You’ve done the puppy visits, given them solo lead walks, done your best to support the owners training with recall and introduced them to your group walks. Now your teenage male dog (12-18 months roughly) is being neutered. Will it change the group dynamics and if so, will it be in a positive or negative […]
Does neutering a dog change the dynamics of a group walk? Read More »
It could be a new client, or an existing client who has been with you for years and is now getting on in age, but at some point you’re going to walk an elderly, senior dog who needs a little extra care. It’s important to recognize that older dogs have different needs and abilities than
Walking elderly dogs – tips for professional dog walkers Read More »
James Augustine Farrell Buck is credited with being the world’s first professional dog walker, offering his services in the upper east side of New York to an affluent and famous clientele. Jim Buck always declined to name his clients, maintaining walker-client confidentiality. Who was Jim Buck? Jim Buck was born in 1931 in New York
Even though you intended to just be a dog walker, you may have clients with cats as well, or get enquiries for pet sitting and even purposely branch out into other pet services, such as cat sitting. But as a dog person, what exactly do you do on a cat visit? The cat’s owners Cats,
It’s all very well for the dogs, peeing wherever they like in full view of the neighbours, but what do you do if you need to go too? Wilderness wees, as we call them in our house, are all part of being in the outdoors and a few tips and tricks can make them easier
What do I do if I need a wee whilst out dog walking (aka wilderness wees) Read More »
Lots of councils in the UK now have public space protection orders (PSPOs) in place and many of these have dog control orders (DOCs) or dog fouling orders (DFOs) as part of them. Knowing if your council has one, where they are applicable and what the penalties are if you break them is important for
I started dog walking after being made redundant and the vehicle I had at the time was a Vauxhall Tigra. In case you were in any doubt, a small sports car is not the best dog walking van 🙂 Unless most of your clients live within a 15 minute walking radius of your home (see
What is the Best Dog Walking Van Choice; Diesel or Petrol? Read More »
It was during my first month of dog walking when I encountered my first car sick client. I was woefully unprepared and had to borrow bags and kitchen towels from the client’s kitchen! I immediately added the question to my intake forms and vowed to find out what would help the dogs in my care
How to get puppies used to your van: Expert Tips to Prevent Car Sickness in Dogs Read More »
It’s tempting to opt for the cheapest insurance quote, especially when you first start up your business, and then hope you’re covered for every eventuality. (If you’re wondering if you need insurance at all, check out our previous article on the subject here; do I really need insurance?) Taking some time to understand some of
Common Insurance Terms for Dog Walking and Pet Sitting Businesses Read More »
Having a specific, dedicated dog walking bag makes your working day that much easier. Having all the essential items in one place, rather than being scattered across multiple jackets and pockets means you’ll never forget anything again. Benefits of a dog walking bag Opting to have a bag rather than using pockets means; 1. Barking
