What Does it Take to be a Dog Walker?
What happens behind the floppy ears and fluffy tails?
Whenever I tell people what my job is, I'm always met with "that's the dream!", "that must be so fun", and "best job ever!". And I honestly believe that being a dog walker is the best job in the world. I get to spend all my days outside, I build bonds with the most lovely dogs, and I'm in total control of my time. However, although any dog walker will tell you that it is the best job, it's important to know that it comes with its challenges.
The Floppy Ears and Fluffy Tails
Before I dive into the challenges that we face as dog walkers, here are some of my personal favourite things about being a dog walker.
Previously to going full time with Tail and Snoot, I tried a number of jobs, as you will know if you have read my previous blog. I tried different jobs in different industries with different hours, but nothing stuck. I wasn't in control, and I quite often had difficulties with management in regards to my health.
I decided that the best thing to do would be to work for myself. This meant that I would be in complete control of my hours, my clients, my income; everything.
When I initially went full time, it was just before the summer holidays. This meant that I booked up on sitting almost immediately. During a heatwave. I spent my days walking the dog(s) (when it wasn't too hot), and then sunbathing in my clients' gardens. As someone who doesn't have a garden of their own, this was absolute bliss. And I was getting paid for it.
It took me a couple of months to get my regulars set up and to get more structure in my week, but now I have regular work every single weekday.
The Challenges of being a Dog Walker
Any business owner will tell you that there are challenges that come with it. This is why I believe that it is important to set yourself boundaries and rules, when running a small business, so that you can turn your brain off when needed (i.e. when you're on holiday or trying to relax).
When starting a business like this, potential clients and enquiries are the first thing you will encounter. It's important to stand your ground. I was told by so many people when I first started that my prices were "too high", and that "my usual sitter/walker charges less".
None of this matters.
I charge my prices. They are what they are. I've done a lot of research to see what others charge, their experience, etc. to come up with my prices. When I first started Tail and Snoot as a 'side hustle', which, ironically, is when I'd get the influx of messages saying my prices were 'too high', my prices were two thirds (if not half) of what they are now. As I was just starting out and doing it as a hobby, I didn't need to charge much, as I was using it as a reason to get out of the house and get some exercise. This is my full-time job, and my only job, so I cannot afford to charge next to nothing like I did previously.
There will always be people who will complain about how you run your business, but it's important to note that, how you run your business is totally up to you, and everyone is going to do something differently!
Another challenge we as small business owners face is the unpaid work.
As stated above, it is very difficult to turn your brain off when trying to relax or have time off. However, you do need to set a lot of time aside to sort things like admin, finances, and other responsibilities that come with owning a business. We don't get paid to do these tasks, as we do it in our own free time to keep the business running. This means that you work a lot of hours that you don't get compensated for. Dealing with these elements is also a constant learning curve. I'm always finding better ways to do things or organise things. That's one huge perk of this job, is that you learn over time and from other people easier and more efficient ways to do things.
Walking miles on end gets extremely tiring and can make you achy, so taking time to yourself and learning to turn off is really important. It's important to take care of yourself both physically and mentally, and to know when to step away from work. I've taken to investing in better trainers, wellies, and even socks to help keep my walks as comfortable as possible. Muscle soak and epsom salt baths have been my absolute saviour. I'd recommend having at least one a week!
Walking so much, especially in the cold, comes will illness. Getting sick is my biggest pet peeve! I struggle with OCD anyway so I basically don't allow germs near me, meaning I get ill much easier than most! Even when I'm feeling physically sick, I feel so guilty letting down my clients and having to cancel our bookings. However, I try to remind myself that, if I'm unwell, there's literally nothing I can do about it, other than taking care of myself.
The other down side of this is, being self-employed, no work = no pay. This can become really tough, especially when you have to cancel a work due to the ice, and then you get covid (my Christmas period was obviously very fun for me!!).
Although we're surrounded by dogs at all times, dog walking can get very lonely. My poor friends end up with a podcast of voice messages to listen to when I'm between walks, because I just don't tend to talk to anyone all day. This also leads into how difficult it is working for and by yourself. There's no boss to tell you how well you're doing. There's no social events with coworkers. There's no sick pay. There's no one to ask for help. There's no one to praise you for your hard work. This is something I really struggle with, which is why I'm so overly appreciative when people leave me reviews, as it's so nice to hear that people are happy with my services!
On the flip side, the dog walking community is so welcoming and helpful! I've spoken so many lovely professional dog walkers, and it's so reassuring to hear that I'm not the only one struggling with these issues. I suppose that's why I decided to write this blog, to show both the realities of being a dog walker, and to reassure those that are professional dog walkers that they're not alone in their struggles. It's the best and most rewarding job, but it can also be such a difficult job.
Final Thoughts
I hope this blog has given you some insight into what goes on behind the scenes of a dog walker and pet sitter. I wouldn't give this job up for the world, but it's important to know that it does come with challenges, and isn't for the weak-willed.
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