Escape the leashes and the poop luggage! There’s by no means been a greater time to be a canine walker.
Who says so? Nicely, The New York Times says so. It simply ran an article about skilled canine walkers in Manhattan who’re making greater than $100,000 a yr.
And, positive, most of us don’t stay in Manhattan, and most canine walkers don’t actually earn six-figure salaries. However that is nonetheless a profitable time to stroll canines for a residing, both full time or as a aspect gig. And it’s all due to the pandemic puppies.
Pandemic pups? Yup. In the course of the quarantine situations of the COVID-19 pandemic, after we as a collective nation have been all caught at dwelling, greater than 23 million American households acquired a canine or a cat, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
That’s practically 1 in 5 households! That’s tens of tens of millions of latest pets that want tending to, each single day. “With many Individuals again within the workplace, someone has to stroll all these pandemic puppies,” the Occasions identified.
Methods to Get Began as a Canine Walker
Sounds nice, proper? Numerous recent air and train and canines, what may very well be higher? However how are you going to set your self up for achievement?
You can get began the old school manner: Inform all your pals and neighbors, then put up some handmade leaflets in strategic spots round your city. Submit it on Craigslist and announce it on all of your social media profiles, too.
As of late, although, most starting canine walkers are discovering work on apps.
The rise in canine strolling as a job or aspect gig will be partly attributed to the rise of dog-walking and pet-sitting apps which have hit the market in recent times, modernizing this entire course of. The most well-liked ones are Rover and Wag, which have been based in 2011 and 2015, respectively.
Here’s our article comparing the two, plus a number of comparable apps.
These apps are type of like Uber for canine strolling in that you just take requests in your space. Relying on the place you reside, you possibly can settle for canine walks which might be ASAP, which means it’s worthwhile to arrive for the stroll inside a sure time period, or you possibly can settle for a stroll that’s scheduled for a later time.
You additionally put up your availability for canine strolling gigs in your space. Canine homeowners close to you possibly can take a look at your profile, your costs and your availability, then e-book a stroll with you thru the app. So that you’ll wish to ensure that your profile appears inviting and options images of you interacting with pets.
In the event you hit it off with a pup and its proprietor, you possibly can schedule ongoing walks with the identical shopper.
It’s a must to be 18. Each apps do a primary prison background test.
And if you happen to’re discovering canine strolling appointments onerous to come back by, you may department out into pet sitting and even pet boarding. Each apps supply that.
How A lot Does a Canine Walker Make?
There’s not a easy reply to this query. Pay charges are everywhere in the map, and your complete earnings will depend upon how aggressive you’re about searching for out work and what sort of providers you supply.
In keeping with Rover, listed below are the common costs for every service:
- Canine strolling: $20 a stroll
- Drop-in visits: $20 a day
- Doggy day care: $35 a go to
- In a single day boarding or sitting: $40 an evening
A search on Rover in our metropolis discovered canine walkers charging $15 to $25 per stroll.
“Many sitters on Rover use the platform as a conventional aspect gig, taking good care of pets for further earnings,” Rover traits skilled Kate Jaffe advised The Penny Hoarder. “We make it simple to handle their enterprise, whether or not they work full time and wish to canine sit on the aspect, or they’re a scholar in search of versatile work, or a retiree who needs to remain lively and keep away from dipping into their retirement financial savings.”
Undecided how a lot to cost? Take a look at what different folks in your space are charging. In the event you’re simply beginning out, set your charges on the low finish whilst you work to construct up your clientele.
For instance, Wag means that you can set charges for 20-, 30- and 60-minute walks, and it exhibits you a variety of what the common walker in your space is charging.
When you set your charges, your shoppers pay your price plus a 20% payment to Rover or a 40% payment to Wag.
Pet sitting and pet boarding gigs sometimes pay greater than canine strolling as a result of they require greater than a quick dedication of your time.
“Given the period of most in a single day care (boarding and sitting) requests, these are typically probably the most profitable,” mentioned Kaitie Edel, senior advertising and marketing supervisor for Wag. “Changing into a pet mum or dad’s most well-liked caregiver or accepting a recurring request will also be very profitable, given the long-term relationship it creates.”
In brief, you’re in all probability not going to earn greater than $100,000 a yr like an expert Manhattan canine walker who caters solely to the wealthy elite.
However all these pandemic puppies should be walked, and somebody has to stroll them.
In the event you’re in search of further money, it may very well be you.
Mike Brassfield ([email protected]) is a senior author at The Penny Hoarder.
