The Pros and Cons of Starting a Dog Walking Business

When have you ever heard the statement, “Dog walking is easy and requires no skill”? Even if you haven’t there is a fair majority of people who think so. Some people look down upon this line of work and many of us don’t even count of it as ‘work’. Also, majority of people think it is easy money. There are reports which state that this industry has a high turnover because of the hassle. We are here to help you decide if this business is your thing.

Looking at both sides of the equation is very essential. The first advantage of being a professional dog walker is that you don’t have a 9 – 5 schedule. You have to meet appointments of course, but no one said it will be restricted to 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Also, the hassle and stress of the office takes a backseat when compared to the experience of walking a dog.

In addition to this, the exercise you get whilst walking a dog is the best for you. You don’t need to burn calories at a gym after the healthy walk with the dogs. That is like killing two birds with one stone! Also, the fresh air is guaranteed to make you feel better, and while you’re doing your job, too! Apart from this, the happy dogs waiting for you every day is a sight to behold and is definitely going to make your day even better. The dog gets calmer after his or her walk and the happiness on the owner’s face is reward in itself.

The best part is, when you love dogs but can’t keep one, the profession fulfils your need of interacting with a furry friend! However great the rewards are, there are always disadvantages to everything. What follows is a list of demerits of being a professional dog walker.

The first disadvantage that comes to mind is that you’ll be out there with the dogs in every weather. Be it summer or winter, the love of walks never diminishes with dogs and you are going to be in business regardless of the weather. So be it very sunny or very cold, you have to be out there with the dogs.

Secondly, calling in sick from an office job is easier. Taking care of a furry living thing besides you is tough and you just don’t want to disappoint that cute little face. Also, if your clients move away, there is a chance of losing money. If you have contacts with people who own dogs, good for you; but if you don’t, you have to suffer. Also, many people cannot afford daily walks for their dogs and that too for a long term basis. Also, some people may prefer to do it themselves when they feel the costs are adding up to too much.

All in all, the job has both, good and bad things attached. If you want to be a professional dog walker, make sure you get educated and certified. Learning how to interact with dogs helps too. Licensing is also an essential. So make sure if you are about to start this business, you have all the prerequisites.

Pet Sitting as a Business

Pet sitting as a business is one of the good ways to enter the animal industry. Advantageous to the owner of the business in the form of flexible hours, flexible working area and in terms of business expansion, this business has a lot more to offer.

The first thing you need to do is registering for some sort of a business license as that is a requirement before you start to accept clients. Contact a legal advisor before you apply for licensing to know all the aspects of this business and where liability can poke its nose.

Many pet sitting business operate as either a sole proprietorship, or a limited liability company. Sole proprietorships are businesses which are commenced by one person and where the personal assets of the owner are not separate from those of the business. On the other hand, a limited liability company is where, if the individual has assets, these are separate from the business and he or she is not personally liable for any debts of the business. Also, before setting your foot in to the business, it would be very wise to consult an accountant and knowing the basics. It helps in budgeting and financing activities of the business.

Coming towards the topic of insurance, it is available for pet sitting businesses. An insurance policy will definitely help you out in case the pet causes damage to property or gets hurt. The initial cost you put in is worth it, especially if it saves you time and money later on.

The next thing you need to consider is marketing. Marketing is the most essential thing that places your business out in to the open. It helps potential clients know that you are out there. Get the word out by designing flyers or business cards. You can even distribute pamphlets or place these at various vet clinics, departmental stores and pet stores. Keeping these flyers where your target audience is most likely to visit is a great idea. You could always post ads online on various pet websites or various public places. Parks are a good way of advertising where people might walk their dogs.

Consider getting a website designed and use it to market effectively and to create contact with your target audience. You can also post an ad in a newspaper or newsletter. You can provide detailed information about the needs you cater to and your credentials. All this advertising is sure to help you out in making a strong position. However, don’t just make empty promises, when you get your clients, make sure you deliver on the

For every client that you visit, keep a record of all their emergency details and phone numbers. Also, keep a record of their pet breed, and other details of the pet. Health history and vaccination details are also important. For clients who call you often, stay updated on the health of their pets. It will make them feel that you care also, it will be helpful for your records too.

Now that you have an idea, you can start working. HAPPY PET SITTING

Dog Walking Jobs

Are you looking for a -Dog Walking Job?

Dog walking can be a great career and a lucrative one too, if the idea of having a dog walking job excites you and you have a genuine love of dogs then you will love every minute of it.

There could be many reasons why you are looking for dog walking jobs but the main one is usually when people are looking to earn some extra money, and why not, dog walking jobs can be very lucrative - try out our pet sitters and dog walkers income calculator to estimate how much you could earn from dog walking:  http://www.narpsuk.co.uk/calculator/calculator.html

Do you need to have experience in dog walking? - the simple answer to that question is YES, no one is going to give their beloved dog to a stranger without doing thorough checks first and they are going to want to know what experience you have and how trustworthy you are.

If you don't have any experience in dog walking then before offering a dog walking service you need to get yourself some first, you can do this by offering a free service to friends and family or by getting in touch with your local boarding kennels and offering your services for free. You should also seek out some 'dog walking' books or take a dog walking course - having a qualification behind you is a great way of showing credibility.

So now you have some experience - what's next?

If you don't want the responsibility of running your own dog walking service and would prefer to work for a company then you need to seek out the dog walking businesses in your area via Google or by popping into your local vets and looking on the notice boards, contact them and ask if they are looking for help and tell them what you can offer.

Next you need to get yourself a basic disclosure criminal record check because for dog walking you will probably be holding the owners keys to collect their dog while they are at work, you can apply for this yourself via Disclosures Scotland via their online link at a cost of £25.00 http://www.disclosurescotland.co.uk/apply-online/ you will need to hold this whether you are working for yourself or if you have a dog walking job.

OK, so now you have some experience and you have your criminal record check, lastly you need insurance, there are many insurers who offer dog walking business insurance and if you join NarpsUK you can get this for just £71.55. If you take a dog walking job via a company then they will already have insurance that covers you too.

So now you are ready to go, you now need to market your services and sell yourself to potential customers. Get some flyers made up (these are free to NarpsUK members), put the flyers in local pet shops, dog groomers and vets, in fact put them up where ever you can. Get your details on pet related websites that offer free listings, if you join NarpsUK you will get extra work from there.

Most dog walkers charge between £8.00 - £15.00 per hour depending on which part of the country you live in. You should Google the term 'dog walker' with your town name next to it to look at other dog walker's websites to find out how much they are charging or you could use the NarpsUK post code search facility to find a local dog walker and check rates. Most dog walkers do not walk more than four dogs at a time, once or twice a day, be sure to pair them up so that the two dogs walking together are compatible. We do not recommend that you let dogs off leads and remember you will need to take dog mess bags with you to clean up dog mess.

You can get all of the forms and contracts you will need by joining NarpsUK too

Now if you are serious about a dog walking job then now is the time to start