Dog walker

desperate_lou

:rolleyes: Hi all,

Im just after a bit of advise really, am thinking of advertising my services as a dog walker, I have a two year old border collie and presently walk two yorkshire terriers for a local lady for £3 a day (wow) what i want to know as im not registered as a dog walker and its obviously isnt a business, would you be willing for someone to walk your dog whilst your at work, and how much would you think is an acceptable amount to charge:rolleyes:

I was thinking of advertising in shop window and maybe pet shop, i can get a reference from the lady whose dogs i walk.

Any advise really would be appreciated.

lou:D

cazziebo

Pity you don't live in Scotland!

I'm looking for a dog walker and it's way more important to me that the person loves my dog and looks after them than them being registered.

It was the same with childminding - it mattered more to me that the person I had was caring with a loving home than being registered. And before anyone jumps down my throat - as many did - she was also a registered nurse and children's nurse but couldn't register as a childminder as she lived in a flat and there was a bizarre rule in the area that registered childminders had to have two exits to the house. Would regularly see the registered childminders leaving kids in cars while they shopped, had coffees, and on one occasion - got their haircut :eek:

Go for it - you might be helping someone keep a dog that would otherwise have to be rehomed.

desperate_lou

cazziebo wrote: »

Pity you don't live in Scotland!

I'm looking for a dog walker and it's way more important to me that the person loves my dog and looks after them than them being registered.


Go for it - you might be helping someone keep a dog that would otherwise have to be rehomed.

Thanks Cazziebo

I love dogs, it would be the perfect job for me seeing as i already walk my own each day and have two children so no organizing child minding during school hols etc.

What do you think is a fair price though, dog walkers around this area charge around £6 -£10 an hour.

lou

walwin

As you've got your own dog I assume you have a vet you use regularly? How about asking the vet if you can put a notice up on their board.
When we were looking for a dog walker for my Dad's dog (also in Scotland, cazziebo) the first place we looked was the vet, then the local pet shops.
We had to put our own notices up in the end as nobody was advertising. At that time (early last year) it was a fiver for an hours walk.
I wouldn't worry too much about not being registered either. I'd rather see how someone interacted with my dog than whether or not they were an 'official' dog walker.

Good luck with it:)

kickstart_3

I think people with 'pedigree' dogs might not be so keen on the idea , dont get me wrong all dogs are priceless to their owners, but pedigrees have been known to be stolen and sold on , i would want to know the person i entrusted my dog with and wouldnt use a notice in a shop ..sorry!

WeirdoMagnet

kickstart wrote: »

I think people with 'pedigree' dogs might not be so keen on the idea , dont get me wrong all dogs are priceless to their owners, but pedigrees have been known to be stolen and sold on , i would want to know the person i entrusted my dog with and wouldnt use a notice in a shop ..sorry!

It's not just pedigree dogs that are stolen! You may find it hard to believe, but rescue dogs have been stolen (some even from rescue centres), and some people have even their cross-breeds pinched! :rolleyes:

It's a difficult thing to be a dog walker. On one hand, you think 'how hard can it be?' - all you've got to do is go to someone's house, walk the dog, and that's it. But it gets more complicated if the dog is not 'straightforward' - an owner may want to know what your dog training/behaviour experience is etc, and what about insurance (public liability). It's all quite involved, and if it were me, I'd want to be properly prepared.

Georgie

ckerrd

I know someone who had a couple of dogs, she worked in an office wasn't enjoying it,and decided she preferred being with the dogs.
Left work and set up dog walking business. Been at it now for over 5 years and still loves it. And makes money and keeps fit.

And lives in Scotland (big place)

desperate_lou

Thanks all

I came about walking the yorkshire terriers by chance (advert in shop window placed by owner) she worked each day and needed someone to give them walk and company. Had no trouble with them at all. I appreciate some dogs will be alot harder work than others, but wouldn t just accept any dog until i had met them and their owner and been out for walk with them first, to determine whether we are suitable together. So from that point of view im not to worried.

Just not sure whether i have to become registered if i do it on a regular basis etc, was aiming to do two dogs aday. As the terriers are moving soon so will no longer be able to do them.

Still have my georgeous border collie though who is friendly and just loves playing with other dogs.

Thanks you all the advise :T

lou

alfiedog_2

My daughter runs a pet care/dog walking business. She has insurance and is police checked. She has her own website which has brought in quite a lot of business as well as advertising in vets, shop windows and leaflets.
She has a degree in Animal Management but wanted to work for herself and loves her job. She looks after cats while their owners are on holiday as many do not want them to go to a cattery so they stay in their own home and my daughter goes in to feed/play/change litter etc.
The dogs she walks are all owned by people who are out at work for the best part of the day and their dogs need walking/company.
It is a great job for a dog lover apart from rainy cold winter days:D

snipzychick

Hi desperate lou

my hubby is a dog walker/sitter and he advertises in the local vets and also pet shops. He seems to get the best results from our local 'pets at home' store, so that could be a good place to start. I'm not sure if you have one of those in brighton buy any good pet shop is defo worth a try

good luck:D

affordmylife

I would be willing to use a dog walker I trusted. You have to get to know someone and their dog. I would pay about £3.00 for half hour ( say ten mins play and twenty mins walk or something ) It would be a god send to people who work but there would have to be trust due to access to their house and possible theft of pet. Good luck with it.