Ratreeper 441 Posted August 12, 2011 Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 I am looking for a bit of advice. I have always wanted to work with dogs but I have never had the opportunity. So I am thinking of starting my own dog walking business and hopefully pet sitting and day care in the future when I have moved house. Has anybody else tried the same? I really can't afford for it to fail because I have no savings, but I just can't handle the boring 9-6 bullshit routine anymore I really can't. I just have doubts because I can imagine lots of people try the same, and there is no skill involved to stop anybody trying. Would you pay £10/hour or £15 for 2 hours a couple of times a week for someone to exercise your dogs during the day? I am not looking to make any real money I just want to be able to make minimum wage doing what I love. Thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
OldNog 432 Posted August 12, 2011 Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 i wouldnt but im certain pet owners would. If i couldnt walk my own dogs and had to rely on someone else to do it i wouldnt keep them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Simoman 110 Posted August 12, 2011 Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 Tried doing it in the past, money is tight these days and its looked upon as a luxury item............ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lapin2008 1,587 Posted August 12, 2011 Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 Not on a regular basis (only when on short holidays or when there is no other option) but we have done on a number of occasions in the past, there is a woman in the village that does it. What she does do though is run more of a 'I will look after your pets in your own home when your away' type of business but that also includes dog walking so she looks after the job lot cats, gold fishes etc. I think she charges £5 per visit but as she lives near by its easy for her to pop round I would have thought if your to do it full time you would probably have to offer this as just dog walking to help increase the amount of people that your service will suit. good luck with it Quote Link to post Share on other sites
boyo 1,398 Posted August 12, 2011 Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 where i walk and run my dogs there are signs up everywhere a company as just started up dog walking and sitting they charge £10 an hour but not for me no point having a dog and paying someone to walk and exercise it . but i daresay theres loads of pet owners would be glad of the service . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lapin2008 1,587 Posted August 12, 2011 Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 I am looking for a bit of advice. I have always wanted to work with dogs but I have never had the opportunity. So I am thinking of starting my own dog walking business and hopefully pet sitting and day care in the future when I have moved house. Has anybody else tried the same? I really can't afford for it to fail because I have no savings, but I just can't handle the boring 9-6 bullshit routine anymore I really can't. I just have doubts because I can imagine lots of people try the same, and there is no skill involved to stop anybody trying. Would you pay £10/hour or £15 for 2 hours a couple of times a week for someone to exercise your dogs during the day? I am not looking to make any real money I just want to be able to make minimum wage doing what I love. Thanks I may be able to dog out a price list for her if you want Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lunita 57 Posted August 12, 2011 Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 if you go for the pet market alot of people that have jobs would pay for a dog walker i saw someone who had a thriving business from it. If u get a few regular customers who work and need their dogs walking 5 days a week you'd be ok ..its insurance and stuff that mite get you at start.House sittings a great idea too ..i mite have to look into that myself for future its so expensive to put them in kennels.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lapin2008 1,587 Posted August 12, 2011 Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 if you go for the pet market alot of people that have jobs would pay for a dog walker i saw someone who had a thriving business from it. If u get a few regular customers who work and need their dogs walking 5 days a week you'd be ok ..its insurance and stuff that mite get you at start.House sittings a great idea too ..i mite have to look into that myself for future its so expensive to put them in kennels.. Thats a good point to make, asking the question on here you are bound to get responses saying 'I prefer to walk them myself etc...' or 'i wouldnt have a dog if i couldnt be arsed to walk it..' But there are loads of people with pet dogs that work long hours etc and would most likely be keen for the help Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hannah4181 260 Posted August 12, 2011 Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 When i'm silly busy with work, i use a dog walker . . . but only because she'll let them off lead, gets that they can and will course and kill stuff and is totally dog savvy. There isn't many people i'd trust to walk my dogs. She's a gem and worth every penny when i'm busy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
blan89 159 Posted August 12, 2011 Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 I would only let someone i knew well and trusted take care of mine. another option for you if you have the space could be allowing them to stay with you. lots of pet owners who treat their dogs like kids hate the idea of kennels,i had a friend who used to do this and he'd palm off a few to me if he got too many. i got 10-15 per dog per night,im sure he got paid more than that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lunita 57 Posted August 12, 2011 Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 its all bout marketing and getting clients i used to see a girl made a great living from it..she had her little van with info on side for advertising youd see her walking bout 4-5 dogs a time so imagine thats 40-50 for an hour if you had enough to do few walks a day be ok...or like skycat said said what about people that work their dogs but wouldt trust them with a regular dog walker that wouldnt know working dogs..that could be anouther niche in market...do your research in your area i would think and see if is a market .. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scothunter 12,609 Posted August 12, 2011 Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 I prob wouldnt,i would be to scared they would let him off the lead. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
roebuck220 80 Posted August 12, 2011 Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 Only if she was good looking, and i saw it as a route into her pants Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FightTheBan 1,147 Posted August 12, 2011 Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 I let my neighbours kid play with the pups every day. The wee man has far more time and patience than me for that kind of thing and it brings them on leaps and bounds. Not a chance I would hire a dog walker. If I didn't have time for them, I would make time. FTB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ratreeper 441 Posted August 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2011 I agree if you can't walk your own dog you shouldn't have one, it really winds me up so it would be nice to give some poor dogs a decent bit of exercise. There isn't any competition apart from a company about 15 miles away that can cover this area, so not too bad. I can do my own online marketing no problem and I hope by giving my details to local boarding kennels, putting ads in the local paper and posters in the post office/vets etc I can get some interest. I have experience with everything except horses, including birds of prey so that might be a good direction too. Thanks for the replies, I am going to see how things go for a bit as I may be working part-time so I will try the dog walking just in the mornings and if it takes off then quit my other job. I really hope this works! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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