The holiday season is quickly approaching. This has many people considering how they can make a little extra money. A part-time job is a great way to make a couple extra bucks this season.
If you love dogs and the outdoors, walking dogs can help you fill your pockets with some extra spending money this season.
Read below to see if you have what it takes to be a dog walker.
What’s Needed to Be A Dog Walker?
The requirements to become a dog walker are not too difficult. That is, as long as you are considering it as a side hustle.
If you work for an actual business, you will have to abide by their minimum standard requirements. But if you are looking to work for yourself, no one can tell you what requirements you need. Most dog walking businesses will require at least a high school diploma or GED.
No matter what avenue you are going through, there are some common-sense requirements.
First, you should like animals. Someone who has never had a dog before may not be the best choice for this job, but that’s not to say that you cannot walk dogs just because you don’t own one. A dog walker needs to be sympathetic toward dogs and understanding a dog’s motivations will be key to dealing with dogs of various sizes.
A dog walker also needs to be able to walk for extended periods of time and in all sorts of weather. There’s no calling in for a snow day because those pups are going to want to experience it all. No matter how cold it gets, someone is relying on you to help take care of their pet.
Getting along with dogs and being willing to get some outdoor time is really all that’s needed for the job itself. But don’t forget that you’ll also deal with other people. If you are a bit of an introvert, you might consider working on your people skills too. You’ll be advocating for yourself if you are not using another business to set appointments, so make sure you are able to get along with others.
Lastly, you can plan to just make this a temporary gig. If you want to make this more permanent, you can consider getting certified. There are certifications in dog walking, leash training, animal body language and even first aid. A certification helps to prove you are a great choice to take care of a family’s dog.
Dog Walking Hours
You know the best part about being a dog walker? You get to set your own hours.
Whether you want to walk in the early morning or later in the evening, you get to decide when you work. Of course, the caveat to this is that the time you want to work has to fit into other people’s schedules as well.But as long as you and your client can be a little flexible, you can always fit a little walk in.
Most apps or website that facilitate meeting clients also allow you to set your work window. This helps people know when you are available and what’s off limits. If you’re not using an app, just make sure you set expectations with your clients from the beginning.
Key Dog Walker Skills
To be a dog walker, you have to at least be good with animals. If you have experience taking care of your own pets, you’ve already got an in.
You will also have to be a sales person. You have to put on a nice face for your client, even if their dog just made a mess on your shoes or chewed your new jacket. You need to make sure your human client still wants you around and sees value in what you are doing. Getting on their nerves isn’t a great idea.
You also need to be able to handle the outdoors. If you’re the type of person who can’t stand being out in the cold or rain, walking dogs might not be a great decision.
How Much Does Dog Walking Pay?
How much walking dogs pays is kind of a hard question to answer. The best answer is to set your own rate.
The truth though is that the hurdle to entry is pretty low, so there may be people out there who are just looking for work and driving down income. But there are also people out there who take the job very seriously and have made themselves highly skilled.
The pay can fluctuate because of this. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median income for a dog walker at $12 an hour. Of course, if you’re highly skilled at dealing with animals, you can ask for more.
The best answer is that you can be paid what you expect. Will you make $50 per walk? Most likely not., but setting up expectations early in your dog walking relationship will help make sure no surprises pop up.
Services to Help you Meet Clients
While you can surely meet clients by posting signs around your neighborhood, a more aggressive approach may help gain a boost. There are two services that can help you meet up with people in your area.
Rover
Rover seems to be a great site to check out if you’re looking for families in your area that need help with their pooch. The requirements are pretty easy to be accepted as well. You need to be at least eighteen and pass a background check.
Once accepted, you’ll be able to see “pet parents” in your area. You can even offer extra services like boarding, house sitting, and doggy day care.
If you choose to use Rover, know that they take on average 20% of your earnings to help offset the cost of their service.
Wag!
In order to walk with Wag!, you must be at least eighteen years of age. They also check to make sure you are physically able to walk at least 20 minutes at a time. They also require you to pass a quiz on dog care, safety, and harnesses.
Once you pass, you’ll be able to meet up with dog families in your area.
Hopefully this has given you an idea of how you can make some extra money walking dogs. While it certainly is not for everyone, walking dogs gives the chance to be outdoors and with dogs. What’s not to love?