Are you a dog Walker/sitter?

[UhtredRagnarson]

I’m considering changing jobs to be a dog walker, potentially offering full day care in my home too. I’m already self employed so I’m all clued up on side of things but I’d like some insight into the day to day running and also what costs I need to consider. I’ve been a dog owner my entire life so walking in crap weather and being covered in slobber isn’t going to be a shock to the system

I’ve researched insurance and coming up with quotes of around £150 per year. Does that sound right? Registering with my council for boarding dogs would be £25 per year. I would limit myself to 4 dogs in total at one time (including my own). I will need to purchase crates for my car. Toys, beds, leads. I’m sure there is lots I haven’t considered so fire away! TIA

I'm a dog walker and sit dogs in their own home. Insurance costs me £120-ish per year. I have business insurance on my vehicle and I have to factor in costs like holiday pay, sickness, purchasing equipment like leads, treats, poo bags, longlines, a doggy first aid kit, clothing for myself, waterproofs, decent footwear, a human first aid kit etc.

I'm qualified in canine first aid (another cost to consider) and study online in my free time to learn about canine body language etc. You need to know what to do if a dog gets injured or gets into a fight.

I charge £10 per hour for group walks, £12 for solo ones. I offer drop-in services for older dogs, cats and other small animals and I'm just about to add care for horses on top (mucking out, putting them out into fields/back into stables, as well as riding them out if the owner wishes).

Back to your questions - a license for providing daycare will set you back more than £25 - especially if you don't have any experience or qualifications - most councils charge around £300 per year for a boarding/daycare license. Where did you get the £25 figure from, out of curiosity?

The IMDT have a good checklist here:

www.imdt.uk.com/articles/dog-boarding-licence-regulations/

What will the licensing authority look for? The inspectors look for a number of things including (but not limited to)

• Accurate record keeping and up to date information on the dogs you are looking after
• Proper safety and hygiene in sleeping spaces, play spaces and around the dogs’ food.
• Adequate space for dogs to relax, play and eat
• A sensible ratio of carers to dogs
• The right level of training and supervision for any staff or helpers you may have
• Plenty of appropriate mental stimulation for the dogs
• A daily exercise routine that meets each dog’s individual needs
• Measures to prevent illness and injury.
• A plan for what to do in an emergency
• Being able to handle dogs appropriately and safely.
• Proper storage of food and medication
• Understanding how to administer prescribed medication
• How you store and dispose of waste
• Facilities to isolate dogs should they develop an infectious illness
• The qualifications of the business owner and anyone who will be caring for the dogs.

You will also need to consider costs of things like bedding, blankets, laundry, cleaning carpets/floors, toys, food bowls, chews and treats. Also things like how would you separate dogs during feeding, or what would you do if a fight broke out, or a dog resource guarded in your care and bit you or another dog?

It's not something I would consider as a novice and tbh it's very restrictive (much more so than walking) and your home takes a bit of a battering I would also consider the impact it would have on your neighbours if you had a really loud/barky dog in your care all week.

Sorry it's so long - feel free to ask if you any further questions :)

Thanks for all that info @cupsofcoffee, lots of stuff to investigate.

Where did you get the £25 figure from, out of curiosity?

It’s my own council’s license fee for boarding animals. I am not in England. I’m not set on doing home boarding, just keeping it in the back of my mind as an option. The dog walking is really what I’m going for.

It’s my own council’s license fee for boarding animals. I am not in England. I’m not set on doing home boarding, just keeping it in the back of my mind as an option. The dog walking is really what I’m going for.

Ah okay, that makes a bit more sense! I wish my area was that cheap

So for walking I would say the main things to consider are:

1. Are you going to focus on solo or group walks? The money is in group walks (and they're less taxing on the body) but you have more to think about in terms of safety too. Will the dogs be on/off lead? What happens if one bolts or does a runner? How will you make sure all the dogs get along and what happens if they don't and a fight breaks out? Can you transport them all safely/securely in separate crates? How much driving around are you willing to do?

2. Make sure you know what to do if a dog gets injured. It's only happened to me once (a cut paw on the beach) but I knew how to clean it and bandage it before getting the dog to the vets. It's also worth considering how you'd sort out emergency vet treatment with a van/car full of other dogs lol.

3. Also make sure you know what to do if a fight breaks out. Not necessarily between your dogs, but what if an out-of-control dog approaches you and something kicks off? Can you keep your dogs and yourself safe and as injury-free as possible?

4. Make sure owners sign a consent form before you let their dogs off-lead, and make sure you get information like vet contacts, an emergency contact (in case of injury etc.) and whether the dog is up to date on vaccs, flea/worm treatment or anything. Also worth having a policy around Kennel Cough as a vaccine won't always prevent it and it's super contagious.

Again, sorry it's long! I love my job and could talk about it all day

Don’t apologise for length!! This is all great stuff. Thank you.

My council is strange when it comes to licenses for things. Some things are oddly cheap and others are very expensive and have all sorts of rules and hoops that make it really hard to get (like being able to bring rubbish to the council dump).

Haha, that's fair enough! I'm glad you've found it helpful anyway :)

If you think of any questions feel free to fire away. I know there are other people on here who do walks and daycare so hopefully one of them will show up soon!

I've worked all weekend (and I'm working all next weekend) so my days off are Monday/Tuesday this week, lol.

How many walks would you do on an average day? Do you find most people want you around the middle of the day? Are you left twiddling your thumbs in the morning and afternoons?

@UhtredRagnarson

How many walks would you do on an average day? Do you find most people want you around the middle of the day? Are you left twiddling your thumbs in the morning and afternoons?

My average is probably four hours of walking, but that's spread over group walks, solo walks, pop-in walks and toilet breaks. I'm busiest between about 9am-2pm I guess? But I have a lot of shift workers on my books.

For example my busiest days this week are Thursday:

8.30am - solo walk (1 hour)
9.30am - household 30 minute walk (3 dogs)
10.30am - cat visit/feeding (20 minutes)
11am - solo walk (1 hour)
12pm - household 30 minute walk (2 dogs)
1pm - household 30 minute walk (3 dogs).

and Friday:

8.30am - group walk (2 dogs)
9.30am - household 30 minute walk (3 dogs)
10.30am - solo walk (1 hour)
12pm - puppy socialisation visit/walk (30 minutes).
12.30pm - household 30 minute walk (2 dogs)
1pm - household 30 minute walk (3 dogs)

Each day like that earns me about £60-70 but I'm done by lunchtime and have the rest of the day to myself which I love, lol.

I just love the flexibility. So this Sunday I'm working (three group walks) but I'm taking Monday off so I can have my riding lesson without having to rush back to work afterwards. Most of my clients have the same days each week but I have one who just wants three days (she doesn't mind which) so I often move her around to suit my schedule.

I do work the odd evening - this week, for example, I have two meet and greets with new clients and two cat-sitting jobs to do at around 5-6pm. I've also got a 6am start on Wednesday but I don't do those often lol.

Would you need to buy food, leads etc?
I have always supplied my own for boarding and daycare as a customer, they are all on different brands.

The only thing my Walker supplies is poo bands.

Towels for drying off? Old ones would be fine. First aid kit and consent forms for vet treatment and protocol for emergencies.

A good car boot liner/crate.

Hi we have used 2 doggy day cares for our pooch so thought I'd tell you from my perspective what we liked about both.

The first was in a house, we would drop and pick up our dog. They only took small dogs which suited us and I think with their 2 dogs there was never more than 5/6. They were very flexible and happy to take dog at weekend etc. The husband had taken early retirement and his wife worked part time so it suited them. Unfortunately the husband passed away and the business closed. £25 per day (London/Kent border). We took her food.

We found a new doggy day care with a different more professional set up. Dog is picked up in heated/air conditioned branded and safe van. In the morning. Dogs of all shapes and sizes! They man who runs it rents a big private field where he's built a log cabin too. So off they go for the day to the field where they have lots of balls, run around like crazy things, have an agility course and they all go for sleep and lunch in the heated Cabin before back out for play time and dropped back at home at the end of the day. £30 per day. He has 10-12 dogs on average, field very secure though. Provides food.

Very different set up, prefer dog being picked up etc as less hassle although it does mean she's in a car for a small chunk each day. Both she has been well looked after, cuddled etc. I love getting all the pictures and videos through of what she's up to!

Not sure if that's any help but good luck with your new business I think it's a great idea :)

Thank you @cupsofcoffee that’s really helpful. (As have all your posts been!)

@Bettyisboring thank you, I would provide food, as you say, they are all on different foods and have different needs. Towels and boot liner- good shout.

@raspberryjamlove thank you. I have actually been offered the use of land to do as you have described. It’s family land and there would be no rental cost which would be a great bonus. But I’m thinking I will maybe start off small? I also am not sure if I prefer the idea of sticking in one field every day or if different locations is better for dog (and mine) boredom?

Sorry @ Betty I wouldnt provide food.

If you use private land, make sure you have permission to use it for commercial purposes.

Thanks @cupsofcoffee, I definitely would sort that.

I pay £20 for a dog nanny to collect my pooch, they have access to a 5 acre field which they walk round chucking balls etc all day long. She's collected about 11 and brought back about 6 knackered ! Regular videos on Facebook to see my dog. She's a qualified dog trainer so deals with any issues with the dogs.

Other things you may need to factor in are travel times.

I agree that group walks are the way to make money but then you have to go to collect the dogs. You may have a couple from one household but you may need to travel to 4 different houses to get the dogs for one hour walk.

So for each hour you get paid you may actually be spending an hour and a half (if not more) including pick up.

Drops off tend to take longer than pickups.

A car may not be big enough for the number of dogs you walk to make a profit so cost this carefully.

Dont underestimate the amount of money you may spend on clothes either. Several sets of wet gear is required and also hats etc for warmer weather. I go through boots really quickly but can easily walk 16 miles a day so no wonder.

Although you may not want to train dogs a training qualification is needed as you will want the dogs to behave with you. You will want good recall and lead walking as a minimum. I dont care if the dogs do not behave for their owners but it makes life easier if they do for me.

I also run special sesssions.

Poppy potters - which are restricted exercise. I also run Pensioners Potters and these are great to run together to social the puppy and allow older dogs to have a mooch session rather than a long walk. I do these in my own field so can pace activity depending on the dogs that come.

Puppy Pop- ins are really good and I try and mix these inbetween walks but on the travel route. I may pop in for 20 mins 3 times a day for young puppies to give them a wee break and company.

I have a reactive walk and these are heavily subsidise by my other work. Reactive dogs are really hard for some owners and I like to be able to give them a break and some walking at normal prices.

Factor into your costs the initial visit to new clients I always walk with them for at least an hour before taking on a new dog. I would also add it is better to keep the dogs you know that get new dogs as when they come into the group it can go a bit weird for a walk or two. I guess it does depend on your area but you need to be earning £40.00 an hour for at least 4 hours a day to ensure your profit is more than minimum wage.

The times I am most needed to walk is between 11-3 as people want the lunchtime walk so you will be very busy over this period.. I try and push this to 10.30-4.30. In the winter I often get the two day a walk people who do not want to walk in the dark and then can fit in 9.00 and 4.30 walks.

I do home board but only dogs that I walk. Home boarding is a lot of hoops to jump through in the UK. Some being each dog including your own must have their own room with specific requirements and flooring (laminate no good, carpe no good etc). You also need to have a named person who can stand in for you at all times even though they may never need to.

The times I am most needed to walk is between 11-3 as people want the lunchtime walk so you will be very busy over this period.

I think this is massively area and client dependent. I'm really quiet in the afternoons and my busy period starts at 9am most days, lol. But I have a lot of shift-workers who don't want standard lunchtime hour walks. The busiest time is definitely 11-1, though.

I also agree that you need to factor travel into your day. Don't take dogs that are miles away just because you're new and need the money. My furthest travel time is 10 miles and I plan that so I either go there first (and work my way back home) or last and have a straight drive back.

You really don't want a day that means you're driving A - B - A - C - A - D all day long. I try and do A - B - C - A, for example, with A being my hometown. Or start at C, then go C - B - A and finish off at home. Driving is time-consuming and costly - lots of little journeys soon add up. Plus it increases your chances of getting stuck in traffic etc.

Hi OP

Yes Starting small is a good idea. The guy who runs the company our dog goes too started off by having a small number of dogs, different parks etc and has built up over 2 years to having the girls.

I know what you mean about being always in the same field I did worry about that. But she's a super tiny dog and only there 2 days a week, an hour play and she needs 5 hours sleep but can understand for other dogs it might not be the best idea.

Good luck x