Dog walking

[autumndream]

After the events of this year I'm reassessing my life (like many people are).
I've decided I want a career change! I want to be a dog walker! Has anyone else totally changed career and done this and can give me some pointers! Literally have no clue where to start!
I'm normally out for hours anyway with my own crazy cocker and I'm already self employed so I already know about that side of things (tax etc). Thank you.

It can be tough but I also find it incredibly rewarding. To see terrifyingly shy rescues trust you is amazing - and I've had it happen several times. Meeting puppies and helping raise them is amazing too.

I recently saw two dogs I haven't walked for a couple of months due to lockdowns - they went bonkers and the owners just said it proves how much they've missed me!

It's an amazing job but you do have to take the difficult days too - walking in lashing wind and rain when your boots have leaked and it's cold is grim, no matter how lovely the dogs are! Not being able to get dry, wearing damp clothes all day and putting your waterproofs on for the 12th day running of 5+ hours out in the rain 🤣

Everyone keeps bringing up the weather, that part doesn't bother me in the slightest!

I'm a camper and go whatever the weather, I've trained for marathons and still go whatever the weather, I also have a working cocker who has to go out whatever the weather. I spend most of my life wet and covered in mud.

My neighbour set up a very successful dog walking and home boarding company. She has loved every minute of it!! There are limits on numbers inc home boarding but the council guided her on all of that I believe. She does say it can be quite tricky to have time off and obv when she has dogs boarding she can’t leave them alone which can be a tie but she enjoys it and makes a relatively decent wage from it, although it has taken time to ge to that point! X

I don't want to the boarding side of it just the walking, I know it takes time to build up I didn't just wake up one day fully booked with hair clients.

I have been thinking of starting a dog walking business for some time too. I used to work in a boarding kennels many years ago and studied animal care at college and it is an area I would love to go back into. However with the current trend of home working, which looks to continue even after covid, I honestly don't think it would be the right decision for the foreseeable future.

Have you considered dog grooming? With your hairdressing experience this might be an ideal alternative career choice.

Yes I have considered that actually! The main reason for the walking was the being outside but yes that's def an option

@autumndream

Everyone keeps bringing up the weather, that part doesn't bother me in the slightest!

I'm a camper and go whatever the weather, I've trained for marathons and still go whatever the weather, I also have a working cocker who has to go out whatever the weather. I spend most of my life wet and covered in mud.

That's good.

I think people bring it up because it is a shit part of the job sometimes - one or two hours a day is very different from being out in it 7-8 hours a day, especially if you don't have the chance to stop and warm up or dry off.

Maybe I'll start looking into animal care and first aid courses as my first point of call as they'll be handy anyway with my dog.

@autumndream

I don't want to the boarding side of it just the walking, I know it takes time to build up I didn't just wake up one day fully booked with hair clients.

I am so happy that my dog care also boards.

Whilst this didn't initially factor in choosing them (because at that time I didn't need to board) it might mean some people choosing others that do board because it means their dog is happier when they go away.

I suspect that more people might consider taking up dog walking now redundancies are high and jobs low at the same time with more people WFH there might be less demand. Might be worth checking how high the demand is locally for walkers.

@vanillandhoney like I said I spend most of life wet and muddy anyway, it's not just 1 or 2 hours.
I've been camping before where we got soaked on the first day and had to spend at least 4 days wet due to not being able to dry stuff. It really doesn't phase me.

@BiteyShark there are lots of things I don't do as a hairdresser because I don't enjoy it, if a client chooses another hairdresser because of that then that fine, there are plenty of other clients.

That's good.

I would check demand in your area though - lots of people are now working from home and don't need or want a regular walker. If you have a lot of established walkers already then you may not get very far - people go by word of mouth and recommendations in this industry.

There are three walkers in my area and we've all experienced a drop in business since March - I lost a £400 per month client recently (two dogs, five walks a week) because the owners are both furloughed for the foreseeable future. It's tough.

I would say this probably isn't a good time to start up as a self employed dog walker. Maybe wait until the vaccine is more widespread and things are more under control. I'm a member of lots of dog walking groups and lots of established businesses have been forced to close this year as they're just not making enough money to survive.

The only reason I can keep going is because DH earns well. If not I couldn't survive on what I earn at the moment.

I've already said it wouldn't be now, in the next couple of years. I think every business has experienced losses, I've had clients that have started doing their own colours now and only come to me for haircuts.

Okay. It's just you said in your earlier post it was your aim for a years time

Anyway, you seem a bit snippy with people who are pointing out any kind of negativity around it, especially those with experience in the industry. It's not really necessary to be off with people who've taken time out to help you and give you constructive advice.

OP have you thought about grooming. Our mobile one is vey popular

I am getting slightly annoyed yes as people are repeating the same thing over and over.
Yes I have considered the weather, yes I have considered that people are working from home, yes I have considered it's not easy. If it doesn't work out then I can stick with what I'm doing.

People are only trying to help you and share their experiences. Isn't that what you wanted?

People will repeat the same things as the pitfalls in the industry are well known - you may be fine with bad weather, cancellations and a lack of regularity with some clients means it's very hard to establish a regular income from dog walking. Some days you will be slammed and others you may only get one or two dogs for pop-in walks at lunch.

It's a great profession but it's not an easy one and the lack of regular income is a big reason for that. Very few people are fully booked all week and all year round which can make finances very difficult to organise.

Hi @autumndream, just wanted to say, my lovely dog walker limits her pick up area so her clients are either close to her home or close to our country park with its dog field, wooded walks etc.
That way she spends less time driving, & has less fuel cost etc.

Courses

dog trainer basic dog training concepts

body language course

first aid

There is a level 2 dead easy dog walking course set over 3 weekends in some colleges. - check your local one for this

You may make more money in grooming but ohhhh your back! But as a hairdresser you are probably very fit and strong anyway.

@PollyRoulson thank you