Schedule for a dog walking & pet sitting business

If you are just starting a dog walking business then you need to decide on a number of things that will affect your daily schedule. Think about the following questions to determine the type of business you want and can handle:

1. Will you walk more than one dog at a time (pack walks)?

You make more money with pack walks but there are a lot of considerations to take into account. First, your clients have to know that you are doing that. Also, you need to be highly skilled in determining each dogs’ behavior. You can not have one clients’ dog attack and injure, or kill, another one of your dogs. You’ll lose your business and maybe even be sued.

2. What length of walks do you offer (15, 20, 30-minute, other)?

The longer the walk, the fewer dogs you can walk unless you do pack walks. And since longer walks tend to have lower rates, you earn less money per hour. For example, I offer a $12 15-minute walk and a $19 30-minute walk so I make $7 for the 2nd half of the walk. Thirty-minute walks only make sense if you do pack walks, have additional walkers, or money isn’t your main focus.

3. Are you free all day on weekdays? When will/can you start and when is your last walk?

The majority of clients want walks between 11 am and 1 pm. I personally start as early as 10 am and my last walk ends after 3 pm. If you have other obligations throughout the day then that will affect your schedule.

4. Will you walk puppies and elderly dogs?

Puppies and elderly dogs tend to need specific times for their walks. Often you will have double walks for these dogs because they can not hold “it” as long.

5. Will you walk 2 or more dogs for clients who have more than one dog?

This, of course, applies to pack walks, but some people own more than one dog. Are you willing to do that?

6. Do you also offer pet sitting?

You will sometimes have to fit in dog walks for pet sitting clients with dogs. You need to take those walks into account.

The answers to those questions determine the actual schedule of your daily dog walks.

Weekday dog walking schedule

I’ve noticed 2 things over the 10+ years that I’ve been walking dogs: Thursdays have ALWAYS been my busiest day and Fridays are ALWAYS the lightest day. I like light Fridays, but I have to follow the best route for every Thursday.

Here are a number of things you need to think about or ask your client:

1. Ask each client their preferred walk time

You need to find out what time the new client prefers for their dog walk. Almost everyone will say “...between Noon and 1:00”. Everyone wants that time slot. Older clients get priority over new clients. Explain to them the time(s) you have available or give them a time range like plus/minus 30 minutes of their ideal time.

DO NOT commit to an exact time unless it’s a puppy (see below).

2. Puppies and older dogs need to have a tighter schedule

Puppies and senior dogs can’t hold it so if you say you can do an exact time then you need to do that time. I would still mention a plus/minus 15-minute range because of traffic, weather, etc.

3. Fitting in pet sitting walks

If you have a pet sitting client who has a dog then you may have to do weekday walks. It’s not uncommon for clients to need 3 walks per day for a week. You need to fit in the pet sitting dog as close to midway between the AM and PM walks. I offer walks/visits of 8:00 AM, 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM. Pet sitting dogs get higher priority for the 2 PM walk because it’s been 8 AM since you last walked then and the next walk is 8 PM. Although, between 1:30 and 2:30 should be fine.

4. Do you best to travel in a circle

This is where the plus/minus 30 minutes comes in to play. You don’t want to be losing time and burning gas for no reason. Sometimes you do have to go back and forth between 2 areas because of the clients’ preferred time but schedule each walk as close to the next walk as possible.

5. Take into account weather and construction, delivery trucks, road work, etc.

Check your local news each morning. Make sure you are aware of road construction or massive traffic situations. Snow will also make travel slow but you will probably have a lot of cancellations anyway. Count yourself lucky if it doesn’t snow where you live.

6. Excel, Google Sheets, or other scheduling software

I’m old school. I don’t use online anything for my dog walking schedule. Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets will do everything that you need. I also do not want my clients’ information in the cloud.

My weekly schedule (image above) has columns for Sunday through Saturday with time increments where I enter each pets’ name. I write the names down on a small notepad and grab the keys I need for the day.

Weekend Dog Walking Schedule

You will rarely have weekend dog walks for your weekday dog walking clients, although they will occasionally need a Saturday or Sunday walk. I make the majority of my money from my dog walking clients, so if they need a weekend or night walk, then I do it.

The weekend days are mainly for your pet sitting clients. Remember that the pets are alone so you can not forget to make a visit. You also can’t be late for morning visits, especially for the dogs who have not gone for a walk since 8 PM the previous night.

Schedule your dog and cat sitting visits so that you know your night and weekend schedule. We don’t want any unhappy dogs or kitties or have to clean up a mess in a clients’ home.

Excel or Google Sheets settings

I created a dog walking schedule template which I uploaded to my Google Drive and published it to the web. It is an OpenDocument Spreadsheet (*.ods). Feel free to download it and make changes that fit your business.

If you are not familiar with that file format, it should open up in newer versions of Microsoft Excel, as well as free programs like LibreOffice. Clicking on the link will download the file to your computer then you can open it in a spreadsheet program like Excel.

I can’t go into all the equations as that would be an article on Microsoft Excel. Just ask someone you know who knows Excel or watch some videos. Here are some of the features in that document:

1. Conditional formatting for names, meetings, questions (see image above)

Most of the colored cells in the spreadsheet have conditional formatting. When there is not anything in the cell, it has the white default color. I create different colors for pet names (yellow), important meet and greets with new clients (green), and blue for walks that are uncertain.

It makes entries stand out and I know exactly what is going on. All yellow entries are visits I have to make, and blue entries are for walks or visits but I haven’t gotten a confirmation from the client.

2. Using the =counta(range) equation to count the number of entries per day (walks or visits)

This equation is a sum function but for text entries as opposed to numbers. I use it as a quick double-check against my dollar page. If I visually count 10 walks on a Tuesday (Dollar tab), then that number on the schedule page should be 10 as well. If not, go look at the dollar tab to see what you missed.

3. Dollar tab (image below)

This tab sums the money for the week and is what I use to enter the dog/pet names on the schedule tab.

4. Past years and past weeks.

My spreadsheet has all my past year’s dollar tabs. I also copy each week $’s to “Past Weeks” which will become a past year at the end of the year.

5. Client Information tab (image below)

This is where I have the name, address, home address and email address for each client. You do not want your clients’ information in the cloud. I use the info as a record and for when I need to send emails to all my clients.

6. Reviews

This is a tab I use for keeping track of all my online reviews.

So those are the individual tabs or sheets that I have in the OpenDocument Spreadsheet which you can download. I have another tab called SMO for Social Media Optimization where I have all the links to the social media sites associated with my website.

Final Thoughts

You need to keep an accurate record of all your walks and pet visits and any changes that your clients make. It can become overwhelming if you choose to do it on paper.

Take a look at my How To Start A Dog Walking Business (Final Thoughts) for links to all my articles on starting your pet business.

The post Dog Walking Schedule: Guidelines For Your Pet Business appeared first on Fairmount Pet Service.

There are clients who you will go out of your way to help in an emergency but there are other clients that you wish would go away.

I’m going to cover the main do’s and don’ts for all pet sitting & dog walking clients so that you don’t get surcharges or have to find a new walker after they dump you.

15 Do’s & Don’t for dog walking and pet sitting clients

This is a rant article – basically me bashing former clients who sucked! It was hard to get positive “Do’s” for this list, but I managed to get 7 compared to the 8 “Don’ts”.

And keep in mind, you can reword all the don’t into do’s and vice versa. Use this list as a guide in making sure your dog walker or pet sitter doesn’t curse your name on a regular basis.

I will alternate the positive guidelines with the negative ones. I believe in the phrase “What you think about you bring about”, so I will end on a positive note.

#1) Don’t “forget” to pay

Don’t keep forgetting to leave money or canceling the last walk of the week where you are supposed to leave money and then not say anything.

I get it, life happens, you are busy or have greater things on your mind than your dog walker. Every once in a while my clients forget to leave my payment. Usually, they let me know they forgot.

But then there are the “other” clients. The ones who not only don’t let me know that they forgot to leave the payment for the week but make no effort of getting the money to me.

And this isn’t once every few months. I’ve had clients who would not leave payment 2-3 times per month – every month. I had one client who would repeatedly cancel the final walk of the week (payday).

There is no way that is anything other than deliberate. It infuriated me to have to contact them about leaving the money the first walk of the following week.

Compare that to clients who would offer to drive the money to me when they got home from work. One of those dog walking clients is awesome, the other one is lame! Don’t be lame – just leave the darn agreed upon payment.

#2) Do leave a towel on rainy days

I don’t ask anymore. In the past, I would tell my clients to leave a towel on days when there was heavy rain in the forecast. That was so I could dry off their dog so that they do not get wet fur on the couch or bed.

Hardly anyone would ever leave a towel for me. This isn’t something that bothers me, but it makes sense. So why don’t clients leave a towel? Maybe some people like the smell of wet dog throughout their home.

#3) Don’t keep asking to get your keys back from your pet sitter

If you want your keys back, you go get them. As a pet sitter, I will drop them off once – after the first pet sitting job for that client. But after that, you come to me or else pay me extra for dropping them off to you.

Or maybe give your pet sitter a spare set of keys. Guess what you can do if you lose your keys or lock yourself out of your place? You can call your sitter and get the keys. How do you not know that?

I had an annoying guy who did this to me over and over. He’s not a client of mine anymore. I would always tell him that I was booked whenever he needed me for pet sitting. So now, some other poor pet sitter is stuck with him.

#4) Do have a dog collar that fits your dog

Do you love your dog and want him or her to stay alive? If you do, then buy a collar or harness that the dog can NOT slip out of. More than once a skittish or shy dog slipped out of their collar or harness. If I didn’t act quickly, the dog would have run back towards home, crossing some intersections in the process.

This is most common during the first time that I walk a dog for a pet sitting job. They don’t know you plus they are disoriented not having the family members at home with them. Just make sure the collar fits!

#5) Don’t text when a phone call or email is better

How do people not know when a phone call or email is better than texting? You need to make a phone call or send an email when there is a lot of information or lots of questions that require answers.

I have had clients who would not stop texting questions. I think of one word: annoying. You need to call or email if there is going to be a lot of back and forth communication. That rectangle thing in your hand can actually make a phone call. You should try it.

#6) Do communicate with your walker or sitter about your pet’s health

I know when my regular dogs are sick or feeling bad because they act differently. It may not be as evident for the pet owner. But as the pet owner, let us know if your dog or cat is experiencing problems.

We need to know if we should refrain from giving treats or to leave notes on how they did on a walk. If we don’t know to look for a problem, we may not notice it.

I have let some dog walking clients know that the problem seemed worse and they would leave work to get them to a vet. Then there were times where I told them that they seemed better. Just let us know what is going on.

#7) Don’t downplay your dog’s behavior

This is a huge one. If your dog is overly shy, aggressive or difficult to walk, then you need to tell your dog walker. Don’t downplay it because you have found it difficult to find a walker. There is a huge chance that things can go very wrong if you don’t communicate any issues.

I’ve had a dog get away from me and escape beneath a gap in the fence. The owners told me she was “kind of” shy. No, she was extremely shy and now she is running across a 4 lane road. I could give other examples but the point is, tell the truth about difficulties involving your dog.

The result could be a lost or injured dog plus damage to the name of the dog walking business you deceived. Plain and simple, let your walker know or that will be the reason why you don’t keep dog walkers for long.

#8) Do give a reasonable window for visit times

I had a scheduling conflict with some early dog walks, so I asked one of my clients to give me an acceptable time range to walk his dogs. He gave me a whole + \ – 15-minute time frame. Wow, thanks, pal.

I was expecting at least 30 minutes on either side of his ideal walk time. There are dog walking companies that have a window of 1 hour plus or minus for their clients, if not more than an hour. I was hired by a guy who had a company show up 2 hours early.

Don’t be a lame client, give your dog walker 30 to 45 minutes before and after your ideal time walking time. A half-hour if plenty of time, but sometimes I do need the longer 45-minute time range.

#9) Don’t carpet bomb every pet business in your area

I can always tell when someone is emailing and calling every other dog walker of boarding business in the city. These are people who usually get a friend or family member take care of their pets for free. And when those friends say that they can’t help, these people call every dog walking business they can.

Another thing they do is contact every business but then find a free option. They always email that they found someone but they will keep me in mind for the future. You can keep me in mind, but you won’t be able to contact me since I will be blacklisting your email address.

Talk about being used. I’m a busy walker who works 7 days a week. I reply to an email about being able to help you, ask about a good time to meet you, go back and forth with emails only to find out that was all wasted time. Thanks.

#10) Do let your walker or sitter know if other people will be home during a visit

It’s so annoying when there is someone else in the home when I have to walk a dog. The dog becomes difficult to get out of the house and is difficult on the walk. I’ve also experienced confusion about feeding and medication.

If you are going to have someone stay at your house while you are away, then tell them not to do anything involving care for the dog. I mean think about it – you don’t even trust them to walk your dog, that’s why you hired me.

There was one idiot roommate who was home for a day or two during a pet sitting job. Total idiot! The dog needed medication during AM and PM meals. He fed the dog the first night but did not give the medicine. I tried to ask him if he will continue to do that at which point he said that it’s my job to feed him and give him medicine. THEN STOP FEEDING THE DOG!

I’m responsible for the dog, especially if medication is involved. If you are going to have someone at your place during my visits, then tell them NOT to do anything with the dog.

#11) Don’t use multiple dog walking or pet sitting companies

Why are you hiring a dog walking company and someone from Rover? What are you doing?

I recently was asked to do an unscheduled walk for one of my dog walking clients. They had tried to get in touch with the Rover sitter they hired and was not getting any replies back from her.

They hired an in-home sitter who was staying at their place and doing 3 walks a day and feeding their two dogs. I assume they went with Rover because I do not offer in-home sitting and that pet sitting was not enough.

So I stopped by to walk the two dogs only to find the sitter groggy and just waking up. It was almost 11 AM on a Thursday. She obviously was out late and hadn’t even given the dogs their morning walk or feeding.

This is another big topic area so let me just say pick one service and stick with them.

#12) Do have enough supplies for your pet when you go away

Do make sure you have enough food, litter, and other supplies if you are going on a trip. As I’m writing this, I have a cat sitting job and one litter box is quite low on litter. I emailed the owner if they had more and she told me there is litter in the basement. No there isn’t.

Poor kitty, suck it up and deal with the low litter in your box.

Just double-check the litter, food, treats, etc. before you leave on your trip. I mean you were able to pack everything you needed for yourself. Can’t you take care of your pets needs as well?

#13) Don’t ask your pet sitter to be a cleaning service

I’ve had some pet sitting clients ask me to sweep up around the litter box. There was one woman who conveniently left a broom, mop, and bucket next to the litter box.

Don’t ask your sitter to sweep up around the litter box – we are not a cleaning service. C’mon! I’ll clean up an accident or vomit, but cleaning up around the litter box every day is not a service I offer.

Oh, and scoop the litter before you leave for your trip. There have been cat sitting jobs where the litter box was obviously not scooped for 2-3 days> I guess because they knew I was coming. What the …?

#14) Do leave clear and concise pet sitting notes

Do leave notes if you are a new pet sitting or dog walking client. The notes pertain mostly to pet sitting, but some dog walking clients have a lot of needs for their dog, especially for puppies and senior dogs.

But don’t make the notes a short story – just bullet point everything. Until I walk or sit for your pet, I’ll need notes on how much food and where it is. I also need notes on medication, treats, toys and anything else you feel is important.

I am super happy when I see notes that are short and to the point – thank you to all the dog walking and pet sitting clients who comprehend brevity and clarity.

#15) Don’t constantly cancel or change walk times

I understand if something comes up and you have to cancel a walk, change the time or add a second walk. But when it happens one or more times a week, week after week, then that is too much.

You will be charged fees by larger companies for any changes made in less than 24 hours. It makes sense to do that because they need to guarantee their walkers and sitters a certain number of visits per week. Canceling visits takes money out of the walker’s pockets so the company WILL charge you for the walk if it is a last-minute change.

Adding additional walks or changing the visit time can also be disruptive to my schedule. Once in awhile is fine, but frequent changes create a problem for me and the other dogs that I walk.

Summary

A couple of things come to mind:

#1) The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have done to you.

#2) The cliche of “mindfulness”: It’s your pet, make sure you let your walker or sitter know what they need to know to care for your pet and have everything on hand that they need to care for your beloved pet.

If you are a new dog owner, then check out my article on 17 First-Time Dog Owner Tips. I did find a good article on new cat owners: 10 Tips for First Time Cat Owners.

You can be an awesome pet sitting or dog walking client, or you can be a lame client. The choice is yours – and it is a choice.

The post Dog Walking Business: Client Guidelines (Do’s And Don’ts) appeared first on Fairmount Pet Service.

There are things you have to do in the morning before you start your walks. Then you have the daily walk schedule. And expect to get text messages throughout the day of changes to the walks.

There are also nightly responsibilities that have every day. I like to stop all work by 9:00 PM at the latest.

This article is just a daily journal of my activities as a dog walker to hopefully give you some insights. I do have an in-depth article called Pet Sitter & Dog Walker Job Description. Check that out for specific requirements for being a dog walker or pet sitter.

Morning routine: Checking messages and scheduling

You may have morning walks if one of your clients went away and you are pet sitting or boarding their dog. Otherwise, here are the things I do every day.

#1. The first thing I do is check my phone and Gmail to see if any of my regulars have a change for their dog. Most of the time it is a cancellation for whatever reason, but it can also be a time change or additional walk.

#2. The next thing is to log into my website to check for emails from people requesting one of my services. I can either help them or I can’t, and I reply accordingly. I’ll have to check back throughout the day for replies dealing with a meet-and-greet for a new client.

#3. After lots of coffee and checking all my messages, I open up an Excel file I use for scheduling. This is where I’ll make changes if I have any, otherwise, I key in the dog names for the times slots that I want to get to them.

#4. I write down the names of the dogs and times to get to them in a small notebook.

#5. I use the notebook to gather all the keys, count out the business cards I leave for each walk and grab some dog treats.

That’s the basics every day, and by the way, Thursday have always been my busiest days and Fridays my lightest.

Just before the walks

The last thing I do before leaving for the walks is to make a sandwich for the road.

Until recently, I would walk my dog right before I leave, though I did take him with me sometimes. I have a dog I walk named Molly who is super friendly. I sometimes walked them together.

Then I do a double-check. The one thing you NEVER Want to do is leave for a busy day of walks and realized you do not have all the keys you need. That’s the worst. I make sure I have all the right keys.

Finally, I grab my water and sandwich, poo bags, wallet, etc. and off I go. Obviously, I then do all of my walks – first to the last, And it is usually the same dogs in a row with some exceptions.

The actual walks

So here is the routine:

1.  I know the ideal walk time for all my clients, so I arrange the order of walks with that in mind and to try to travel in a circle. That way I don’t drive in a zig-zag pattern and spend less time driving and more time walking.
2. Park as close as you can and go into your clients home. This is the best part – the dos are so excited to see me that it makes my day every time.
3. Grab the leash and the dog, lock the door and do the walk. Some of my dogs get treats after the walk and some don’t.
4. Make sure you lock the dog when you leave and drive to your next dog.

I have 12-14 dog walks on my busiest day (Thursdays). It’s actually 12 walks but I may have a pet sitting dog walk or two. That’s it – that’s the bulk of the work.

Afternoon to Evening

Relax and grab a bite to eat. This is also when would walk my dog again. I lost him in June and I miss him so much.

I dump out my pockets and wipe the schedule clean for the day in Excel. Though, if I have night walks, I put those keys with my notepad and business cards. I may also ice up my feet or knees if they are feeling bad.

At some point, I check my website email for replies from earlier emails or new messages from new clients.  I tend to check my website inbox 2-3 times a day: in the morning, when I’m done walks in the afternoon, then finally around 8:00 or 9:00 PM.

That’s about it. If I do have night walks, then I check my bike to see if the tires need air. Otherwise, I relax and eventually go to sleep to only wake up and start again. As a pet sitter, I tend to work 7 days a week, so it’s an everyday thing.

Additional Resources

You may want to check out the companies and websites that provide dog walker insurance and business information. Here are two I recommend that have a lot of resources if you are interested in being a dog walker:

Pet Sitters Associates (PSA)

National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS)

This was a strange dog walker job description, but I hope it gave you some insights into the business. Good luck and realize you will be working hard – all the time.

The post Dog Walker Job Description: Daily Journal & Schedule appeared first on Fairmount Pet Service.

My system for the past 10 years of walking dogs is simple: comfortable boots, foul-weather gear, and dog bags. And that is just for walking my dog. And on hot days you’ll need water and a collapsible bowl.

If you are starting a dog walking business, you’ll also want carabiners and cargo pants or shorts that have belt loops.

Let’s review what is considered dog walking essentials

Keep in mind that my opinions on essential gear for dog walking is for short dog walks. If you plan on doing a day hike with your dog, then you will need additional gear. But if you are a hiker, you know all about gear.

You’ll see products like designer bags & fanny packs, utility belts, leather dog waste (poo) bag holders, and pet waste (poo) pickup tools. Really? Let’s take a look at these “Essential” dog walking items.

Dog walking bag

There isn’t much to say here. I’m not sure why you would need a bag. How much stuff do you need to carry with when you are walking dogs?

I assume having some kind of bag would only apply to someone walking a dog who does not have pockets. Or maybe you left home without your pants. But in that case, not having a dog walking bag is not your biggest problem.

Bags are mostly for female dog walkers or dog owners. I haven’t seen yoga pants or yoga shorts with pockets, so in this case, you’ll need a bag. Many of the female dog walkers I see have fanny packs.

Dog walking fanny pack (waist pack)

This I suppose is another female only dog walking essential. You need to carry your phone, poo bags, keys, and dog treats somewhere.

Fanny bags used to be a joke but they seem to be coming back. You won’t see me wearing one, but they do have a practical application.

I’m into bushcraft and wilderness survival. Everyone in the bushcraft world knows about Otzi the Iceman and the gear he carried. He is the 5000-year-old human found in the Swiss Alps.

He had a fire starting kit in a belt pouch. I suppose a fanny pack is a modern day equivalent to a belt pouch. So I give this one a thumbs up for Otzi, though it’s not for me personally.

Dog walking utility belt

Unless you are Luke Skywalker or Batman (or wish you were), then why would you ever walk around with a utility belt? Why don’t you have pockets?

If you are a dog walker who does pack walks then I suppose the belts that have leash connections are useful. But the fancy dog walking belts with all the trimmings just look ridiculous. I can’t comment further on utility belts since I’ve never used them while dog walking.

However, there is one aspect of these belts that are a problem. And that is that you tend to not have your hands on the leash when it is connected to a belt.

Take a look at my article Dog Walking Safety Tips, but there are times you need to yank your dog out of harm’s way. That’s not so easy if the leash is slack and your hands aren’t on it.

My breakdown of dog walking essentials

Let’s keep it simple. I need to take care of my money makers: my feet. Here is my list of essentials for professional dog walking:

1. Comfortable sneakers or hiking boots are a must for dog walkers

I’ve tried many hiking boots, but they tend to leave my feet aching. Keen Targhee II hiking boots are my most essential dog walking gear. If my feet hurt after a day of dog walking, it’s not because of the boots.

2. Poop bags and a rubber band

That’s all I need. Just a roll of poo bags held together with a rubber band. I keep them in my right cargo pocket.

3. Cargo pants or shorts (extra pockets)

You need lots of pockets. Six pockets are the bare minimum for me.

Here is my setup: my phone is my left pocket, money in my right. A pen and the cards I leave for my clients are in my left front cargo pocket. My right cargo pocket has a roll of dog bags and dog treats. My wallet is in my back left pocket and I try to keep 1 dog bag in my right back pocket.

4. Belt loops and carabiners

I use carabiners clipped onto my belt loops for the keys of all my clients. I’ve only had keys fall off of the carabiner a few times. Usually, I hear them fall, but once I did not. I backtracked and found them. It would probably be better to have the screw-locking type of carabiner than the spring swing gate types.

5. Foul weather gear

This one is about as important as quality footwear. From bitter cold to deluges from the sky, you need to stay dry and warm. Otherwise, you’ll be miserable or end up getting sick.

6. Collapsible water bowl and water

This one is a personal piece of gear for my dog. He is a black Staffordshire Terrier and he overheats easily.

Now you are probably wondering how I carry the water and bowl. Well, I could stuff the collapsible bowl in my cargo pocket and just carry the water in my hand. But I don’t. I carry both in a small backpack or a carrier sling bag. I only carry that stuff when I am taking him for a long walk which is not far off a day hike.

7. Dog treats

What else needs to be said here. You have to give the dogs a treat for being good. I always give my dogs a treat as I’m leaving. They are always eager to see me the next day.

Summary

Keep it simple: you don’t need a dog walking bag or utility belt or anything like that.  Take care of your feet first. Secondly, take care of the dog. If you feel you need top of the line gear for you and the dog(s) you walk, then buy it. But you do not need any of that gear to walk dogs.

If you are a dog walker, take a look at my article Starting a Dog Walking Business Part 4: Tips and Tricks for some insights that may help you.

The post Dog Walking Bag, Belt, Fanny Pack: Essential Gear Or Not? appeared first on Fairmount Pet Service.

Some of the dog parks are open to all but the others require some form of membership and \ or registration before you can bring your dog to the park.

Philadelphia Dog Parks

All the parks below but one have a website or Facebook page. Some of the sites are very informative and others do not provide much information about the dog park.

I included the best information that I could find for each dog park: membership required or not, available water source, small dog section or not, etc.

Take a look at each website for more information about the dog parks that are in Philadelphia neighborhoods closest to you.

1. Seger Dog Park

1001 Rodman Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147

Seger dog park is located in the Washington Square neighborhood of Center City. It is open to the public but membership is preferred to help pay for maintenance. It is a non-profit organization run by Seger Park Dog Owner’s Association (SPDOA).

The ground of the dog park is gravel and mulch. I was not able to view any photos to see if there were benches or not, and there was no mention of water for the dogs. The dog park is enclosed with a separate area for small dogs.

Membership is optional but encouraged with a $50 donation which is used for maintenance fees.

Check out their about page for more information, as well as their events and park rules pages.

The park is open 24/7.

Amenities \ Benefits: They have social events with local business and musicians such as their weekly summer concert series called “Woofstock”.

2. Orianna Hill Dog Park

900 N. Orianna Street
Philadelphia, PA 19123

Orianna Hill dog park is located in the Northern Liberties section of the city. It is a member only park. Online registration is required as is an orientation. The membership costs $50 per year.

There is lots of shade and benches and the area for the dogs is enclosed. In their sidebar, they mention the funds going towards water, electricity, and mulch.

Check out the Park Rules page for more info. You need to register your dog with them to actually use the dog park. Also, take a look at their Youtube video about the park.

The park is open 24/7.

3. Schuylkill River Dog Park

2500 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19130

This is a Philadelphia dog park near me and I’ve been to it many times. I used to go before the upgrade in 2012 and I went a few times after the upgrade. It’s a nice dog park for sure. You can also walk along the Schuylkill River with your leashed dog for some nice views.

They have K9Grass in both the small and large dog enclosures and there is no membership required. There are some shade and lots of places to sit and there are water fountains for the dogs.

The dog park is located along the river with freight train tracks separating the park from the river. But there is a pedestrian bridge to cross over the tracks and get on the Schuylkill River Trail. That is a nice trail to walk with your dogs and take in the scenery.

Their site is informative so take a look at each page for more information. Also, take a look at their Youtube video about the Schuylkill River dog park.

The park is open 24/7.

Amenities \ Benefits: The Schuylkill River Trail is fantastic and it is right next to the park.

4. Roxborough Dog Park

4117 Mitchell Street
Philadelphia, PA 19128

There is not a lot of information about the park on the website. It is a member only dog park and annual membership is $100.

The surface of the park is grass and dirt and there is a lot of shade for the pups on hot days. There are benches for the dog owners. The good thing is that you can find parking close to the park.

The website does not mention the hours the park is open.

5. Columbus Square Dog Park

1200 Wharton Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147

The dog park is in the Passyunk Square neighborhood of Philly. There also isn’t much on this site but they mention their rules on the home page.

They have a hose to fill your dog’s water bowl and the surface is gravel. The dog park is fenced in with a few tables and benches. They also have logs and stumps for the dogs to play on.

The website does not mention the hours the park is open.

6. Green Street Dog Park

1819 Green Street
Philadelphia, PA 19130

This is a Philly dog park near me – about 2 blocks from me. It’s rather small but it is enclosed with a separate area for small dogs. One of my dog walking clients takes his dog to the park.

It is a member only dog park and it is a lengthy process becoming a member. The website mentions that it has an “electronically controlled entry system and security cameras with 24 hour real-time and recorded video coverage. The perimeter of the Park is equipped with ample lighting, benches”

The surface is K9Grass in both the small and large dog sections. And since it is so small, there is a limit on how many dogs can be there at any one time. which is controlled by the number of key fobs used to enter the park.

The park is open 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

7. Palmer Doggy Depot

37 E. Palmer Street
Philadelphia, PA 19125

This is a community dog park in Fishtown so membership is not required. You will need to bring your own water because they do not have any water sources in the park. They do have plans to have lighting and water available this summer (2019).

There is a double-gate entry to the park and only one large area for the dogs – no separate section for small dogs. The surface is mulch and cobblestone with some seating and NO shade.

The park is open 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

8. Penn’s Landing Dog Park

1 N. Delaware Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19106

They do not have a website. And the park is very small.

The surface is gravel and water is available for the dogs. There is a separate area for small dogs. There is lots of shade and benches and a great view of the Ben Franklin Bridge and the Delaware River.

Amenities \ Benefits: The view of the bridge and river!

9. Mario Lanza Dog Park

200 Queen Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147

They only have a FB page without much information. The park is located in the Queen Village neighborhood of Philly.

The park is a small enclosed dog park within the larger Mario Lanza park with a gravel surface and shade. There is seating in the center for dog owners to watch their pups play and there is a hose for the dogs.

Regulars plan occasional social events and happy hours.

The park is open 24/7.

Amenities \ Benefits: The happy hour events with other dog owners sounds like fun.

10. Kitchen’s Lane Dog Beach

Address: Turn towards the creek at the little building at one of the bends on Forbidden Drive. Sorry, but that is the best I can do. The quickest way to get there is by going into the woods alongside Walnut Lane the Golf Club.

This is the beach area that is the unofficial dog park I mention at the beginning of the article. You can see the Wissahickon Creek on the map that is on the Facebook page.

There is a bit of a downhill scramble, so if you have mobility issues then you may not be able to go. But once down, your dog should be safe unless he or she can swim to the other side and run off.

The park is open 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM (Wissahickon park hours).

Amenities \ Benefits: Nature. You are in the wooded area of the Wissahickon Creek so it is really nice scenery, By the way, if you bring your bathing suit, you can take a dip in the water with your dog. You know, for those really hot days.

Other “dog parks” in Philadelphia

Here are some other dog parks you may find when searching for dog parks in Philadelphia, but there are some issues with them being called dog parks.

Clark Park Dog Bowl: This is not an enclosed dog park but it is a nice city park with other events. You can not have your dog off leash as there is a nearby playground. Check this one out though because they have festivals, farmers’ markets, and food vendors.

Pretzel Park Dog Park: 4300 Silverwood Street, Philadelphia, PA 19127.  The surface is dirt and wood chips but the “enclosure” is a low wall which dogs could easily jump over. The Manayunk Towpath is nearby for a nice stroll with your dog and they have flea markets on Saturdays.

Chester Avenue Dog Park: This was a dog park but it closed this past March. You’ll still see it though on other “Philadelphia Dog Parks” lists. (Keeping your website up to date is not easy.)

Triangle Dog Park: This is another park that was in Fishtown but it is closed now. Just an FYI if you see a review of the park on Yelp or another site.

Monk’s Dog Run at Monkiewicz Playground: The information I found on this park is that the surface is wood chip and there is water for the dogs. I do not know if it is an enclosed park or not.

Pops Dog Park: I found this park listed on some sites but I’m not sure about it. The last post on the Facebook page is from November 2018.

Sherman Mills Dog Park: 3502 Scotts Ln. Philadelphia, PA 19129. I don’t know what the story is with this park but I don’t think it exists anymore. Just take a look at the Facebook page and you’ll see what I mean.

Dog-friendly hiking trails in Philadelphia

There are a lot of great hiking spots in Philly though you can not have your dog off-leash. My favorite is the 7-mile hike along Forbidden Drive in the Wissahickon Valley Park.

There is also all of Kelly Drive along the Schuylkill River. Continue past Boathouse Row to get to the  Art Museum and the Water Works. Then the Schuylkill River Trail starts up again and takes you to #3 on the dog park list: Schuylkill River Dog Park.

And they are only the hiking areas I’m familiar with I’ve never been in the Philadelphia section of the John Heinz Wildlife Sanctuary but there are nice trails down at the Tinicum end.

Here are some links to areas that you can hike with your dog:

1. Wissahickon Creek Park: The main trail is called Forbidden Drive and is 7 miles long. I found one decent article and an okay map. If you like the area, you should buy a map of the entire area.
2. Schuylkill River Trail: The trail is 10 miles long within the city, but the trail is well over 100 miles long. Here is a map of the Philly section.
3. John Heinz Wildlife Refuge: The main link for this area is not good. I think the trail is over 8 mils long. Check out these 2 links for more info: 1) Trail running article; 2) Philly Day Hiker article
4. FDR Park \ the “Lakes”: I’ve never hiked in this park but I’ve tail-gated in the section close to the stadiums. Here is a decent map of the park (the only good one I could find)

Summary

Definitely, take advantage of any dog park near you if it is open to the public. The one problem with those parks though, is there will be irresponsible owners at times. So that that into account.

That is why the member dog parks in Philadelphia may be a better option. Any dog that is aggressive will not be allowed into the park.

You may want to take a look at my article on Dog-Friendly Hotels in Philadelphia if you are here visiting and are interested in visiting again in the future.

Let me know of any other great dog parks or hiking trails in Philadelphia and I’ll add them to the list.

Also, I have an article on the rates and cost for every type of pet service. The article is called Pet Services Rates but it also includes other subjects like Philly dog parks, pet-friendly hotels, 24-hour emergency vets, and adoption locations. Check it out if you are interested in other pet services located in the city.

The post 9 Philadelphia Dog Parks: Find A Park Near You appeared first on Fairmount Pet Service.

But just as important is to be trustworthy and physically fit. You have to pass a background check, provide references, and be able to walk 3 or more miles per day.

Finally, you need to have reliable transportation, a cell phone, and be able to work outdoors in harsh conditions.

Dog Walker Job Description

Here are the most common requirements and working conditions that you will see in a job description for a dog walker. The descriptions for each company may vary for their dog walker postings, but the list below are the core requirements.

Dog Handler Experience or Dog Ownership

The most important dog walker requirement is to have experience walking or handling dogs. You can get this experience by being a dog owner or volunteering at shelters.

Being a dog owner is a great benefit, both personally and if you are looking for a dog walker job. Consider adopting a dog if you do not already own one.

But experience walking or caring for dogs is better than just dog ownership. One of the best ways to get that experience is volunteering for a dog or animal shelter, rescue or adoption center. Try an online search or take a look at the ASPCA dog adoption page to find shelters in your area.

That one resume bullet point on your resume will look fantastic. It shows that you love dogs, are experienced with many types of dogs and are part of the pet industry.

Keep in mind that volunteering also involves cleaning crates, and“accidents”, and other non-walking responsibilities. It’s still worth it if you want an established pet service company to hire you.

Keep track of all the dogs that you have walked either for shelters or for other people. Note the actual number of walks, different breeds, different sizes, puppy or senior dogs, trained or untrained, etc.

Also, become familiar with different leashes, collars, and harnesses. The more knowledge and experience you have increases your chance of landing a dog walker job.

Another thing to consider is getting a dog or pet CPR and first aid certification. The American Red Cross used to offer classes, but that is no longer the case. Try to find a course in your area.

Here is a summary of the key requirements you will need to maximize your chances of being hired:

• Be a dog or pet owner
• Have some kind of experience walking, or caring, for many types of dogs
• Have your Pet CPR and First Aid Certification

You should get a dog walker job if you have those three things.

General Dog Walker Job Requirements

Let’s say you meet all of the requirements above. There are a few other critical requirements that you will see in dog walker job descriptions. If you can’t meet these requirements, then you will not get hired.

I believe the next most important thing is being able to pass a background check. There is no way I’m giving you keys to clients home if you can’t pass that test. Neither will any other dog walking business owner.

And to be able to perform the background check, you will need to have a valid ID like a drivers license or something similar. So update your ID before you apply for a job.

The next few requirements should be easy.

You will need to have a cell phone and internet access. I’m sure different companies do things differently, but you need a cell phone for short notice changes or other communications. I personally would send weekly schedules to my walkers via email on Sundays.

You also need reliable transportation to get to each dogs location throughout the day. If you live in a city, a bike should be fine, if not ideal. But you will need a car if you are servicing the suburbs.

So make sure to:

• Have a valid ID so that you can
• Pass a background check
• Have a cell phone and email access
• And have some form of transportation

If you have gotten to this point and you can check “yes” for all of the above, then you may be making money walking dogs soon. Just one more group of requirements to meet.

Time, Weather and Physical Requirements

People need their dogs walked around midday Monday thru Friday. So you need to be available every weekday. Some companies may need off-hour or weekend walks, but they need midday walkers the most.

If you can do off-hour and weekend walks, then you will become one of the most reliable walkers for the company. That means more dogs to walk and more money!

Most companies list working hours of 10 am to 5 pm in their job descriptions, although those hours vary from company to company. Starting at 10 am is close to the start time but you are usually done by 3:30 at the latest.

You also have to enjoy working outdoors even when the weather is horrible. Most of the time the weather is nice to a little difficult. Sometimes the weather is very challenging.

If you have any doubts about walking dogs in extreme cold, heat, rain or snow, then just think of other people who are sitting in a cubicle or doing hard labor. Or even better, imagine a job where you often ask “Do you want fries with that?”

Then there is all the walking to do. I estimate that I walk 3 to 4+ miles per day, or up to 20 miles a week. If you have any physical ailments involving your feet, knees or hips, then being a dog walker is not a good job choice.

Make sure you can meet the following requirements:

• Can work midday during weekdays
• Work from approximately 10 am to 4 or 5 pm
• Have no problem working outdoors in all types of weather
• Are physically fit enough to walk difficult dogs a few miles every day

How are you doing so far? Can you meet all of the above requirements? If so, then a dog walker job should be easy to find.

Benefits to Expect Being a Dog Walker

Other descriptions you will see in dog walker job postings are benefits like working with dogs, making your own schedule, and the actual pay rate.

The joy of working with dogs is a given, but the pay rates and variable scheduling will be particular to each company. Look for those details in each individual job description as every dog walking company do things differently.

Keep in mind that it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. You will have difficult dogs, last minute changes, and walks in horrible weather conditions. You also may have to work when you are not feeling well.

But the best benefit which overcomes all difficulties is when you walk into each home and the dog is eager and excited to see you. That puts a smile on your face every time.

Pet Sitter Job Description

All the descriptions for a dog walker job also apply for pet sitter jobs. The main difference is that pet sitting will involve dogs, cats and other types of pets.

Pet sitter job descriptions will mention that you must do morning and evening visits in addition to the afternoon dog walks. You may also have to do morning and evening visits for cats or other pets that need medication twice a day.

Another common requirement in pet sitter job descriptions is being responsible, specifically when it comes to the keys to each clients’ home. You will need to hold onto the keys over the days that you will be making your visits. If you lose the keys, how are you going to feed the pets or administer medicine?

Common Daily Pet Sitter Job Requirements

The most important requirement is giving the pets you are watching their daily food and water. Next important is giving the pets medicine if that is required.

Also, cats and caged animals will need their litter cleaned. You may also be asked to bring in mail or packages, and water indoor and outdoor plants.

Hopefully, you will never have to make emergency vet appointments. I only had to do that once in the ten years that I have been pet sitting. But you may have to. Remember, you are responsible until the owner gets home.

One of the biggest requirements though is being available to work holidays. That’s when most people go away, and of course, need pet sitting. Keep that in mind. While everyone else is having fun over the holiday weekend, you are walking dogs and cleaning litter.

Summary

I hope that I gave you an accurate description of the typical dog walker or pet sitter job posting. If you are lacking any of the requirements above, then do your best to change that.

You can still try applying for a dog walker job if you are lacking experience or some of the other things above. You may just contact a company at a time when they are in great need of a walker.

I have two other articles that will give you insight and practical tips for being a dog walker or pet sitter: 14 dog walking skills and Starting a Dog Walking Business, Tips & Tricks. If you live in or near Philadelphia, PA then check out my Adoption Centers article for places to adopt or volunteer.

I wish you luck finding a fantastic dog walker job!

The post Pet Sitter And Dog Walker Job Description appeared first on Fairmount Pet Service.