How To Become A Successful Dog Walker

To become a dog walker or start a dog walking business one needs a love for dogs and a commitment to work hard to build the business. Here are a few tips to grow your dog walking business and make it a success.

Steps to make your dog walking business a success:

Being a dog walker requires preparation; you need to do a background research to determine your expenses, the charges the other professional dog walkers are charging and decide how much you will be making in a month. This will help set up a reasonable goal and the steps to achieve it.

The next step is to make a business plan; knowledge of accounting and marketing and a functional ability to read and write a contract is necessary. Establish goals like revenue projections, marketing strategies and hours and read through some business books. It would also help to take courses from community colleges.

To become a dog walker a good general knowledge of the most popular breeds and their specific behavioral tendencies is essential; you should have good dog handling skills and an understanding of dog socialization techniques and be able to read canine body posture.

Next, before you start soliciting business, find out the breeds you are comfortable or uncomfortable with; do you prefer a breed that is territorial or predatory, adventurous or independent, over stimulated or one that is fearful.

Next promote your services through a website and create one if necessary; you could also join a professional organization and gain more insight into the profession while networking with others in the industry and exchanging ideas and business tips. It would also help to create a profile in professional organizations and then apply for dog walking jobs.

It is best to practice safety and not take your charges to dog parks that are prime spaces for aggressive behavior; it is recommended that you carry full canister of citronella spray at all times that will deter most of the approaching dogs and coyotes.

Next learn to handle bad situations like your dog may be scared and running away and biting someone when it sees a dog that is gotten off its leash. It is also suggested that you do not walk your dog beside other people who walk their dog and simply adjust your path so the dogs aren't passing each other side by side.

Remember it is easier and calmer to walk your dog in places that are not crowded and the temperature is neither too hot nor too cold.

Next you have to set your boundaries; if you specialize in dog walking, ensure clients do not contact you for pet-sitting services. It's a good idea to diversify your business offerings, as long as you understand your overall business goals, direct and indirect costs and availability.

Start with small groups of dogs when you start and then increase the number of dogs you walk; a good dog handler, with well-behaved dogs, should be able to walk six large dogs at a time.

Lastly it takes time, experience and patience to build a good image and slowly become a successful dog walker.

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