Available for dog walking
 

Hi,My name is Olivia & I am nearly 16. I am available for dog walking most evenings during the week except Wednesdays & I am available all day throughout the weekend.
I have years of experience in dog walking due to pet ownership so I also have experience in handling dogs.
I don't currently pursue dog walking for money so I don't know the average rates but would be open to suggestions.

Re: Available for dog walking
 

Have you got insurance in case a dog you are walking runs off or attacks another dog? It is a big responsibility walking other people's dogs.

Re: Available for dog walking
 

You can get insurance for that! Sounds like a great idea. There are also special needs dogs that need expert care ... I have a deaf Jack Russell with an overactive nose, and a goofy, people-friendly Rotti. Walking the two of them together is a challenge.

By the way, good luck Olivia.

Re: Available for dog walking
 

No I have no insurance as I am willing to walk people dogs by their own choice.Also pet owners are not insured for if their dog attacks another dog & seen as I will only be walking the dog it's the owners decision if they want me to take it.

Re: Available for dog walking
 

I wouldn't worry too much about the insurance thing. You can put together a contract which absolves you of financial responsibility for their dog's behaviour, and other eventualities such as the dog escaping its lead and going missing.

You can't mandate against negligence, so if (for example) a fine is charged for the dog fouling the pavement and you don't clear it up, that would be your responsibility.

You can pick and choose your customers. Not many owners are stupid, but as with everyone it's the stupid minority that make life difficult for the rest. Anyone who gives you a detailed report of their dog's usual behaviour and likes/dislikes will probably be OK. Anyone who just hands over their dog and expects you to work it out for yourself should be approached with more caution. Anyone who gets upset that their water-loving Labrador (or whatever) comes back wet is obviously an idiot and should be avoided.

A short questionnaire about the dog's personality can be worded so it helps assess the owner's personality too.

A dog owner would probably only expect to pay the national minimum wage to start with - £3.68 per hour for someone your age. When you get a few regulars you will probably find they will pay more just to get someone they can trust and/or someone who is willing to book times that are convenient for them. There are two dogs in this house, I'd expect to have to pay more for walking them together, but not twice the rate for just walking one.

Re: Available for dog walking
 

Thankyou very much for the advice and I very much agree.But unfortunately i do not as yet have any customers :(

Re: Available for dog walking
 

try putting an advert in supermarket notice boards

Re: Available for dog walking
 

Advertising on bulletin boards is a good idea; and probably free or dirt cheap:dancedog: It crossed my mind that there maybe some opportunity with seniors who own pets, but who aren't quite as mobile and active as they used to be. Perhaps there's a seniors' council in the area. It might be worthwhile checking in on them. There seems to be demand for the service in my home town. And it looks like there's good bucks to be made. This is one of them ... neat website too:

Kingston Pet Sitting Services : Home - Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Re: Available for dog walking
 

Try an advert in local vets and pet shops

Re: Available for dog walking
 

...or just go out for a walk. You can use the opportunity to do a bit of market research.

Re: Available for dog walking
 

Are you on facebook Olivia?Advertising on facebook may help -Maybe start a business page for yourself and offer your services on some groups you're a member of or can become a member of? Or put 'DogWalker' as your middle name lol.

Studio25 makes some very good points about dog ownership.

I know my dog's previous owners let the local children walk her-that makes me think about what sort of people they were. She was very unruly when I first got her as they had given her zero training, and she's very strong. I'd have worried about her seeing a cat/squirrel/other distraction and bolting across a busy road and taking the child flying with her, or similar scenarios. There are dog owners out there who aren't responsible at all.
I personally would never want to let anybody walk her even now, after her behaviour has been addressed. I didn't let my own Mother walk her when she asked to, she's very headstrong and requires a certain way of handling-and hasn't yet learned to respond well to recall unless It's done in a specific way-but her previous owners didn't give this a thought process it seems.

Re: Available for dog walking
 

Think you have identified another point to look at. Before walking anyone's dog, eyeball the owners. If they look like lugans (uncomplimentary Ontario term;)), then the animal may be difficult to handle. And one should always make sure to get a heads up on any habits a dog may have. My deaf JRT doesn't know traffic, and she likes to chase squirrels ... and we have no shortage of those in K'town.

Re: Available for dog walking
 

I've just asked my man what that term means and he doesn't know (and he's from Toronto). :)

Re: Available for dog walking
 

I hadn't noticed it until I came to Kingston. Buddy of mine, who spent time in Kingston Pen, thinks it came from the prisons. And we have lots of prisons in Kingston ... let me think, ... seven of them.

Ah, Toronto, the city Canadians love to hate. I still have a t-shirt from the time of the last referendum on Quebec seperatisme. It reads: "If Quebec Separates, Make Them Take Toronto";)

Re: Available for dog walking
 

:D and do you still wear it?
JRT=Jack Russell?
I once had to re-train a Jack Russell , Brandy, that had gone blind, so sad but so rewarding :)lovely dog.