, by bicycle, or by public transportation.

• Be willing and able to administer medicine, put on dog booties or coats, and put out food and water as necessary.

• Be able to respect client confidentiality and privacy expectations, and be comfortable running into clients if they are at home; discretion is the name of the game.

• Be able to use your smartphone to check in with the head office and inform clients when dogs have been walked, and be willing to take pictures and post on social media, as appropriate. Many companies also require a smartphone for GPS/time tracking purposes.

• Be willing to develop and practice solid dog handling skills, and be able to exercise good judgment during walks. No one is expecting you to be a Grand Master of Dog Walking when you first start out, but you should know how to handle a variety of dogs on leash.

Compensation: you can expect to get paid around $6-8/walk. The trend in the dog walking industry is towards employees vs. 1099 contractors.

Equipment: a sturdy leash, treats, poop bags, a good pair of walking shoes, and some sort of all-weather coat. Some companies may request that you wear a company logo shirt.

Pros: lots of fresh air and exercise (no desks!) and the acquisition of an impressive array of dog handling skills. You will also get to meet like-minded people (staff and other dog walkers), and owners will absolutely love you because you are allowing them to own a dog and work without feeling guilty.

Cons: holiday and evening hours, no health or vacation benefits, and being outside in all types of weather.

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If you are interested in becoming a dog walker, or growing an existing dog walking business, join CanineLink for the Dog*Tec Dog Walking Academy in January 2014! This weekend seminar, taught by our dog walking experts Alison Downs Spanner and Sarah Rothke,will be held at the CanineLink offices on Friday, January 24th through Sunday, January 26th.

Also, stay tuned for more news from FetchFind, the professional certification and career networking site for the pet industry.