I'm a dog walker - AMA!

[vanillandhoney]

That's it, really!

I left a career in retail and set up my own dog walking business before lockdown

@DevonshireDarling

This is something I've wanted to do for ages as I love walking miles every day, love dogs and recently lost our 14 year-old dog (beagle!!) This is giving me hope I may be able to do it.

How did you decide which dogs to walk together? And when you want time off do you have to tell your clients in advance? What do you think about other dog walkers do you keep in contact and help each other out (eg recommend one if you're full) I'm just wondering about contacting someone I know who's a dog walker for advice but don't want her thinking I'm trying to steal clients 🙈

I'm so sorry about your beagle! My own dog is a beagle and he's nearly three - I'm dreading the day we lose him

So, I walk all dogs solo at first to see what they're like on the lead, with other dogs etc. Then I try them with my dog as he's generally very easy going and gets on with all the dogs I walk. If they get on, I'll introduce them to one other dog (without my dog there) and see how it goes. Then I try them as a trio - it's not failed yet! If a dog is very excitable or reactive to other dogs then I'll walk them as a pair or solo instead.

I'm closing over Christmas and let my clients know in September. They're all really supportive of it which is good.

I'm in touch with another walker in our area and we cover for each other if we just want a weekend or an odd day off where possible. I'm pretty fully booked now (outside of lockdown) though so it's not always possible. But my clients are really understanding if I need a day off for whatever reason :)

It's a fantastic job and I love it - today was slightly testing as it was 6 degrees and pissed it down all day but the dogs mostly loved it and getting home to a hot shower and a coffee was bliss

Do you ever not take your own dog on a walk because you're sick of dog walking?

@BorderlineBob

Do you ever not take your own dog on a walk because you're sick of dog walking?

During the week I take him to work, but DH covers the weekends so I get my time off

Around here there is an absolute saturation of dog walkers. It's an affluent area and it has totally diluted the reputation of the good ones.

I've used a few and honestly I would try not to again.

We have loads of people that buy cockapoos/pugs and work full time. The dog behaviour becomes a problem as they're not adequately socialised and the good dog walkers are full.

I don't know what the answer is, but I feel sorry for the good ones!

@cheesecrack

Around here there is an absolute saturation of dog walkers. It's an affluent area and it has totally diluted the reputation of the good ones.

I've used a few and honestly I would try not to again.

We have loads of people that buy cockapoos/pugs and work full time. The dog behaviour becomes a problem as they're not adequately socialised and the good dog walkers are full.

I don't know what the answer is, but I feel sorry for the good ones!

Luckily there are only three of us here and we all know each other and help each other out (or warn each other!).

It is difficult though and I think with COVID a lot of people have set up thinking it's an easy way to make money - I suspect a lot will fall through over winter once they realise they have to go out for hours in the pissing down rain

A lot of my customers have come from personal recommendations which is really good but it also means I've filled up quickly so I'm having to turn people away.

Another from me, do you do any daycare? My dog goes for half days (he's only 11 months) and I often wonder how my guy manages to monitor all the dogs playing together at his home to make sure any little situations don't escalate.

He's been going for a few months and there has never been any issue so he must be doing something right! My puppy has met dozens of new friends and is a great little mixer. A bit enthusiastic about greetings and forgets his manners, but he tries hard and copes well when older dogs tell him off. I give my dog walker/carer some of the credit for that, and I'm so grateful for how calm and measured he always is with my exuberant pup and how much time he puts in (the dog can be a bit weird about his harness).

@CarinaMarina

Another from me, do you do any daycare? My dog goes for half days (he's only 11 months) and I often wonder how my guy manages to monitor all the dogs playing together at his home to make sure any little situations don't escalate.

He's been going for a few months and there has never been any issue so he must be doing something right! My puppy has met dozens of new friends and is a great little mixer. A bit enthusiastic about greetings and forgets his manners, but he tries hard and copes well when older dogs tell him off. I give my dog walker/carer some of the credit for that, and I'm so grateful for how calm and measured he always is with my exuberant pup and how much time he puts in (the dog can be a bit weird about his harness).

No, I don't offer daycare.

I have three cats and it wouldn't be fair on them to inflict a random stream of dogs into their lives

Plus you need to be licensed and the cost of it is pretty expensive considering I can earn more from walking than daycare in the home.

I do offer sitting in people's homes though - you don't need a license for that! Generally I only do it for my regulars.

Have you ever lost a dog?
Would you let the owner know if their dog ran off and went missing for a while before being located?

@WildWaterSwimmer

Have you ever lost a dog? Would you let the owner know if their dog ran off and went missing for a while before being located?

Yes, once.

A nervous rescue slipped her collar and bolted. I informed the owners right away and we found her about 90 minutes later!

My heart was in my mouth and I felt so sick but it was just one of those things. The owners still use me regularly and don't blame me for a minute!

She now wears a very very secure collar and stays on her lead!

Are there any types you refuse to walk? And how do you get them all to come back to you?!

@shrunkenhead

Are there any types you refuse to walk? And how do you get them all to come back to you?!

I don't refuse dogs based on breed or anything but when I meet dogs and owners I take the dog for a short walk, and I wouldn't take a big dog that pulled - just for safety reasons more than anything.

I don't mind taking reactive dogs or anything as long as the owner is upfront and the dog is muzzled while out on walks. I'd never walk a reactive dog in a group.

As for recall I don't let them off right away and I'd only do it with the owners permission. I use long lines at first so they can still have some freedom - then I either use chicken, cocktail sausages or cheese!

How much do you spend on chicken, cocktail sausages and cheese every week?

@bearlyactive

How much do you spend on chicken, cocktail sausages and cheese every week?

I probably spend about £10 week on treats! Anything left over will be eaten by my own greedy guts beagle

are there dogs you walk where the owner is say out of the house all day at work for a couple of days a week and if so are some breeds happier being left than others?

@essexmum777

are there dogs you walk where the owner is say out of the house all day at work for a couple of days a week and if so are some breeds happier being left than others?

There are! I think whether they're happy being left or not depends on a lot of things - not just breed, but the ones that seem happiest being left all have companions in the house (either canine or feline) and aren't just left totally by themselves.

I only have two dogs that are left totally alone - one is a rescue terrier who's only left for six hours twice a week (and I come in for an hour mid-way through that), and the other is a young spaniel puppy who's left four hours and again, I pop in halfway through for a toilet break, short walk and a cuddle!

The other breeds I have that are left all day vary from terrier mixes, to collies, to spaniels, to dachshunds, but none of them are left alone - they all live in pairs or trios :)

ah, I hadn't realised that cats can keep dogs company, I was thinking about getting a dog but will at some point next spring might have to go back to the office a couple of days a week, the cat just tends sleep all day.

@essexmum777

ah, I hadn't realised that cats can keep dogs company, I was thinking about getting a dog but will at some point next spring might have to go back to the office a couple of days a week, the cat just tends sleep all day.

You could always use daycare instead of getting a walker to come in - I have clients with puppies who use me when they're out for short periods, and then a different daycare services if they're out all day.

I have another question 👋 what do you do if you walk a dog in the rain, if they get wet and muddy then have to return them home...do you just give them a quick towel dry and hope that's enough or make sure they're clean and dry before being left in their home again .. especially if the owners had cream carpets or similar 🙈😁 things like this keep popping up in my head of what I would do!?

Do you mind me asking how much your PI is?

What do you find are the most affable and friendly breeds or crosses?

@DevonshireDarling

I have another question 👋 what do you do if you walk a dog in the rain, if they get wet and muddy then have to return them home...do you just give them a quick towel dry and hope that's enough or make sure they're clean and dry before being left in their home again .. especially if the owners had cream carpets or similar 🙈😁 things like this keep popping up in my head of what I would do!?

I have towels in the car and will dry off all the dogs before dropping them home, but I do ask owners what they'd want.

Some ask me to leave the dogs in a utility area so that they can dry without getting muck everywhere, others have a hose or outside tap so I can wash the dogs, others will leave me towels or drying robes for the dogs.

I'd never leave a dog totally filthy but I do say I don't have time to wait around for the dogs to dry completely, though I'll do my best with the time I have :)

I did have to return a dog last week who'd rolled in poo though! Luckily the owner was home and she was put straight in the sink for a wash

@Gifgif

Do you mind me asking how much your PI is?

What do you find are the most affable and friendly breeds or crosses?

I pay about £120 a year for insurance, which covers things like public liability, lost and stolen keys, injuries (to both myself and the dogs), loss of income due to injury etc.

I also had to pay a little extra for business insurance on my car but honestly the difference in cost is so tiny it's barely noticeable. I don't do loads of miles as I only cover a small area - driving too far out just makes it pointless in terms of profit, really.

The friendliest dogs I've walked are a Rottweiler, a cocker spaniel and a cairn terrier. Personally, I love dogs that may not be too keen/sure originally, but who warm up to you. I walk an incredibly nervous rescue and it melted my heart when I turned up and he jumped on me for a cuddle! It took weeks to get to that point but it was so rewarding :)

Thanks OP.
Oooh, cairn terriers weren't really on my radar for a next dog (I get a bit muddled with terrier types - cairn v Scottish v border etc) but they look scrummy and small enough to sneak in without my DH realising we have another. 😁

@Gifgif

Thanks OP. Oooh, cairn terriers weren't really on my radar for a next dog (I get a bit muddled with terrier types - cairn v Scottish v border etc) but they look scrummy and small enough to sneak in without my DH realising we have another. 😁

The one I walk is absolutely adorable. I walk her seven days a week - she's practically my adopted dog

She gets an hours walk a day, and then she's happy to chill out all day with her owner (who's practically housebound due to illness). She's happy left alone, loves cuddles, doesn't really bark a huge amount and has fantastic recall.

I'm not really a terrier person but she is very sweet and loveable, and fairly low maintenance too. I take her to the groomers every 6-8 weeks but otherwise doesn't really need much :)

She sounds lovely!

Do you actually make much money from it?
There is so many dog walkers around my area, I can't see how many of them make much money from it.