Anybody know anything about the dogwalking business?

[chaska]

I hate my job. I love animals. 2=2=? Does it add up? Is it possible to make a living doing this?

What can ya'll tell me?

[KittyWampus]

1. If Not Dogwalking... How About Dog Sitting?

I know people who tend to people's animals when the owners are out of town.

Fairly good, off the books type money.

[ikojo]

14. I dog sit for people and love doing it.

I get to live in some nice houses for a week or longer (I liked it when the economy was doing better because people took longer vacations)

[Donkeyboy75]

2. We have someone walk our pooch twice weekly,

due to some long hours. We know him pretty well, and based on the number of clients he has, we think he takes in $90,000 a year or so. We live in the city of Chicago though, so he has a lot of clients. Do you live in an urban area?

[SheilaT]

3. I did a fast google search

just with the word "dogwalking". There are lots of hits. Here's one link: http://www.gothamist.com/archives/2003/08/21/dogwalking_in_la.php

It's about dogwalking in LA.

Not sure if you'd need a license -- probably depends on where you live.

I'd say do some more on-line research, see if there's anything in your local classified, maybe post a card saying you walk dogs in supermarket, community bulletin boards, and so on. I have a niece who used to earn decent money when in junior high minding pets for people on vacation. I bet with a little hustling you can do okay. Of course, if you earn six figures you might not be able to do that well walking dogs, but it might be worth a pay cut!

Good luck. Let us know if you make the career switch.

[phantom power]

4. the view is always the same...

[chaska]

5. Wow, didn't expect any positive responses. These, so far, are great,.

Yeah, I just moved to the Los Angeles area.

90 Gs, are you serious?!?!?!

[Donkeyboy75]

6. Yep. I don't believe he is licensced, either.

He takes the dogs to the dog park, and lets them run around. I've spied on him before, and he does a great job keeping an eye on all of them. However, the dog park has a rule that no one person can bring more than three dogs in. He routinely flaunts this rule (bringing in 15-20). I've seen him get ticketed before. He just rips it up in front of the cop.

[chaska]

7. I'm gonna have to give this some serious thought.

I have a van. I live in a big city. I'm frankly gifted when it comes to animals. I actually like them more than pretty much all people (okay, who doesn't?) I'm very responsible. I do sometimes feel a bit like a crusader when it comes to how people treat their animals. I'll report yer ass in a skinny minute. I would feel compelled to report my own brother and his family if I hadn't taken over care of his three dogs and cat.

I'm starting to get excited about this.

[KittyWampus]

8. Chaska, My Friends Who Do Dogsitting Focus On Wealthy People

So if you go ahead with this... think of distributing flyers etc. in "those neighborhoods".

Also, Vets offices.

[sweetheart]

9. Focus on people who love their dogs

My dogs are my children, and I want to know that whomever i pay
to care for them, will treat them for the little dragons they are.
I feel so sad leaving them with people who treat them like animals
and don't play with them and treat them as equal souls.

I am rather on the path of dog breeder, and i will have scottie
puppies this fall from this scottish highland pair. I wonder that
a highland bloodline might fetch a fair price on american ebay if
i could vet the auction fairly that bidders would provide a quality
home.

Dog walking and dog sitting is a hot profession. Dog grooming as
well given what i've paid to get clipping, geesh, i pay less on
my own hair.

If you have transport even better. Getting off work early to pick
up the doggies from the groomer is a real pain.

[KittyWampus]

10. Selling Dogs On Ebay?

I had no idea... does that really happen?

I've known 2 dog breeders (Great Danes 7 German Shepherds) and they were REALLY particular about finding homes for their little ones... so I could see why it would be hard to vet people from ebay.

[sweetheart]

13. I don't know

I figured it would be possible given what i've heard has been put
up for sale there. I figure for 5 to 10 thousand dollars for a
scottish highland 6 generation bloodline scottish terrier would be
quite reasonable given the scarcity in the worldwide market. Just
transport and good homes are a complexity i've yet to tangle with.

I figure anyone who'd pay 10 grand for a doggie and fly it 5000
miles would be likely to provide a quality home for the little
magical being. Barney is a commoner next to a pure blood highland
scottie dog... ha! ;-) If i can't do it on ebay, i'll put up
my own website and take email-offers from china, japan and the US
for over 10 thousand or don't bother. However, ebay would be my
preferred path. These scotties are being bred on hundreds of
acres of free range land by the ocean where they are the kings
of the earth and wear no collars.

Only someone with serious cash can afford to provide the space it
takes to properly house such a special animal. I figured that
price might select on ebay such a provider. Maybe its just a bad
idea and i'll end up dong it all in person. The jury's out, i've
already enough local requests to fill an order book.

[sweetheart]

11. doggie taxi

This is just an impulsive add on... as a dog owner in american
life, my biggest area of "PAIN" (in a marketing sense) was getting
the doggies to and from the vet and groomer whilst i was at work.
They have appointments just like kids do, and they are never
convenient, and as well, doggies don't come to work with most people.

If you market in concert with a local vet/groomer to do the return
trip taxi service, and perhaps airports as well, even including the
arrangement of things... like if i could call you and ask you to get
dog x and y transported to Bruxelles on friday for a show, or for
a buyer.

I remember having to leave new york city early to take the train
back to stamford connecticut to pick up the dog from the groomer
before they closed at 5. It cost me a lotta work-poker chips to
take off that early, and i'd have paid a pet-taxi had it been
on a card at the trainstation.

Yea, print adverts and hand them out with a simple pricelist at the
local morning commuter trainstation. That is an ideal target market
likely with pets, and likely needing the services... if no trains,
perhaps bus /subway, or the coffee takeaway by the freeway.

[Missy Vixen]

12. Dogwalking and selling pets on eBay

>I wonder that a highland bloodline might fetch a fair price on american ebay if i could vet the auction fairly that bidders would provide a quality home.<

Please do not sell your purebred puppy on eBay. It is impossible to ensure that the eventual home of the pup is in any way suitable. A reputable breeder of any purebred animal will want to know (and will vet the new owners carefully besides,) that their puppy is going to an outstanding home. They want to ensure that the animal will live with a family that knows what to expect with that particular breed. Your auction will also most likely be pulled off of the eBay listings at the speed of light. A recent auction of a purebred cat was ended by eBay after the cat's breeder contacted eBay and complained.

>Dog walking and dog sitting is a hot profession.<

Yes, it is, and one of our friends owns a dogwalking/sitting business. While she very much enjoys her work, there are several downsides to the profession. First of all, it's very solitary. If the potential dogwalker is someone who prefers pets to humans, that's no problem, but they will still have to deal with the owners of those pets, and market their business in the meantime.

One of our friend's charges recently died after an excruciating illness. It was very, very hard for her.

It's also very important to set realistic rates for walking and petsitting. She lives in Seattle. One of the things that impacts her business in a negative way is (believe it or not,) traffic. It takes so long to get from house to house that she is limited in the number of clients she can see per day.

It's a tremendous business, and very much in demand. Good luck with it, and if you can get referrals from local vets and pet stores, you're on your way!

Julie

[chaska]

15. Thanks everybody for the great advice and ideas.

Sorry to leave the scene so abruptly, I got called away.