Setting up dog sitting and walking

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Ranyhyn

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Has anyone done this? I am considering starting my own business boarding and walking dogs.
What as a customer would you look for in this service?
What would you expect to pay?

Any comments thoughts greatly appreciated!
 
A girl on our yard has just done this.
She charges £25 a day to look after the dog in her house. I was a little :eek: at that price. That said, I'm not sure what I would expect to pay!
 
Yes, I do it as well.

Clients want someone who is reliable, trustworthy and takes good care of their pets. Unless you employ someone who can cover for you, you need to be there even if you are sick. I've been doing it for 10 years and I've only jad 2 x 2 wekk holidays in that time and even then I gave my clients a years notice:eek:

As for prices you really need to look at what other people charge in your area as it varies across the country,
 
Thats true, I struggled this year with a 1 week holiday for myself as I was booked right up and I actually feel bad when clients make me feel bad when their dogs can't come for that 1 week:o:p

All my clients now ask when my holidays are:D (so they can work around them)
Xmas for me is booked up years in advance by clients, so last xmas same clients booked again for this year and will do again no doubt as it's always the same clients, I never go anywhere anyway as obs im on nights at work (not all but some) and we cant take Xmas off so makes no difference and I do charge more for over the Xmas period.
 
Who are you insurged with?

What are the pros and cons?
What do you wish you knew before you started?
Apart from tax/ni is there anything else I need to consider set-up wise?
 
BoolavogueDC said:
Who are you insurged with?
Cliverton insurance (fab range of cover)

What are the pros and cons? (If you get a young dog or a dog the owners have never left (has SA):rolleyes: you may have to work with that and be tactical:D. Otherwise nothing for me.
Have space to keep the dogs separate form your own when not supervised (very important)
I am strict with collection/drop off times as people did think it rather acceptible to get dogs back at 9pm or drop them off a 7am (Erm...NO):rolleyes:

What do you wish you knew before you started? Nowt really:p:D
Apart from tax/ni is there anything else I need to consider set-up wise? You need a license from the council and there regulations differ from council to council.
A suitable car/van for collection of dogs.
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I'm insured with Cliverton as well, you need written permission to walk dogs off the lead.

You need to register as Self Employed, if you are using your own vehicle change the insurance to business use and get police checked as it gives clients peace of mind.

I didn't charge diesel the first year and wondered why I didn't make much.

Only downside of the job is the obvious - picking up poo all day!
 
BoolavogueDC said:
Why do you need permission to walk off lead?
Thanks!
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Because if you let a dog off and it runs away or causes an accident (in order for insurance to pay up) if you need it the owner must have given permission (in the form of a signed permission slip) or if it just bogs off (you are covering your own backside) in regard to permission granted from owner:p
 
I'm not a dog walker (other than my own) and I don't plan to be one, but something I have always wondered is whether there is a limit to the number of dogs a walker can walk at one time. I have seen walkers with up to 11 dogs - off lead - which seems a lot of dogs to keep an eye on!
 
Red30563 said:
I'm not a dog walker (other than my own) and I don't plan to be one, but something I have always wondered is whether there is a limit to the number of dogs a walker can walk at one time. I have seen walkers with up to 11 dogs - off lead - which seems a lot of dogs to keep an eye on!
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Yes, depending on insurance it's usually a limit of 6 dogs per one person, some may vary.
 
Local dog control orders can affect how may dogs one person can take out too.

In some cases you may need planning consent for home boarding and you will certainly need a licence.
As above you must have means of separating dogs while you are not in the room with them.
 
What a brilliant idea. I would love to find a local dog sitter (warks/leics border). The only local one I found only dog sat toy breeds. I have a collie so no good for me!

When we do go away, we currently travel over an hour to drop the dog at kennels that provides off lead exercise (other kennels on seem to provide on lead,twenty mins twice a day - no good for our dog!).

I would much prefer him to go to a home environment but finding one seems impossible! Also would prefer word of mouth recccomdenation as would need to trust the dog sitter is going to look after him!

Good luck in your venture, from a dog owner perspective I think we need many more people doing what you propose, so I'm sure there must be a market :)
 
Alot of home boarders this way on only do (tiny dog) sitting, a dog is a dog to me and the bigger the better behaved:p

Another thing, my council have a stipulation on boarding when you have a child under 5 (strange but true) obs I dont have a baby, but double check with your council regulator.

It does take a while to build business and get your self a good reputation, some one near me started up (obs saw me) and the amount of folk that come here with dogs and thought it a good idea, I think I have seen her with one dog in the whole 6 months she has been in business:p
I don't actually advertise, all my clients where people who took rescues from us then they passed my number and and the local vets (as I board all there dogs) so I had a really good route in to business.
I have just come back from walking with OH aswell as on the day he has alot of dogs (way more than 6 today) to walk he needs an extra hand (no rest here) it's all dogs dogs dogs:p When I move I will set up a cattery:p:D then I wont have to walk them:D:D
 
Oops sorry my mistake - it's a home boarder I'm after. Thanks for explaining Cayla.

Back to your original query; I do still see the need for it. I'm away over night soon ( leaving late afternoon and returning at lunch time). Instead of putting my dog in kennels his walker is coming to walk him for an hour in the afternoon, is coming back in the evening to sit with him for three hours and take him for last toilet break. Then coming back early in the morning to let him out and take him for a walk.

She usually walks him five afternoons ( lunchtime) a week (as I work full time). So definitely a market I would say!

I'm happy for him to be off the lead with her, she has insurance ( and so does the dog!). She sometimes walks him with another or he'll go back to her house to play. I don't mind what she does with him, as he is walked morning and evening, I just like him to have some company in the day, it's not his main exercise :) saying that I like the fact he is walked with just one or two others.

Hope you manage to make it work for you :)
 
Hello, my mum lost her beloved dog last September rather than get another dog she decided to set herself up as a 'Home Boarder'. She started by only having one persons dogs at a time but now will have up to six (as long as they mix well) and they all live in the home with her and my dad. She charges £13 per night for someone's first dog and £9 per night for any others. They get walked twice a day for at least an hour at a time (as long as they are fit enough or well enough). She often walks them separately from each other if there are several dogs, it isn't fair to expect a 12 year-old shnauzer to keep up with a 2 year-old boxer etc.
She's insured with cliverton. We do all the advertising via a facebook which people can look at while they're away to see pictures of what their dogs are up to. She's lucky as she lives on our farm so dogs who are allowed off the lead can have massive walks with no other dog walkers about.
She doesn't need to worry about her car as its up to the owners to pick up and drop off. Although only running for a year, word of mouth etc has meant she's so busy and people are booking their holidays around her!

Good luck with your venture!!! It's great fun.
 
Omg farmers wife - your mum's set up sounds amazing! Absolutely exactly what I have been looking for! Where abouts are you ( if I'm allowed to ask)?
Sorry op to butt in, I've not figured out the personal message system yet!

Returning to your original query, my dog walker charges start from £7.50 for forty five mins. Ten pounds an hour. £7.50 an hour for dog sitting. She is good though and when the weather is nice will often take jack to her house for the afternoon to play with her two dogs, free of charge. She often goes over the allotted time too.

Hope this helps.
 
BoolavogueDC said:
Has anyone done this? I am considering starting my own business boarding and walking dogs.
What as a customer would you look for in this service?
What would you expect to pay?

Any comments thoughts greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...

My friend has done this, don't know all the ins and out but she has made up cards etc and pamflets.

First decide if you want the dogs to stay at your premises all day or if you go to their house and walk dog or both.
she created her on web site. (weebly is a good one and easy to use)

this is info u might need


Services
Dog walking: we cater to the individual needs of your dog and try to match your pets normal routine and add fun and variety to your dogs day...

1/2 hour to 1 hour walks,once or twice a day.

group or individual walk, the choice is yours..


Holiday Care: We come to your Home, make sure all is well, watered, feed and walked and plenty of hugs too x

Once or twice a day visits, optional plant care, text messages notification of your pets safety once a day, all home visits are descreet and secure.


Vet Taxi: We can take you and your pet/s to and from your vets

Pick up and delivery of you and your pet from home to vets.


All services are tailored to your pets individual needs
 
BoolavogueDC said:
Thank you :)
Click to expand...

another bit you might find helpful



About Us

xxxxxxxx.co.uk is a friendly family dog walking and pet care business based in xxxx. We relocated here in September last year. We have 6 years experience of working with fostering and owning dogs.

We offer personalized quotes to fulfill all of your pet care needs

Not only does xxx xxxxx xxxx co.uk walk your dog,

We offer

Holiday care for dogs, cats and small furries too, We visit your home to make sure all of your animals needs are meet (we can also take care of your security and plants too).

xxx xxx xxx.co.uk also provide a Vet Taxi service if you and your pet need to get to and from the vets, we are here to help !

We look forward to meeting you and your pets and providing a happy and safe service..

xxxxxxxxxxx.

All staff are CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) security checked to ensure peace of mind and a safe quality service...

vista print maker great business cards, I have two of my businesses done there many choices of designed and wording.

:)
 
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