To ask about the reality of being a dog walker?

[Nutellasandwiches]

It's something I've thought about doing for a while after having a good think about what I enjoy, but it's scary actually making the plunge. I have experience with and love dogs having grown up with them and having lots in the family. I am doing plenty of research online but would anyone mind sharing with me their experiences, both the good and bad of being self employed as a dog walker? Thank you.

Do a paid trial run walk with any dog first. Don't take on a tricky dog. If there is any incident with another dog, their owner will blame you & the other owner will be upset & not use you again. Get payment a week (or a month) in advance: I got messed around big time by late payers. Most of my business I got thru Gumtree, Post Office ads & word of mouth referral. Internet didn't get me any business surprisingly, but I was in a rural area where people are mostly older & more old fashioned tbh & they're more likely to ask around for recommendations rather than Google.

Thank you blonde. What made you determine whether a dog was tricky or not or rather... how tricky/untrained were you prepared to accept?

I work through rover.com (I'm not in the UK). It gives you and the client the benefit of knowing you're background checked and insured through Rover.

Make sure you are prepared for bad weather - dog walking in the summer through our local fields is lovely, but when its dark and pouring with rain, and you are plodding the streets, trying to hold dog and torch whilst searching for the poop, it aint so much fun!