Get away 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 yr.
And, certain, most of us don’t reside 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. Through the quarantine situations of the COVID-19 pandemic, after we as a collective nation had 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 latest pets that want tending to, each single day. “With many Individuals again within the workplace, any person has to stroll all these pandemic puppies,” the Occasions identified.
The best way to Get Began as a Canine Walker
Sounds nice, proper? Plenty of recent air and train and canines, what could possibly be higher? However how will you set your self up for achievement?
You would get began the old school method: Inform all your folks 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.
Nowadays, 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 entire course of. The most well-liked ones are Rover and Wag, which had been based in 2011 and 2015, respectively.
Right here’s our article evaluating the 2, plus a couple of related apps.
These apps are kind of like Uber for canine strolling in that you simply take requests in your space. Relying on the place you reside, you possibly can settle for canine walks which might be ASAP, that means it’s essential 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 publish your availability for canine strolling gigs in your space. Canine house owners close to you possibly can take 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 make sure that your profile appears to be like inviting and options pictures of you interacting with pets.
For those who hit it off with a pup and its proprietor, you possibly can schedule ongoing walks with the identical shopper.
You need to be 18. Each apps do a primary legal background test.
And in case you’re discovering canine strolling appointments laborious 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 all around the map, and your whole earnings will depend upon how aggressive you might be about in search of out work and what sort of providers you supply.
In line 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 standard aspect gig, taking good care of pets for further revenue,” Rover developments skilled Kate Jaffe instructed 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 desires to remain energetic and keep away from dipping into their retirement financial savings.”
Unsure how a lot to cost? Take a look at what different individuals in your space are charging. For those who’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 purchasers pay your fee 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 usually probably the most profitable,” mentioned Kaitie Edel, senior advertising supervisor for Wag. “Changing into a pet dad or mum’s most popular caregiver or accepting a recurring request may 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 knowledgeable 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.
For those who’re in search of further money, it could possibly be you.
Mike Brassfield ([email protected]) is a senior author at The Penny Hoarder.
