How To Become a Dog Walker

Happy woman walking with dog in early Sunday morning in London, Notting Hill.

LeoPatrizi / Getty Pictures

Becoming a canine walker can be a exciting and interesting way to earn some more money or probably a comprehensive-time revenue. Even so, the job route for pet walkers is not as clear as it is for other professions.

The excellent news is that becoming a canine walker is not hard if you abide by the appropriate steps. If you have the power (and a like for canines), you have what it requires to come to be a puppy walker.

What Does a Canine Walker Do?

Puppy walkers care for clients’ canines when they are absent from house. Obligations involve taking clients’ puppies on walks, cleansing up immediately after them, and tending to any of the dog’s needs that may perhaps arise through your time jointly.

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Canine walkers often wander more than a single puppy at a time, but it is important that they can give their full attention to each individual dog they walk. Consumers need to come to feel that their pet dogs are perfectly cared for and you aren’t compromising good quality of treatment in purchase to walk several dogs.

How A lot Should You Get Compensated To Walk a Doggy?

How a great deal you must get paid to walk a puppy depends on several variables. On the other hand, the largest components are probable your amount of experience and where by you live.

For instance, if you are a brand name-new pet dog walker and dwell in a reduced-charge marketplace, your hourly level will be on the low finish. But if you have been puppy strolling for 20 several years and stay in New York or San Francisco, your prices will very likely be much higher.

Thus, there is fairly a assortment of pay for canine walkers in the U.S. The typical hourly fork out is about $15 to $17 for every hour. In conditions of yearly compensation, the variety is $13,500 to $52,000, according to ZipRecruiter.

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Customers typically have two or far more canine, which is a little something to take into consideration if you want to wander much more than a single pet dog at a time. Canine walkers can have an more dog level, but it is typically decrease than the fee for the 1st pet.

How To Become a Dog Walker

The route to turning out to be a pet dog walker is potentially considerably less obviously described than it is for other professions, but that doesn’t indicate it has to be tricky. There are two primary approaches to grow to be a puppy walker:

Be a part of a pet dog going for walks marketplace. One particular way to grow to be a pet walker is by signing up for a support this kind of as Rover or Wag. This is the least complicated way to get began and obtain new customers. On the other hand, these platforms cost service fees for their providers, which can be superior.
Start your very own puppy strolling small business. It is attainable to start off your possess, impartial enterprise as a dog walker. This will make it possible for you to steer clear of charges, but it can be tougher to discover consumers, primarily when you are new.

Evaluations and testimonials can also be invaluable to escalating your pet going for walks business enterprise. Do not be frightened to question folks who know you well to create a brief testimonial for you. The same goes for purchasers who are content with the assistance you present.

Getting on New Clients

Just before using on a new client, dog walkers ought to satisfy with the client to see if it is the suitable suit — not just with the puppy you will be walking, but with their owner, way too.

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When you fulfill with the proprietor, they need to go above all the demands of their doggy or canines. Be guaranteed they deliver specific directions for every single canine, which include a agenda and any particular requires.

Also inquire the owner any thoughts if they have not already answered them, these types of as:

Does the doggy get alongside with other canine, people today, children, and so forth.?
What is their wander schedule/agenda?
What is their crisis vet/speak to?
Does the pet dog have any other distinctive requires?

Asking these queries will assure all the things goes effortlessly with every puppy. The extra complete you can be right before using on a new consumer, the greater.

Skills To Come to be a Pet Walker

Dog walkers really do not have to have distinct certifications to get commenced like a lot of professions do. Even so, it aids if you are physically active, particularly if you will be walking more substantial, higher-vitality puppies. This will aid you match their electricity stage so you never get confused.

In some metropolitan areas and states, you may possibly want a small business license, but this varies based on in which you stay. Verify with your secretary of condition in advance of getting begun.

When turning into a dog walker doesn’t call for precise training, capabilities or education and learning, there are numerous ways you can boost your information and skills all-around caring for puppies. This will make it less complicated to uncover new clientele as it will reassure them that their puppy is with a proficient experienced.

Some expertise that may possibly support you land new consumers include things like:

Administering oral medication to pet dogs
Administering injected medication to pet dogs
Caring for senior or unique needs dogs
Figuring out 1st aid and/or CPR for puppies

Optional Skills

Adding some of these optional qualifications to your resume may assist you land new consumers:

Qualified Skilled Pet Sitter (CPPS)
National Association of Skilled Pet Sitters (NAPPS) certification
Animal care classes
Puppy walker certification

As described, all of these are about putting your clients’ minds at relieve. They can also help improve your earnings, notably if you don’t have much pet dog walking experience. Having said that, other than a enterprise license (in some conditions), you typically don’t have to have particular skills to turn into a puppy walker.

Bottom Line

Getting a pet walker is a excellent way for pet dog lovers to get paid some excess cash or even a full-time living. Acquiring commenced does not have to be complicated, but it isn’t generally apparent for aspiring pet dog walkers what techniques they should think about. In standard, becoming a member of a canine strolling marketplace or starting your personal dog walking small business are the two paths to consider.

Doggy walkers can get paid a modest living, but hourly spend varies considerably centered on aspects such as your experience and exactly where you live. You can maximize your earnings by gaining additional experience or adding appropriate certifications and education. As you get additional expertise, you can increase your fees and possibly even convert canine walking into your full-time work — or start out your possess pet walking enterprise.

Data is correct as of July 22, 2022.

About the Author

Bob Haegele is a own finance writer who specializes in subjects this sort of as investing, banking and credit score playing cards. He remaining his working day work in 2019 to pursue his enthusiasm for supporting men and women get out of personal debt and make wealth. You can locate his perform at outlets these kinds of as Small business Insider, Forbes Advisor and SoFi.