Anyone know a dog walker? (Chicago: insurance, daycare, how much)

[HeavyMetalDrummer]

I'm finding myself in need of a job suddenly. I thought about walking dogs. Do I need a business license? Anyone know the ins and outs and want to give me a few pointers?

[Anthera]

I had a dog walker years ago. It was two guys who worked together. They walked multiple dogs at a time. They were probably making $30/hr 10 years ago, at $8/dog/walk. I found them from flyers they had posted in my neighborhood. It seemed like a great business for someone who loved dogs.

[jessiegirl_98]

We used:

Chicago Dog Walkers | Chicago Dog Walker | Dog Walking Chicago | Chicago Pet Care | Providing Dog Walking | Chicagodogwalkers | chicago dog walk | Walking Dog | Dog Walkers

You definitely need to be licensed, bonded, and insured. There are several companies in the area that you should see about getting affiliated with.

[jgi]

Originally Posted by jessiegirl_98

You definitely need to be licensed, bonded, and insured.

This isn't really true. I run a dogwalking business in New York right now and although my business is bonded and insured, there are plenty of independent walkers around who aren't. The trouble for you is that if you have no experience and no starting client base, who will be your recommendations when you start trying to get clients? People need to trust you if they're going to hand over their house keys. Do you have any dog experience? Can you handle difficult dogs?

Maybe it would be best for you to sign on with a service first, get the experience, and then move independent. Check out this website: www.urbanhound.com. You can search for walking services by zip code. It should be able to connect you with possible jobs. Just don't work for a place, screw them over, and steal their clients. Good luck!

[eevee]

I did some dog walking in the past years, and while you don't need to be bonded and insured, you'll find being so helps, unless you're offering a major price cut on services. like jgi said, people will need a major incentive to hand over the keys to their hoes to you.

I've always tried to get a job at a dogwalking company, but I don't have a driver's license and the vast majority of these places require you have a car. if you go this route, I'd look carefully. not only do a lot of these places require a car (I've seen some ads that even specify what type of cars, like SUVs or mini vans that can hold dogs in the back) but they also require you have a cell phone. you may be spending a lot of money out of pocket to pay for gas and cell phone bills (even the reassurance that you could write off these expenses when you do your taxes may not help if you've got no cash in your pockets for food!). I've known quite a few dog walkers who have quit b/c of these costs. another choice is to work at a dog daycare where you'll be either onsite w/ the dogs or using the company vehicle to do pick ups/drop offs

if you want to go solo w/o working for a dog walking company, you may need to offer super cheap prices to get into the market and compete w/ the business and other locals w/ references and experience. when I first started out, I offered free daily walks for a month in exchange for an honest critique and hopefully positive reference. you may also want to offer more services if you can, like litterbox cleaning, cage cleaning for small pets, dog running, etc. advertise on craigslist, around large dog friendly complexes, especially those w/ a high number of senior residents. another thing I would do is volunteer at a local shelter, which will give you more experience walking dogs and a possible reference

[HeavyMetalDrummer]

I have some dog experience. I've had dogs my whole life. I currently have a one and a half year old great dane and a fourteen year old pomeranian mix. For the last three years I volunteered weekends at a dog kennel. I walked, watered, fed and cleaned up after loads of dogs there. As far as handling difficult dogs, it depends on what you mean. A dog that doesn't do well on a lead just takes patience and training. An aggressive dog needs to be acclimated to a new walker, if that is possible. If not, then I'm not who they need.

I'm confident I can handle the dog side of the business. It's the rest of it I'm worried about. Do I need a Chicago business license as an independent dog walker; should I have clients sign a service contract, and what should I include in the contract; etc.

I thought about getting a job as a dog walker, learning the ropes, and then striking out on my own. But I can't bring myself to do it. It feels dishonest to me. Even if I was honest about my intentions up front, I don't think I could do it. Besides, most of the ads I see for jobs ask for a one year commitment. If I was hired and agreed to one year, I would do it. And I don't want to.

I have an SUV, but I don't like driving it to get around town. I'd rather use a bike, my feet, or public transportation. Maybe I'll look into a scooter, though that prolly wouldn't work as well this winter.

Other services would be fine. I hadn't thought about litter box cleaning, or small cage cleaning. I'd figured pet/house sitting and dog waste removal.

Thanks for all the responses.

[jessiegirl_98]

Originally Posted by HeavyMetalDrummer

I have some dog experience. I've had dogs my whole life. I currently have a one and a half year old great dane and a fourteen year old pomeranian mix. For the last three years I volunteered weekends at a dog kennel. I walked, watered, fed and cleaned up after loads of dogs there. As far as handling difficult dogs, it depends on what you mean. A dog that doesn't do well on a lead just takes patience and training. An aggressive dog needs to be acclimated to a new walker, if that is possible. If not, then I'm not who they need.

I'm confident I can handle the dog side of the business. It's the rest of it I'm worried about. Do I need a Chicago business license as an independent dog walker; should I have clients sign a service contract, and what should I include in the contract; etc.

I thought about getting a job as a dog walker, learning the ropes, and then striking out on my own. But I can't bring myself to do it. It feels dishonest to me. Even if I was honest about my intentions up front, I don't think I could do it. Besides, most of the ads I see for jobs ask for a one year commitment. If I was hired and agreed to one year, I would do it. And I don't want to.

I have an SUV, but I don't like driving it to get around town. I'd rather use a bike, my feet, or public transportation. Maybe I'll look into a scooter, though that prolly wouldn't work as well this winter.

Other services would be fine. I hadn't thought about litter box cleaning, or small cage cleaning. I'd figured pet/house sitting and dog waste removal.

Thanks for all the responses.

My major concern would be that my licensed/bonded/certified dog walker only charges $10 per 30 minute walk and they will do other services (litter, etc). So, you'd have to charge less than that, I think, to get clients, which really isn't a whole lot of money......

[HeavyMetalDrummer]

Chicago Dog Walkers' website shows $12 for a 25 min walk. Though they offer a discount for rescued dogs, and it doesn't say how much that is. I was thinking of a similar rate. $12 for a 30 min walk, $10 per walk if you book 5 per week.

I am planning on insurance. I just didn't want to get a business license if I didn't need to. The less I have to deal with the Chicago city government, the happier I'll be. But crossing them isn't on my list of wants either.

[breeze823]

I think it's so funny that people hire someone to walk their dogs,lol. I guess I've always had big yards for them to run and if I want to take them for a walk, it's for fun, not a job that needs to be hired out!

[aragx6]

In the city, most of us don't have yards, so they don't get as much exercise during the day as they might otherwise.

Doesn't mean they don't ever walk their dog, but it's nice if you can afford it to give your dog some extra fun time, and socialization with other dogs is great for them!