Dog Health Questions: How can I get started as a dog walker and what tips should I be aware of?

Hi. I'm a student trying to put myself through school and i've been considering dog walking as a possible source of income. i don't want to do it professionally, but i do want to do it enough to make a steady income. plus, it seems like a perfect job, since i love animals (especially dogs) and i love walking, and with spring coming up it seems i could make some really good money out of it

however, i'm not dumb. i know there's a lot that goes with dog walking, and no matter how much research i do i can never seem to find enough information. so i'm hoping that someone here who is also a dog walker will give me some tips on how i should get started, how much to charge, how to handle the dogs, how many i should walk, etc.

Here are some of my questions:

1. how do i get started? i know i should advertise, but where and how? as a first time dog walker, should i just advertise in my local neighborhood or outsource to other areas?

2. how many clients should i take on? how many dogs? what would be a good starting number of dogs for me? should i only walk a certain type of dog until i've gained more experience? keep in mind i have no
experience.

3. how much should i charge? my research turned out about $10 per walk. is this too much for a first timer, or too little? should i charge less?

4. how should i plan my walks? should i take them to parks? am i allowed to take them to parks? or should i just do around the block type walks?

5. how long should i walk them for? should i do it according to weather?

6. what materials should i bring with me on the walks? i read that i should bring a backpack and fill it with toys, a water bottle for me and the dog, a water bowl for the dog, and maybe some plastic bags for excrement. should i buy these things myself or should the client have them on hand?

7. should i read up on dog training techniques and dog behavior before starting out? are there dog walking techniques i should know?

8. if someone asks me to walk a dog who is challenging, should i turn them down?

9. i read that i should contact a vet and learn some basic first aid for dogs. is this good advice?

10. i want to start at part-time. if i do that, how many clients/dogs are considered part-time, and how many days a week? and say if i wanted to change to full-time in the future, can i do that? and how?

11. should i get a license? i don't really want to do it professionally, but should i get one anyways? and how do you get one? also, should this be put on taxes?

i hope that these are good questions to ask, and that there is someone out there to answer them.

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Recommended Answer:
Do you currently know anyone who's a dog walker? I would contact them and simply ask these questions. Even if they're not in your city (which may actually be preferable so you're not viewed as a competitor), just do a Google search and find other walkers who you can speak to. People are very open and willing to talk about their passions.

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