Should I Be a Dog Walker?

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Do you live in an area where there are a lot of dogs? Would you want to make money walking dogs for people? People are busy and would love to still have their pooches get to go out for walks. If you do decide to start becoming a dog walker, you will find that a dog walking bag can be a lifesaver when it comes to making your walks go smoothly … for you and the dogs. You want to avoid mistakes

Before you make the ultimate decision, though, here are some of the pros and cons that you can weigh.  

Pro: You Get To Make Your Own Schedule

This is one of the biggest things that can make this a draw for people who are looking for a job with flexible hours. You can set whatever hours you want on whatever days you want to. That way, you can make some money while being able to do the other things that you love. 

Con: You Risk Losing Business

Yes, you want to set boundaries and only work at set times. You may also want to take a day off to avoid burnout. But you run the risk of people deciding to take their business elsewhere if you happen to be unavailable at the times that they want. It can be a very delicate balancing act. 

Pro: You Get to Walk Dogs!

Yes, this is the reason that you are doing this. You can’t get enough of dogs and their love and energy. This job will allow you to do just that. You can fill your phone with a ton of dog photos to cheer yourself up on your off days. 

Dog Walking Bag

Con: It Can Be Stressful

You might be an advanced dog walker and have excellent skills at getting dogs to obey you while walking. They are still animals and can be unpredictable. They can lunge at things at the most inopportune times. Or you might encounter a dog off a leash, which can create havoc. You always have to be aware of your surroundings. This is not a job where you can just turn off your brain and walk. 

Pro: You Get To Be Outside

Here is a way that you can get sunshine and your daily steps each and every day. You can breathe fresh air and feel the sun on your skin. 

Con: Bad Weather is Decidedly Less Fun

While some owners may house-train their dogs for times when there is inclement weather, others want their dogs walked at all times of the year. That means you get to lug around an umbrella or wear a raincoat while walking the dogs. You could say no, but that also means risking losing future business. 

Pro: You Get Paid to Walk Dogs

Basically, this is what it boils down to. You get to make money doing something that others do for free with their own pets. You don’t have to worry about taking them to the vet or anything else like that. 

Con: You May Have Problem with Clients

While you do get paid to walk dogs, there are clients that could be late in paying or cause other issues like constantly rescheduling. You can fight that by setting late- or no-payment fees on any contract. That will likely deter that. You deserve to be paid for your work. 

Those are just some of the pros and cons. Many dog walkers find that the pros outweigh the cons. Then you can go out and enjoy walking dogs!