5.
Re: Pet Sitting, Walking, Etc. Feb 7, 2008 12:09 PM
I am a dog walker and pet sitter. I also take groups of dogs to the dog park. I think that if your client is interested, she should contact other dog walkers in the area. I know most of the dog walkers in my area from meeting them all at the dog park. I have gotten many referrals from other dog walkers who are too busy to take on new clients. Also, there are a few tips I can give.
1. Define an area of business. Stick to this area or else you will be travelling way more miles than you want to or can afford to taking up lots of time and gas money.
2. Get licensed and insured. Petsit.com (pet sitters international) is a great place to get insurance and the membership to the org pays for free advertising and use of their logo.
3. Be prepared to be pooped on, peed on, vomited on, bitten, scratched, out in all weather, dog hair in and on everything you own, spending an arm and a leg on gas these days and having clients that think you owe them the world because they pay you $15 a day to walk their dog.
4. Get trained in pet first aid and cpr. I am a certified veterinary assistant so I learned all that stuff in school. Local humane societies or dog clubs may have classes or know where you can take them.
5. Volunteer at vet clinics and animal shelters to gain experience with animals and to provide that important first reference. I gained my first reference by doing dog walking for free for three months to one dog.
Now I have I think 15 regular dogs and a few once or twice a year dogs. I have been doing it for 2 and a half years. After the first year and a half, I got enough clients to actually support myself doing this. I am certainly not getting rich, but have been breaking even at least.