How to be innovative as a dog walker? What would appeal to you?

[jusne]

I run a dog walking business. I have a USP in comparison to others in my area, but I'm looking for more inspiration.

What would you love to see in a dog walker?

Also, I'd love to think of things that I can make and sell in off-peak walking hours.
Another dog walker in my area makes 'treat cones' for dogs (like sweet cones) which I think is so cool.

I'm finding it a really hard business to put a special stamp on and stand out from the crowd.
I am experienced, insured, police checked, canine and feline first aid trained so ticking all the mandatory boxes.

Training - if my dog walker was to integrate a bit of training eg leave it, sit, lie down, look at that, etc or some scent work I’d be delighted and would pay a bit more. Not talking a huge amount, just stopping occasionally on the way round the walk to get the dogs working

Weekend/evening walks - it would be fab to have the option of a night or weekend off from time to time

Home boarding - that might not suit you, I totally understand that, but if you could that would be amazing

For selling - healthy home made treats (dehydrated liver, chicken, etc), snuffle mats, collars, bags for carrying treats, poo bags, mobile phones etc on dog walks, dog coats (it must be possible to make Equafleece type suits cheaper!)

Good luck 😊

Training and solo walks for reactive dogs.

In terms of off peak hours try and tap into the shift workers market, when I’m working long days and DP can’t take the dog to work I get my walker to do at least two hour long walks (minimum), and because I’m out the house longer it’s in her quiet hours

We've never used a dog walker, as we're mostly at home, but when we did look into it, the ones that really stood out where the ones who had an animal behaviourist background and the ones who used training methodologies that suited what we do with our dog already (force-free training or positive reinforcement type approaches). I wouldn't be at all attracted to treat cones or any of that stuff, especially as lots of people are particular about dogs diets or have allergies, etc.

My friend has a dog who loves water and muddy puddles. I guess if you could have a service where you return the dog fairly clean after wet days.

They own one of those dog sort of dressing coats which you can put on the dog, and all the mud and dirt stays inside the coat, instead of being all over your stairs and walls.

Perhaps offer some kind of find my phone app so owners can be assured you really are doing the “one hour” walk you change for.

Perhaps pay for access to an enclosed dog proof field that only you and dogs you walk can use. Don’t have to worry about other owners and their dogs - and your charges can have some off lead time, and possible playing with other good tempered dogs you walk and trust.

Fellow dog walker here!

I used to sell dog treats alongside what I do and I'll be honest, it was a lot of work for not very much reward lol. The treat market is so saturated now that it was really hard to make a profit on it once you'd factored in packaging, postage etc. I just couldn't compete with companies with bigger buying power.

My "USP" is small paired walks. Everyone else seems to do big groups but I've found that lots of dogs actually find it really overwhelming and stressful to be out with so many others. It works - I'm fully booked with a waiting list :)

Solo walks as my two hate other dogs.

I don't use them as I walk my own pack but I do meet dog walkers and the hugely successful ones are those that have a large following on social media. Lots of fun photos and videos. I do live in a scenic part of the world so the backdrop for photos are lovely.

Agree with the others who said training. I don't need gimmicks like treats etc but a walker who also implements training would definitely stand out more to me.

I would also think a tracker would be appealing. You read of so many lax walkers that owners would be pleased to know their dog is getting their full hour (or whatever) of walking. I don’t need a dog walker at the moment, but I’d be careful about who I left my dog with for this reason.

Sending a couple of pics during the walk would also be reassuring.

I think PPs ideas of solo or pairs walks would appeal; though of course they’d have to cost more!

Just an FYI - if you start making meat based / animal product-containing treats, you'll need to be registered with the Food Standard Agency. It's a complicated area of law and food standards requiring testing and so on. I'd avoid it like the plague if you can.

If you really need to be "different", overnight care would be the stand out for me. Whether in your home or mine. It would allow the likes of me to have a night in a hotel for a change!

Otherwise, why do you need a USP? Are you not getting enough hours of walking?

We chose and continue to use ours as solo walk - off lead (trusts the recall after multiple early sessions to establish). We wouldn't pay for on lead or multiple.

I agree with the smaller group walks, and home boarding.

I cannot tell you how much I struggled to find someone to stay in my own house with my dogs. All of whom are actually relatively well behaved, clean and friendly. Fortunately I have family nearby, but it’s a big ask. But then I also struggled to find somewhere that had room for three big dogs for them to go and stay at theirs.

I didn’t know that about meat based treats - thanks for sharing that 😊