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Of course it would be like 75% less money but what can be better than being around dogs and getting exercise? Your thoughts?
Become a fugitive. Then you can get both of those, and better yet, no need to worry about retirement; you will find that the state will give you housing!
I owned a pet sitting business for 3 years. But I have a spouse who works a corporate job with health benefits, 401k, etc. So it was doable for me. And yes, the human clients were more of a PITA than the pets.
I know a couple of people who do this for a living. They are very driven entrepreneur types. Very people oriented, though very skilled with dogs as well. You have to be the whole deal. Health insurance is irrelevant here, but liability is very important.
I work in a shelter, have worked in a dog daycare/kennel and for municipal animal control. There are way more people in the world who think they want to work with animals than those who can actually do it for any length of time.
I won't address the practical considerations as they have been discussed in prior posts but for the OP (and for anyone else considering this) you need to be good with dogs. Being good with dogs is not the same as liking/loving dogs but you understand their behaviors and know what they will react to. For example, what interactions with other dogs and other people are safe and appropriate for that particular dog. You need to know what is normal behavior for a dog and what are indications that the dog isn't feeling well. It would also be helpful if you have experience dog training. The job is not quite as simple as it sounds.
I won't address the practical considerations as they have been discussed in prior posts but for the OP (and for anyone else considering this) you need to be good with dogs. Being good with dogs is not the same as liking/loving dogs but you understand their behaviors and know what they will react to. For example, what interactions with other dogs and other people are safe and appropriate for that particular dog. You need to know what is normal behavior for a dog and what are indications that the dog isn't feeling well. It would also be helpful if you have experience dog training. The job is not quite as simple as it sounds.
Watch Judge Judy for awhile.
Many cases involving dogs attacking other dogs and also cases involving dog walkers/pet sitters getting sued when the dogs they are entrusted to bites other peoples' dogs while out walking.
Of course it would be like 75% less money but what can be better than being around dogs and getting exercise? Your thoughts?
Can you afford to live on a dog-walker's income, or would you have to downsize?
I have a niece who was a dog-walker. This worked fine for years, until she sustained an injury, and could no longer walk dogs. Convalescing took months, she ran out of funds, de-camped to a cheaper city, and still had to put up a Go-Fund-Me page.
There's no temporary disability leave or other benefits, in operating your own dog-walking business. Your SS tax (self-employment tax) doubles, because you pay both the employee's portion AND the employer's portion, since you are both. No retirement contribution or 401K. No group health insurance.
Think carefully, before you take the plunge. Also, locate yourself in a region that doesn't have horrible weather for months on end. Learn what to do, if the doggies don't get along with each other.
A friend's husband did this about 12 years ago, after he kept failing the CPA exam. He started his own dog-walking business. Meanwhile she is in a high-level corporate job, so I'm guessing that helped (although she seemed very aggravated about it initially). I don't know if this is still their situation (I'm not in close touch with her) but that was before apps like Rover.com were popular.
Stress avoidance is a major factor in self employment moves
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