So you want to be a dog walker?

Me, too! 

Honestly, starting my dog walking business, The Local Barker, is about the only thing that has felt right in my life in a very long time. 

I don’t know why it took me so long to realize this is what I should be doing with my life, but I am glad that I finally clued in.

As with any venture, there are risks and benefits. If everything was a guaranteed success, life would be very boring (or awesome!)

So, if you are deciding whether or not owning a dog walking business is for you, let me help you weigh the pros and cons so you can make an informed decision.

Let’s start with the cons first.

Disadvantages of starting a Dog Walking Business

Here are a few of the, let’s say, undesirable tasks of a dog walker entrepreneur:

Client Search

You always need to be marketing yourself so you can build up a solid, full-time client list. 

Eventually, your good reputation will help promote your business through word of mouth and referrals, but you will have to do a large chunk of advertising and marketing yourself.

Variable Income

Each day and week can bring in a different income depending on how many pooches you walk and the different services you offer.

As well, if you get hurt or a client goes on vacation, you may miss out on income altogether. 

Poo

Yep, I said it. Poo.

You have to pick that s#!t up!

The more dogs you have, the more doody there will be.

Weather

Doesn’t matter if it’s cold, windy, rainy, snowy, sleety, or a picture-perfect day, you have to get out there and walk those dogs.

They don’t give a poop what the weather is, they just want to get out and play!

Clients

While you will be walking their pooches, you will have to deal with the humans as well.

As we know, being adult humans ourselves, not everyone is easy to deal with.

As you get more clients and experience, you will be able to cherry-pick what clients you take on and which ones to drop.

However, in the beginning, it’s difficult to turn down a job when you are trying to build a full-time roster of pooches.

No Benefits

You are an entrepreneur, so no paid benefits for you. That’s right, no vacation, sick days, dental insurance, prescription coverage, etc.

NADA. ZIP. ZILCH. BUPKIS.

It’s up to you to find your own private insurance and pay into it monthly.

Insurance

At a minimum, you need liability insurance to cover any loss or vet bills that may be required while the pooch is in your care. Again, this is an out of pocket expense for you.

Benefits of owning a dog walking business

Finally, we’re getting to the good stuff!

Flexibility

You are in charge and can book walks that work with your schedule.

However, you do need to keep the client’s needs in mind, but overall you can work as much or as little as you want each day.

You are the boss

That’s right. You run the show. There is no office politics and gossip that you have to avoid.

No co-workers to make small talk to every day.

No rushing out the door because your boss is going to be mad at you for being late.

You are the boss, you own your own business. Let that sink in.

Exercise

Not only are your pooches getting the exercise they need each day, so are you!

If you are not in the best shape when you start (ahem, me, ahem) you will be in time.

I have always wanted a job that incorporates exercise so that I don’t have to make time for it. And as it just so happens, hiking with my dog is my favourite form of exercise. Win-Win!

Meet New People and Pooches

I know I have clients listed as a con, but they can also be really awesome too. You will form good relationships with nice humans not to mention their adorable pooches as well.

I mean, who can resist a client who meets you at the door tail wagging and ready to go!

Start-up Costs

It does not cost much to start a dog walking business. In the beginning, all you need is a vehicle, leashes, good footwear, outerwear, and a can-do attitude! Sorry, I couldn’t resist putting that in.

There are also other fees such as insurance and licensing, but they are generally minimal.

In the grand scheme of things, dog walking is a pretty inexpensive business to start.

Rewarding

Knowing that you are helping serve people (and pooches) that really need it is a great feeling.

You are helping relieve the stress and guilt from your client by exercising their pooch, as well as getting a good hit of dopamine yourself by interacting with amazing dogs and getting out in nature with them.

What is your biggest disadvantage and advantage of running a dog walking business?

I’ll start.

Since I am still building my client list, advertising and marketing are taking up a lot of my time, so that would be my biggest disadvantage at this point.

The biggest benefit so far is being able to work with dogs. I love them, they are always excited to see me, and it puts a smile on my face getting out and walking with them in the forest.