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We all love our dogs. They are always
there when we are feeling down. They are
always ready to wag their tails for us and
make us smile. They are our best friends,
and we would do anything for them, well,
except walk them.
For some reason, many people do not walk
their dogs. In some cases it is that they
have no time, in others it is simply they do
not feel the need to go out walking with
their dog.
This is tough for the dog because many have
so much energy they just want to go out and
run around. This is where you and your dog
walking service come in. You will be there
to take the dogs for walks when the owners
simply can’t, or choose not to.
The Concept
If you love dogs, love the outdoors and love
to walk, then you may have found the perfect
job for you. Starting a dog walking service
will allow you to have your love of all of
these, all at once, while you get paid for
it.
In some places in North America, including
New York, dog walking is a huge business and
it is only beginning to boom right now.
Estimates currently state that only three
percent of households in America use dog
walkers, but that amounts to 50 million
visits each year by dog walkers to the homes
of the pets they walk. Nationwide, there are
only a few thousand dog walkers, so the
field is wide open for you and your dog
walking business.
It is up to you to take the dogs out and
give them the exercise that they need on a
regular basis. You will often have more than
one dog leashed on your hand, so you need to
be able to handle a lot of dogs, a lot of
commotion, while keeping the most important
things in your client’s lives, their dogs,
safe.
It is amazing to think that only a few
decades ago, dog walking did not exist as a
business. However, in the 1970s that all
changed when there was a big decrease in
stay-at-home moms, and dogs suddenly needed
to be taken out for walks.
Startup Costs
Startup costs for this type of career are
incredibly small. In fact, all you really
need to pay for is a good set of walking
shoes and some advertising. Leashes, food
and everything else will be provided by your
clients. If you want to go the extra mile
though, you can provide those things
yourself. Your client’s will appreciate the
gesture
How to Market It
You will want to market your dog walking
service in the more upscale areas of the
city. It is unlikely that you will find much
business in the poorer neighborhoods as
people will have more important things to
spend their money on. Put up posters and
brochures in vet shops, pet food stores and
even sneak a few in the pet food aisle at
your local grocery store. You can also put
some ads in the paper. There will be plenty
of people who will see those ads and need to
use your service. Word of mouth, as always,
is a huge benefit to your business, so do a
good job and get the word out there.
