Tuesday, 24 June 2014

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.

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