Dog walking can be the ideal job for dog lovers who have some spare time, need some spare change, and don’t mind using dog waste bags. It’s a chance to interact with a variety of cute pups and provide them with some relief from their long hours spent alone and indoors. It’s also an opportunity to make some extra cash every month—although you want to make sure it’s worth your time, even if it does seem like a fun job.
Get Professional Experience
If you’re an animal lover, dog walking might provide you with the perfect experience to put on your resume for future animal caretaking jobs. While dog walking may seem like a really easy line of work, it actually requires a high level of responsibility. You will be getting the keys to someone else’s house and caring for their pets in whatever situation comes your way during the walk.
Additionally, dog walking has the opportunity to be a self-employment opportunity, which means you can market yourself however you like, be selective of your clients, and even make your own schedule. The more flexible your schedule is, the more clients you’ll probably attract to your services, as many people do not work traditional nine-to-five jobs and may need their dogs walked in the evening instead of between 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Dog walking is significantly easier if the dogs are well trained, so that can be a part of your decision-making process when accepting clients. However, it’s good to know how to teach dogs to heel if they don’t understand what they’re doing at first, or if they are used to walking with their owners and need a refresher from someone new. This basic skill and a firm, commanding tone will show your clients that you can handle their dogs.
Get Paid to Spend Time Outside
Dog walking is also a great opportunity to spend time outside and get to know different parks in the area. As an inherent part of the job, you’ll be doing quite a bit of walking, so you’ll be sure to get some fresh air and exercise. However, it’s important to consider that, depending on where you live, you may have to walk dogs in very cold or hot weather.
If you’re a student looking to make some extra bucks, dog walking can be a good way to make a significant amount of money to pay for school. It’s a job that may only take a couple hours each day, depending on how many dogs you’re walking, which should leave you with enough time to focus on classes and homework.
There are a lot of benefits to a dog walking side gig, but first and foremost, it’s important to consider whether the money you make will outweigh the time you spend on the job, and to establish the hourly wage you’re willing to work for before starting. It’s a lot of responsibility that will probably take up time you could spend doing other things, like focusing on school and networking events.
Dog walking can provide an excellent opportunity to gain experience working with animals and handling big responsibilities. It’s an ideal opportunity for people who love dogs, especially if those people are students who have flexible schedules. Dog walking can be a chance to get your fill of fresh air each day, and you can earn money being someone a dog is really excited to see every day. However, despite all of these benefits, it’s important to make sure you’re not overextending yourself and to leave time to advance other areas of your life.
