Starting a Dog Walking Business in Bristol UK
The demand for expert dog care is rising. There is no doubt that starting your own dog walking business and becoming a dog walker in Bristol can be a good gig. Many entrepreneurs are now wondering what they need and how to start a dog walking business.
The good news is that setting up a dog walking business is not that complex. Here are some of the things that you need to know about dog walking before you start your business.
How to become a dog walker
Owning a pet-sitting or dog walking business is a full-time responsibility that requires time and effort to maintain your growing business. To become a great dog walker, you should be a dog lover. You can only succeed in this business if you love animals and spending time with them. You also need to understand dog behaviors and have their best interest at heart.
As a dog walker, you need to know how to take care of dogs and what they love. You need to know what you can and what you can’t do for a dog. To get the information about dogs that you need to start your dog walking business, you should consider volunteering at your local kennel or rescue center.
Apart from learning how to take care of dogs, you also need to have excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Having these skills will make it easy for you to deal with the pet owners and expand your network. You also need to learn how to be comfortable during bad weather because you will be outside come rain come shine. Another thing that you need to be a great dog walker is to be physically fit. Some dogs are strong, and your business will require you to be walking for a long-distance every day.
Starting a dog walking business
Here are some of the tips and key things that you need to know about the dog walking business before taking the plunge:
- Training and qualifications
You don’t need any training or qualification to start a dog walking business, but having them will help boost your credibility and professional standing when building your client base. Some of the training that you should take before starting your business include animal care, animal behavior, and animal first aid.
- Understand dog walking regulations and rules
Every state has its own rules and regulations. Before starting your business, you should first understand the rules and regulations on dog walking businesses to avoid falling on the wrong side of the law and having to pay high court fines. Some of these rules include:
Protection of your client’s (dog owners) personal informationMaking sure dogs in public are wearing a collar that has the owner’s address and contactsCleaning up do wasteKeeping recordsHow many dogs you are allowed to walk at a time
- Insurance for your business
Dog walking is not always fun. Dogs will occasionally damage properties, and even injure themselves and others. You must insure your business against such risks. Knowing you are protected when the worst happens will give you peace of mind as you will not have too much to worry about.
- Get social
There are many dog owners in Bristol that are looking for a dog walker they can trust with their canine friend. Once you start your business, you should be posting your doggie clients on your social media pages on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. That will help people near you know about the services you offer and how they can contact you.