An Insider's Guide to Being a Successful Dog Walker for Fun or Profit

If you're an avid dog lover, becoming a dog walker for fun or profit can be a very rewarding experience. Many people start dog walking businesses as part or full-time jobs. This can be a very lucrative source of income since dog ownership is on the rise. However, some people like to help out their friends or neighbors for free by walking their dog when they go on vacation or on a business trip. It's a great feeling to know you've helped someone out, and for a dog lover, it can be loads of fun and enjoyment at the same time.

I became a dog walker just for the fun of it. I like the good feeling I get knowing I've helped my friends out when I can be there to take care of their dogs when they're out of town. I also truly love dogs, and I enjoy the special bond that I have with all of my friends' dogs because of that extra special time that I get to spend with them when their Moms and Dads are away.

However, as fun and rewarding as dog walking can be, it is a serious business that doesn't always go according to plan. In fact, I had one adventurous dog walking day recently that went anything but according to plan. And for everything that went wrong that day, I thought of a few good tips that I could share with my fellow or aspiring dog walkers to help you avoid or handle some of the problems that I faced that day.

That day of dog walking actually started-off well. I arrived on time to walk my friend's German Shepherd, Hunter (not her real name), on my way to work. I smartly removed my fancy work shoes at the front door as I entered my friend's home because Hunter is a submissive-type dog and has a habit of excitedly urinating on my feet when she greets me. That was pretty much the last thing that went right that day.

I let Hunter out into the back yard and walked outside with her. She ran around for a minute or two in the unfortunately damp yard, and then jumped up onto me with her muddy paws, leaving muddy paw prints all over the front of my white work blouse. This brings me to my first tip: dress for the job. Don't wear clothes to your dog walking job that you would mind getting dirty. Or, throw something on over your good clothes in case the dog jumps up on you with her muddy paws.