Dog walking as a part time job

dennynua

I work mon to thur 6-4 and I am looking for Friday and weekend work , how would I get into the job of dog walking? what would I need qualifications etc

skooterblue2

The first thing I would look for would be a ordinary degree in Canine Studies and the ability to walk would be another.

Seriously, only wealthy people have money for walking dogs and you know how wealth people get/stay wealthy? They dont pay people. There is a major recession due on the way in 3 months, better off upskilling yourself for what is coming ahead.

Jim2007

skooterblue2 wrote: »

Seriously, only wealthy people have money for walking dogs and you know how wealth people get/stay wealthy? They dont pay people. There is a major recession due on the way in 3 months, better off upskilling yourself for what is coming ahead.

And yet seriously they do pay for dog walking... oh and as for a recession it could be tomorrow, next week or next year something else you don't know.

HeidiHeidi

The major flaw I would see in your plan is that it's presumably mostly weekdays that people need dog walkers.

skooterblue2

Jim2007 wrote: »

And yet seriously they do pay for dog walking... oh and as for a recession it could be tomorrow, next week or next year something else you don't know.

I deal with wealthy people and regular folk. You get less arguments from ordinary people. Plus you have to be extra careful and wealthy people are obsessed with the law and suing. You may need insurance.

As for the recession its on the cards and will be here sooner than you think. You have had a bumper christmas takings, house prices are peaking without an increase in the manufacturing index. The banks (deutsche) are telling you this boom will continue for years. scary times ahead.

s7ryf3925pivug

Garda vetting? It would be useful. Doggy Daycare places get plenty of business. Not all dogs like them though (ours hated it).

The_Honeybadger

skooterblue2 wrote: »

The first thing I would look for would be a ordinary degree in Canine Studies and the ability to walk would be another.

Seriously, only wealthy people have money for walking dogs and you know how wealth people get/stay wealthy? They dont pay people. There is a major recession due on the way in 3 months, better off upskilling yourself for what is coming ahead.

Not true re only rich people spending money on pets, people are spending more on pets than ever before. Doggie day care places are popping up now because people don’t want their pets to be lonely during the day for example. The people using them are not all rich.

Op the one genuine issue I see is that your availability is Fri - Sun, generally speaking professionals are off at the weekends so the demand for dog walking would be during the week.

Restaurant / bar / hotel work would dovetail well with your Mon - Thurs job and there is plenty of work around assuming that you live in a well populated area.

skooterblue2

Daxton Most Martini wrote: »

Garda vetting? It would be useful. Doggy Daycare places get plenty of business. Not all dogs like them though (ours hated it).

That sounds like a better business idea. low cost start up, in your own back yard.

dobman88

Where are you based? Theres a lady near us and she started up her business called "Fitdog" over 2 years ago. Can find her on Facebook. She comes to check in on our dogs for an hour every day Mon-Fri while we are at work.

Maybe make a few posters and put them up on local notice boards, local pages on facebokk etc.

Tilikum17

skooterblue2 wrote: »

The first thing I would look for would be a ordinary degree in Canine Studies and the ability to walk would be another.

Seriously, only wealthy people have money for walking dogs and you know how wealth people get/stay wealthy? They dont pay people. There is a major recession due on the way in 3 months, better off upskilling yourself for what is coming ahead.

Rubbish. It costs about €10 for someone to take your dog out for an hour.

Op - Go to your local vets & speak to the vet nurses & ask are people looking for a dog walker/pet sitter.

My mrs made a fortune in London pet sitting/dog walking. More & more people are looking for dog walkers here now too.

Gudog or something is a website to look up - people going away at the weekend. You stay in their house & look after their pet rather than sending them to a kennels

You’ll need insurance.

Dial Hard

Daxton Most Martini wrote: »

Garda vetting? It would be useful. Doggy Daycare places get plenty of business. Not all dogs like them though (ours hated it).

You can't just decide to be Garda vetted because it would be generally useful. Only specific roles/industries/voluntary sectors (generally dealing with children or vulnerable adults) fall under the requirements.

QuestionSpark

Know of someone who walks/minds dogs. They walked a dog or two when the owner couldn't, did a short course in petcare (not sure title) and now has steady 'clientele'.

scamalert

simple questions like ur location is it city- as small towns would be low demand, another one is your house pet friendly and do you own have pets (dogs) in this case yourself- if no then prob no one would bother with someone with 0 experience.



Now the flaw as someone mentioned your looking to do it over weekends when most people are actually bother to bring their a$$ out so this reduces your chances, but if you have dogs, and can accomodate, i would see some niche like dog sitting come summer - as most people go on hols pets are issue, and its hard to find trusted person to leave pets with. then again if you can only do few days chances are slim, maybe look at your local fb pets lover groups and ask around, to see if theres any demand.

Jim2007

skooterblue2 wrote: »

I deal with wealthy people and regular folk. You get less arguments from ordinary people. Plus you have to be extra careful and wealthy people are obsessed with the law and suing. You may need insurance.

And I've spent 30 years managing money and the amount spent on pets is insane.

skooterblue2 wrote: »

As for the recession its on the cards and will be here sooner than you think. You have had a bumper christmas takings, house prices are peaking without an increase in the manufacturing index.

Recessions are cyclical, so of course there will be another one, you just have no idea no more than the many in the moon when it will happen. However it will have little impact on the rich spend on their pets.

skooterblue2 wrote: »

The banks (deutsche) are telling you this boom will continue for years. scary times ahead.

Deutsche are a basket case, they have the wrong product mix and the wrong customers. It's very much in their interests to put a good face on it. If your listening to them, then you have a problem.

OMM 0000

If it were me, I'd print up flyers and deliver them to every home in my neighbourhood.

ellejay

My next door neighbour minds dogs and dog walks.
She actually gave up work to do it full time so there's definitely money in it.

Her clientele are all word of mouth though.
And she's fussy about what dogs she takes.

Told me she charges between 18 - 25 per day.

Huge demand in the summer with people going on holidays and don't want to leave their pets in kennels.