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 Occasions says so. It simply ran an article about skilled canine walkers in Manhattan who’re making greater than $100,000 a 12 months.
And, certain, most of us don’t dwell in Manhattan, and most canine walkers don’t actually earn six-figure salaries. However that is nonetheless a profitable time to stroll canine for a residing, both full time or as a aspect gig. And it’s all due to the pandemic puppies.
Pandemic pups? Yup. Through 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, in response 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 recent 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? Plenty of recent air and train and canine, what could possibly be higher? However how are you going to set your self up for fulfillment?
You can get began the old style method: Inform all your mates and neighbors, then put up some handmade leaflets in strategic spots round your city. Publish 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 may be partly attributed to the rise of dog-walking and pet-sitting apps which have hit the market in recent times, modernizing this complete course of. The most well-liked ones are Rover and Wag, which have been based in 2011 and 2015, respectively.
Right here’s our article evaluating the 2, plus just a few 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, that means you must 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 have a look at your profile, your costs and your availability, then guide 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 case you hit it off with a pup and its proprietor, you possibly can schedule ongoing walks with the identical shopper.
It’s important to be 18. Each apps do a fundamental prison background verify.
And for those who’re discovering canine strolling appointments arduous to return by, you would possibly 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 rely upon how aggressive you’re about searching for out work and how much companies you supply.
In line with Rover, listed below are the typical 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 standard aspect gig, caring for pets for additional revenue,” Rover tendencies skilled Kate Jaffe informed The Penny Hoarder. “We make it straightforward to handle their enterprise, whether or not they work full time and wish to canine sit on the aspect, or they’re a pupil on the lookout for versatile work, or a retiree who desires to remain lively and keep away from dipping into their retirement financial savings.”
Unsure how a lot to cost? Take a look at what different folks in your space are charging. In case you’re simply beginning out, set your charges on the low finish whilst you work to construct up your clientele.
For instance, Wag permits you to set charges for 20-, 30- and 60-minute walks, and it reveals you a variety of what the typical 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 usually pay greater than canine strolling as a result of they require greater than a short dedication of your time.
“Given the length of most in a single day care (boarding and sitting) requests, these are usually essentially the most profitable,” stated Kaitie Edel, senior advertising and marketing supervisor for Wag. “Turning into a pet mother or father’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 most likely not going to earn greater than $100,000 a 12 months like an expert Manhattan canine walker who caters solely to the wealthy elite.
However all these pandemic puppies have to be walked, and somebody has to stroll them.
In case you’re on the lookout for additional money, it could possibly be you.
Mike Brassfield ([email protected]) is a senior author at The Penny Hoarder.
