Do you run a dog-walking biz? Help please!

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I'm just after some advice as to whether a dog-walking business would be a viable job for me, as I'm currently not working and struggling to find a job. My previous experience is office and retail work. There's a fair bit about but I'm not even getting interviews.

For info - and not in any order of priority

1. I love dogs, and all animals

2. I have a dog myself, she's middle aged and I've had her from a puppy

3. I've worked for myself for the last 15 years and am terrified at the prospect of working for (and with) someone else

4. I have suitable transport

5. I enjoy walking and live in an area with a lot of national parks/open spaces in very easy distance

Dog walking/minding seems to be an increasing need and I very much valued the one I used when I was working full time.

I wondered if it is something I could do, with or without my own dog alongside, but think I am only looking at the 'good' parts and not the downsides.

Can anyone advise me as to whether it IS a viable option for someone wanting to earn a reasonable-ish income or do I need to re-think entirely? I'm not looking to make mega bucks, just enough to support myself (l live alone with my pets, no huge commitments, no one else to consider)

Please help - I'm at a terrible cross roads and just don't know if it's a sensible way forward, or if I'm clutching at straws! I just feel ill at the thought of working in an office or shop even though I've done both happily before.

Work out your outgoings. Work out realistically how many hours a week you would need to do at £x per hour. And see if it's a viable option. You could offer overnight and weekends. That would boost your income. Personally I don't think it's feasible unless you only want to earn extra cash to supplement an other job or pension.

Not my business but I used to do the books for a dog Walker.
She made a living but had to work very hard , in all weathers.
Things to check out
A) going rate in your area . Near me it’s £12 for an hour for dog 1, £18 per hour for 2nd dog from same address
B) you can probably do an average of 4 walks per day, given travel & clean up time
C) there may be a limit to how many dogs per walk , set by your local authority or your insurance company . Also be realistic about how confident you are with multiples
D) you will need appropriate insurance
E) you will have to provide your own tax, ni & pension.

My own dogs Walker thinks it’s the best thing she ever did. Good luck

Bear in mind, most people who are leaving their dogs for the day will want a lunchtime walk and you need to be pretty set on the time, as the dog will need a wee.

Look into insurance, max amount of dogs per walk, investigate body cameras (lots of dog walkers wear them due to dog theft increase), walking on lead dogs, etc

So many variables to consider!

I personally wouldn't employ a dog walker that:

a) did not have some basic first aid training
b) did not have some formal canine behaviour learning or more experience than just having had their own dog(s)
c) did not have their own vehicle that was safe and secure to transport dogs in (i.e. not just a car)

... as well as the things already mentioned, such as insurance

I don't mean that to sound negative and poeple do hire walkers without those conditions - but perhaps worth thinking about how you could get those?

@Viviennemary @Happytentoes @onyourway @SirSniffsAlot

Thank you all so much for the advice. Some of the logistics I had already thought of but it is really good to see points of view from another perspective and it's much appreciated

I can address a few of the points raised -

• I have a large van that would be easy to convert into more suitable transport

• the income would supplement some on-line selling I do, so not my only source of income but additional income IS needed

• the thought of dog theft or any injury terrifies me actually, and if I'm really honest I don't think I'm confident enough to walk multiple dogs off the lead...

Gosh, this has really helped to focus my mind.

I just don't know what else I could do. Been job searching again today and even though I'm highly qualified in a particular occupation my experience is out of date (I made a career change a bit later in life from a corporate position to a self employed shop owner... I was then struck by adverse health just before Covid and have been panicking ever since!)

Please do you have any other ideas or suggestions? Ideally I just want to work from home/be my own boss doing something (well, to be perfectly honest I actually just want to hibernate and pretend none of this is happening, but that won't pay the bills!).

What about boarding? Or looking after one or two dogs all day rather like a child minder - giving the home from home experience?

I'm a dog walker:
I niched down and specialise in walking Gundogs.
I only walk a max of 3 dogs, for mine & the dogs safety.

I have insurance, first aid training, DBS check and an Animal Psychology Diploma.
I'm an experienced gundog owner, with two of my own, one who can be reactivate with other dogs.

Its not fun being out in the peeing rain, wind, cold or when its boiling hot.
It won't make you a millionaire, but after 17 years in education, this is the best thing I've ever done. I also run a private hire dog walking field.

If you want to do boarding, you'll need a licence ftom your local council.

even though I'm highly qualified in a particular occupation my experience is out of date (I made a career change a bit later in life from a corporate position to a self employed shop owner... I was then struck by adverse health just before Covid and have been panicking ever since!)

I would bet there was some way to take the qualifications and/or experience you had and use them to earn money, whilst still only working for yourself/being freelance.

Sometimes it can be hard to see it for yourself because self-doubt blinkers you. Care to share what quals you have/what you used to do and maybe we can suggest ways to use those skills in a way that suits what you want?

@SirSniffsAlot - It's a PGdip in Human Resources Management and Development and the affiliated CIPD (equivalent to a Level 7 I think). I could top-up to a Masters in 12 months, so I have considered that. I've also thought about approaching companies to see if I could even just volunteer in that department, just to get a feel for it again (haven't progressed this as it terrifies me)

I've just lost all my confidence over the last 12-18 months I think due to my personal health and all the Covid stuff. Used to be (quietly) confident and happy that I 'knew my stuff' but now I just feel very middle aged and a bit worthless 😢

What dog walkers round here seem to do is hire one of the secure dog walking fields that are popular these days. Obviously there’s a cost to this but it means you can walk more dogs without the worry of them getting lost etc. Some of the fields offer discounts for regular bookings. When our dog used to go, the dog Walker did a latish morning walk and a latish afternoon walk, by the time she’d picked them all up and dropped them all off.

How much competition is there in the local area? Dog walking businesses seem to have exploded in my area recently, so there is lots of competition for jobs.

As a completely different tact... Someone above mentioned boarding. Have you considered small animal boarding? In my area there are lots of kennels, but finding a sitter/boarding place for my house rabbit was virtually impossible.