How much would you guess I earn?

[Dogladyloveswine]

I took redundancy from a very corporate job a few years ago. Very respectable job title with a big company.

I decided to have a go at home dog boarding. So I look after dogs in my home for people who don’t like kennels. I also do a bit of doggie day care. It’s all just in my house.

It obviously doesn’t carry the same respect that my corporate job did! You don’t need any qualifications.

If you had to guess, what would you think I earn a month?

I disagree, a relative has a German Shepherd, needs constant stimulation or it gets bored and 2 long walks a day!
It smells doggy even though it's very clean. Horrible things dogs! And these days people just see them as some kind of accessory. Most can't even be bothered to walk them.

Jesus I’d be tempted. Sounds fab. Have you neighbours OP? Have you got a big garden they can run around in? Don’t think it would work in my urban 3 bed semi somehow

Ah that sounds bliss! I'd love to do this. Maybe one day. Agree with pp about dogs from different houses. You never know how they're going to react to each other.

Probably because there’s a massive lack of pertinent detail such as how many dogs you typically look after each day/week/month. That makes all the difference. Also whether you’re paying for their food or doing anything extra.

"Most"? That's a very bold accusation. Where do you get your stats from, please?

Before or after tax?

So contrary to your previous post, a lot more than three hours a day then…

One of our neighbours did this, in a 3 bed semi. At one point he had 22 dogs. The noise and smell was awful.
Anyway, he made enough money to move to Cornwall and buy a big house mortgage free, so it's obviously very lucrative.
His neighbours got a good outcome, too.

How much do you charge per night OP, and how do you get customers? We home board our dog, the lady we found was through word of mouth. We also looked at one lady with Rover but decided no as her house was full of lovely antiques and at the time ddog was a bit of a chewer, so didnt want to risk her house.

I would absolutely love this job! Do you live rurally OP? I think that’s the only way I would do it as wouldn’t want to upset my neighbours with potentially lots of barking dogs.

Thanks, this is very interesting.
How many dogs would you have boarding in your home at a time?
What if they don't get on?
Are they crated when you sleep or go out?
Do they just all muck in together while you are in?
Do you have a size limit or a preferred type?

Good for you @Dogladyloveswine ignire the silly posters.

How much do you charge per dog?

I'm not surprised you value your work so well. I wouldn't leave my dogs with anyone who didn't see it as a responsible position. Sadly we can't afford to leave the beasts with a sitter but rely on family which is why we haven't been away for two years (don't want to use up all the goodwill in case we need to go away in an emergency) but I think you have the perfect life.

Love this thread. Well done OP. I love when people do well in life. Sounds like a fantastic no stress way of making ends meet.

So by having dogs you're limiting what you can do with your life!! Someone explain to me how looking after some hairy mutt that we've probably inter bred to make it more appealing is in any way rewarding.

Our dog was attacked by another dog in home boarding and this was despite introductions and being fine for the whole week as it happened on the morning we were due to pick up. I know people who have given up doing this as a job because it was too much hassle so I don’t think it’s always ‘easy money’. Fine if you are lucky with your dogs and owners but you need to be very experienced with dogs ime and have the space and physical environment set up properly as well.

Amazing, OP! Would you be willing to send some advice on how to start something like this? Do you need an insanely big house? How many dogs do you have a day?

I'm a SAHM at the moment looking for some income that lets me be my own boss and have flexibility around childcare. I'd be happy with far far less what you're making! Good on you!!

What an interesting post! Quite an eye opener how much you earn with few out goings. It isn't for me but maybe some others might be tempted to give it a go.

Toying with the idea of using it myself, menopausal, feeling shite about myself, sick of saying "I refuse to go up a size", yet here I am doing exactly that.

How much does it cost?

I don’t know why this thread has been quite triggering for some. MN is weird sometimes.

Well done finding a new career OP 👏

You’re doing really well for yourself. As you say, you don’t have a boss. You also enjoy what you do, earn good money, manage your own workload around dogs, get exercise and play with the pups. Have very limited overheads (and no commuting time or costs). Sounds great.

Either you get it or you don't. We discussed it and decided we would rather 365 days of amusement, entertainment and affection from our dogs than the freedom to spend a week on holiday a couple of time a year. We can still go out for the day, go to the theater, out for dinner. The only thing we don't do is sleep away from home.

My thoughts exactly. I've asked the Op twice how often she walks the dogs but no reply.

How is it boasting? Loads of people could do this if they wanted to. Like many jobs not everyone will be able to but many could.

OP you are living the dream! I love dog's & I love that you provide a service that isn't kennels (collected a friend's dog once from kennels & hated it). I'm also glad you are being paid well for it. Ignore nasty comments x

About 2.5k after insurance and tax etc, probably more in certain months when people take more holidays. I imagine you have ratios so can't just take 10 dogs at a time although in saying that I saw a lone dog walker walking 7 dogs (all different breeds, collars etc so clearly a professional dog walker), so maybe you don't have any rules like child minders do.