Your Dog Walker MUST Love and Understand Dogs!
Granted, the love for dogs goes without saying! But, truly understanding dogs, body language and humane dog training methods is critical. A great dog walker will have received training that allows them to:
A dependable dog walker will go the extra mile to make sure every dog receives a safe and enjoyable walk. He or she will always arrive on time and provide amazing service to the family every time. Dog walkers should have a postal carrier’s mentality; they show up no matter if it’s raining, sleeting, snowing or sunny.
A dog walker has to be accountable as the pet’s health and well-being are in his/her hands on a regular basis. Professional dog walkers always show up at the desired time and place, and are responsible for bringing dogs back safe and sound. Accountable dog walkers use calendars with set reminders to keep track of their schedule. Here is a tip: you can sync your scheduled walks in your calendar with Waze, which will alert you when you need to leave in order to make it to your dog walking appointment on time.
A good dog walker must be thorough in carrying out his/her duties. Most owners will leave notes about their dog’s health issues, triggers and preferences. A great dog walker makes sure to read—and remember—a note’s every detail before beginning a walk. The last thing anyone wants is a dog walker who does not follow instructions to the T. If a note states that the dog must be crated after the walk and the walker misses this detail, the owner could come home to a chewed up pair of Jimmy Choos, a ripped up signed Michael Jordan jersey or a damaged Eames chair.
Wag looks for dog walkers with experience as a pet professional. Our dog walkers are registered veterinary technicians, shelter volunteers, foster parents, dog groomers, dog trainers and/or have their own dog walking business. An experienced pet professional knows how to make the dog walk fun. With experience, our dog walkers know, among other things: 1) to bring all-natural treats, 2) how to deal with sluggish dogs and 3) how much energy each breed needs.
A passionate dog walker will never cut a dog walk short unless it’s an emergency. They take photos of their adventures and happily share them with their clients. Passionate dog walkers take pride in what they are doing, and it shows in the dogs they walk. They take the time to know as much about their four-legged clients as possible, including each dog’s birthday as well as favorite treats.
Do they seem compassionate in case of a crisis?
You want someone who will take a genuine interest in your dog’s welfare. They should be able to sympathise with your dog’s needs as well as yours. Then, if you do need that last minute favour you’ll have someone who understands. With this in mind, compassion is a very good quality to find in a dog walker!
7 MAJOR Hacks for DOG WALKERS
After 20 years in the dog-walking business, Ryan Stewart says he isnt just a dog person — he sees himself as one of the pack.
Stewart started his New York side hustle, Ryan for Dogs, in 2002 to earn money between sparse acting gigs. Now, its his full-time job: He makes roughly $60 per hour walking three to five pups at a time. Guaranteed work by a reputation built over multiple decades, Stewart makes up to $120,000 per year, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It.
“I dont even think of myself as loving dogs, its just that theyre almost like an extension,” Stewart tells CNBC Make It. “I dont love my right hand, you know? Its just there.”Ryan Stewart started dog-walking as a side hustle in 2002. Now, he makes up to $120,000 per year walking in New York City.CNBC Make It
Stewart, who declined to disclose his age, adds that the best part of his job is that “without a college degree, Ive managed to make six figures a year … doing something I love.” He works roughly 36 hours per week, spread across six days, he says — noting that dogs require constant attention, making his six-hour shifts often feel demanding.
“A good dog walker is focused and attentive, because you want to prevent your dog from getting hurt,” Stewart says. “You have to watch traffic. You have to watch the dogs [so they] dont fight each other. Its not one of those [jobs] that you can put on some AirPods and listen to music while youre doing it.”
Mistakes in his field are costly, Stewart says. Small lapses in focus could lead to a dogs tail getting caught in a door, potentially leading to a $2,000 vet bill.
But the benefits of spending his days with dogs, he says, outweigh the cons. Heres how he channeled his connection with dogs into a fulfilling and lucrative day job:
Growing up, Stewarts siblings mowed the lawn and set the dinner table. His chore was walking the familys dogs. So, when he started pursuing professional dancing in New York in his 20s, he thought dog-walking could be a natural side hustle.
“I remember standing on the street handing out business cards,” Stewart says. “I just started out with like one or two dogs [for] half a year, before that became three or four.”
After a couple of years, Stewart realized dog-walking could become more lucrative if it was his sole focus. But it would be a long road to get there: Despite high demand in large cities, the average dog walker in New York makes $35,625 per year, according to ZipRecruiter.Stewart says its a common misconception that you cant own a large dog in a small apartment. “Apartment size has nothing to do with the amount of exercise your dog gets, you know? If you have a big dog… that needs a lot of exercise, walk it a lot, take it out. Do you go to the gym or do you do jumping jacks in place in your apartment?”CNBC Make It
Today, Stewart says hes able to make more because people know his reputation: He charges about $20 to $25 for each dog on a group walk. Roughly half of his clients are from referrals, with the other half coming from applications submitted on his website.
Those applications can pile up. Stewart says hes selective about the types of dogs and owners he works with, and only responds to 10% of the requests he receives on his website.
“I dont [want] to go back to the owner and say, I dont want to walk your dog anymore,” he says. “If you annoy them, maybe theyll write a bad review.”
Stewarts schedule on weekdays includes two to three hours of walks in the morning, a break to hydrate and nap, then another two-to-three-hour evening shift. On Saturdays, he works one to two hours. He takes almost every Sunday off.
Stewart has strict rules for the road when it comes to his business. He always uses his own equipment, including four-foot leashes and collars — never harnesses.
“I like to have control of the dogs head,” he says. “If you have a dog on a harness and theres a chicken bone there and the dog tries to get it, the harness isnt very effective to keep the head from ducking down and snatching it, but a collar will prevent the dog from doing it.”
Stewart says he does “group walks” because he feels its better for the dogs to interact with one another. He occasionally walks some dogs off-leash, he adds: Sometimes it alarms the owners, but Stewart says he can tell which dogs are better at paying attention, and in 20 years, hes never had a dog run over by a car.
Some of Stewarts methods might perplex dog owners, but he insists hes learned from trial and error. He explains to each owner that his methods ultimately keep the dogs safer, part of why hes built a strong reputation.