Pet Home Boarding/Walking Service

ATM_2

Hi everyone,

I have been looking at earning some extra money for a while and wanted to combine it with my love of dogs.

Does anyone does this? Any advice.

I have mocked up an advert and am going to post on gumtree, freeindex and similar things. Any others?

Is flyering around the more affluent areas a good idea. (Liverpool & Wallasey)?

The pets will be housed in my mums house with our dog (3yr old pug). Large house, big enclosed garden opposite a huge park.

I thought around £12 per day for home boarding. £5 for 40mins walk £6 for 1hr walk. Fair prices?

Also further down the line is it advisable to get insurance and/or council approval?

Thanks, Anthony

_Andy_

Yes you will need insurance and licensing.

Rate is fine..

Always make sure you invite the client round so dogs can meet etc

Ensure clients dog has had vaccinations etc

I do boarding through an agency - they take a cut but takes away hassle of organisation, insurance etc

Kayalana99

I actally think thats really expensive. Don't you walk more then one dog at a time? Two dogs is £12 an hour! :eek:

Don't have a dog and never looked into it but if I needed a dog walker I would of thought like £2 an hour unless it was just for my dog...

_Andy_

Sorry meant to say, my comment about rates related to boarding.

Also you need to think about contingency planning - what are you going to do if you have a client booked in then you're taken ill etc?

kendall17

Just written up some books for a client who is a dog walker/sitter. She charges £10 for a 40min walk & around £200 a week for sitting.

Was suprised to see it so expensive but she has done quite well and has regular dogs and does it around her extremely unsociable working hours.

little_miss_muppet_face

Kayalana99 wrote: »

I actally think thats really expensive. Don't you walk more then one dog at a time? Two dogs is £12 an hour! :eek:

Don't have a dog and never looked into it but if I needed a dog walker I would of thought like £2 an hour unless it was just for my dog...

£2 an hour?? Our dog walker is £10 per hour..which is the going rate around here..

Maz

I did this up until about three years ago and I loved it! I didn't offer the dog walking service, just home boarding for dogs. Most of my houseguests were poochies that were elderly/not in the best of health etc and the owners wanted them to be in a more homely environment rather than kennels. When they came to stay, they brought their own beds/food/toys/blankets etc and I used to charge £15 per 24 hour stay and more for Christmas and bank holidays etc. I advertised on Gumtree, local pet shops, post offices, vets etc

The dogs would stay for a night f.o.c. to see if they were suitable and likely to settle. I only had one that was clearly distressed at being parted from it's owners and I seemed to spend the night comforting him and cleaning up vomit and pooh! Other than that, it was a great way to make some extra cash. Unfortunately, when the recession really started to bite, business tailed off massively. Plus, I acquired a new cat who is terrified of everything so that put the tin hat on it really.

One of my regulars dogs moved to France and still sends me a Christmas card every year!

Maz

Kayalana99 wrote: »

Don't have a dog and never looked into it but if I needed a dog walker I would of thought like £2 an hour unless it was just for my dog...

LOL you are joking, right? The only way you'd get anyone to walk a dog for £2 per hour would be if you employed child labour. :rotfl:

A woman who lives round the corner from me offers dog walking and she charges £8 per hour. She's very busy too as she's been told her rates are quite cheap!

Fruittea

I charge £10 for a dog visit which usually involves a walk, maybe a clean up and a feed. When you consider all that (and in winter the dog can need an clean and a dry) it can take a bit of time. Also you need to get to the dog. Sometimes it's quite quick and I gain a bit of time - sometimes I loose. Be careful you don't loose out. with the prices you're charging.

Good luck though - you'll also have the benefits of getting fit!:T

Suarez

ATM wrote: »

Also further down the line is it advisable to get insurance and/or council approval?

I would look to get insurance before you even start..What if a dog gets seriously injured? The owners will expect you to cover the vets bill and compensation no doubt.

tuttifruiti20

I think your rates seem quite fair, you will definitely need insurance before you start up.