Would you pay this for a dog walker?

[albapunk]

I work full time condensed into 3 days per week. I'd like to fill my time walking dogs but without the commitments of set days/times each week. There seems to be a gap locally for people who only want one-off walks or as and when they need them. They have been turned away by othe businesses for not garunteeing set walks each week.

There is also a gap for 1-2-1 dog walks. From my research a 1hr walk (group) is often £15-18. I'd like to offer 1-2-1 dog walking but at £20 for a 1hr slot. This is what would be fair to cover outgoings and also reflect the fact that clients don't need to agree to set days/times.

Is this reasonable? A service you would use? I will be insured, and happy to do a qualification. I am a VERY experienced dog owner.

Again thank you for all the replies! Very helpful! I'll pop some bullet points here to clarify things and see if that changes anyone's mind/would be willing to pay a different amount...

Other businesses here that I've researched:
£15/18/20 for group walks for 1hr is normal. This includes pick up/drop off so unsure of actual walk time in some cases.

All are insured and I'd assume registered self employed. 50/50 in terms of a dog walking qualification

Can afford a lower cost per dog due to walking up to 6 dogs at one time

Majority require advance booking, repeat clients and don't offer solo walks

What I am thinking about:

1-2-1 walks only (or with dogs from same household) for £20 for 1 hour of actual walking time. Travel time not chargeable and no extra charge for other dogs in the household.

Fully insured, registered self-employed, would redo Canine first aid certificate and undertake some training courses. Particular interest in more learning about reactive dogs.

The ability to book at short notice, with no commitment to book regular walks. Perhaps a small discount for those who DO book in advance or regular repeat clients?

Photographs and a GPS tracked walk.

Dogs cleaned off/dried if required.

This would NOT be me main job, but simply a sideline for myself as its something I enjoy ans have a fair amount of free time and I'd like to offer a quality service. I think Borrow My Doggy/Rover can be great but equally as I'd want to ensure I am making the minimum wage after tax/NI and business outgoings. I'm not a student or teenager looking for pocket money.

Once again, I really appreciate all the comments ans points made so far! I do think some folk also need to remember that there is people who rely on dog walking as a full-time income and they aren't comparable to Borrow My Doggy or slinging a teenager a few quid.

@yorkshireteapot9

Thank you! This was hugely helpful and it sounds like you've struck gold with your Dog Walker. IF this was my fulltime job I would absolutely aim to provide a service like they do, they sound incredibly and definitely some points I could work towards if I do go ahead!

I'm sorry OP, no. One-off 1-2-1 walks with my dog walker are £13 an hour.
North Yorkshire.

Offering to take photos would be a red flag for me. I'd want the dog walker watching my dog the entire time - not faffing about taking photos. It's why the one near me wears a body camera. No need to faff about pulling her phone out etc - everything is videod from start to finish.

You can get a body camera for about £50.

My dog walker is £12 per hours walk for a group of 3 dogs. She stopped 1-2-1 walks as she couldn’t make it pay: at the time she charged £16 per hour.

She has a list of dogs that she will include on a group when she has space; she sends a group WhatsApp round with dates / times. Usually when a regular is on holiday.

My 2 are very calm, so never needed a 1-2-1 service, but what is missing here is a an older dogs walker. Someone who could do say 40 minutes of slow sniffing, either in a group or 1-2-1.

I am in West Aberdeenshire.

I would pay this occasionally if I were desperate and couldn't get my normal dogwalkers (£12-£13 for a group walk). The thing that wouldn't work for me though is if you're also working full time condensed into three days, presumably you're not available for walks on those three days, or whenever else you've got something else on. So how flexible could you really be for last-minute bookings? That's what I'd be paying the premium for.

My dog walkers don't work at weekends (obvs most people can walk their own dogs then!) so I'd also consider using your service if I had to be out at something non dog-compatible for a whole day on the weekend.

I actually do have a body cam available as I'm a cyclist BUT I know I'd quite like some little photos of my dog as proof they were out etc. This would take up a minute tops.

I know my main job hours 3 months in advance. I'd aim to have an online booking system to show clear availability. Of course there are times I'd be unavailable like any FT walker due to holidays.

What price would people be happy to pay for the service I am suggesting?😊

@Dearg Thank you! I'd be very happy to cater to senior dogs or those who just need some slow physical activity and sensory enjoyment. I didn't think of this one!

Live in SE we pau £14.50 for a group walk. 2-3hours a walk

my dog walker charges £15 per hour.
She only does 1-2-1, and she specialises in dogs that are rescues etc and other people don't want to walk.

She has regular clients, but she also fits in other people when she can, so she only does my dog when we are away for example.

She parks at my house and walks out from my house, so all the time is walking.
She won't do any off- lead walking, her insurance will not allow it.

My dog is a large breed and dog reactive/human friendly. She is the only person I trust to take him out of the house.
She does GPS and a photo, which I used to find annoying, but realise that it is her proof that she has done what she said she would do, so I don't mind.

I think £20 is a bit too much for me, but then I have beens spoilt with our lovely dog walker. Around her and overnight stay including a wlak is about £25, so £20 seems a lot.

BUT as someone who has a dog who is hard to walk, and could not go in a group walk, I am always on the lookout for a dog walker who I trust.

Where are you based OP?

@steppemum I don't want to give exact location as could be outing BUT Imin Scotland, and in a fairly high income/desirable area where things can often be a little more expensive!

I live at the cheap end of the street.😅

For those who mentioned the lower price of group walks, do you not feel a 1-2-1 service is worth more as it is with other things in life?

P.s I haven't made a start of anything other than pure research so nothing to lose out on if I don't go adhead/rethink!

We pay for both group walks & solo walks with our dog walker, she charges £13 for group walk and £16 for solo walks. She is a fully qualified canine behaviourist as well as being fully qualified in canine first aid, council registered, insured, she has a van fully equipped to safely transport the dogs etc etc. I wouldn’t pay £20 for 1 dog walk and especially not from someone who hasn’t put themselves through all of the proper training.

Coming at it from a dog walkers' perspective, I guess it depends how much the dog needs a 1-2-1 walk as to whether it's worth it or not. Many dogs don't need that kind of service so people aren't going to be willing to pay for it when they can send their dogs with a group walker and save themselves £30+ a week (if they need a daily walker).

My experience is that very, very few people need solo walks and those that do, don't want them on a regular basis - probably because of the cost, lol. Most people pay for a dog walker precisely so their dogs can go out in groups, socialise and play.

But if you're only doing this part-time and won't be relying on the income, then I suppose it doesn't matter so much if you have quieter days and weeks.

I pay £10 per hour but I need it every weekday. £20 seems steep to me but you could advertise and see what happens.

@Mrsttcno1 I have already stated above I would undertake training etc and invest in the things required (although believe it or not to dog walk legally as a business actually requires legally very little)

@Notellinganyone is this for a group or solo walk? Is this a business or a cash in hand type of affair? I'm just curious as the rate is so low! No grudges held here for anyone who opts for cash in hand!

Have a look on the Rover website to see local prices.
I pay €25 for 3 hours but our dog walker has turned into a family friend. DDog will do more for her than me!

I think the people who say it's too much have not considered the difference between an ongoing commitment where the DW gets a steady income, vs ad hoc arrangements where the DW fits in with the owner's unscheduled needs.

For me, having a DW potentially on call would mean the difference between owning and not owning a dog, and I would absolutely pay £20 per walk .

We used to pay £17 per hour for a solo dog walk for our previous reactive dog, who has now sadly passed. This was an ongoing weekly arrangement too.

This was pre Covid, so £20 now would seem reasonable to me.

I'd pay more for a advice weekend dog walk 🤣

I know you’ve mentioned doing “some training courses” but for reference where we are up North the only dog walkers who would charge anywhere near £20 (the most expensive I know of here is £18) are those who are fully qualified behaviourists, most also have veterinary qualifications and experience as well as your basic canine first aid etc. Doing a few online courses wouldn’t be enough round here to warrant you charging anywhere close to £20.

It is terrifying how little you legally need, but the standard of the dog walker is reflected in the price they are able to charge.

There is one local to us, 19 years old, lovely girl, has done an online course on canine first aid and has insurance, charges £10 for a 121 walk. She gets quite a lot of business, including our neighbour, because she’s cheap so people will overlook the experience/minimal qualifications as it’s only £10. At the point you’re asking for £20 a walk, at least where we are, I’d expect pretty significant training, experience in the industry & qualifications.

No I wouldn’t

I charge £10 per hour for small groups.Three dogs = £30 per hour.

My expenses are low - £10 a month for insurance, £10 for poo bags (buy in bulk off Amazon), another £20 or so for treats. Fuel is about £60 a month. That's about it, really.

It doesn't need to cost you a lot of money. And it's a proper business, paying tax and registered with HMRC.

@lifebeginsaftercoffee the difference is though you are walking 3 dogs so well above NMW per hour in reality. Someone charging 1-2-1 for a solo walk likely isn't unless they are cash in hand etc hence why I'm asking 😊