Part timer...pet sitting and dog walking.

[Southern28Chick]

So, I'm thinking about putting out fliers around my town stating that I'm a pet/livestock sitter and dog walker. I need something to do and a little extra cash never hurts. There are tons of folks around where I live that have livestock and probably need someone to care for them when they go out of town. And I can walk dogs for people who work full time and for old folks that can't get out much.

I have no clue what to charge. If I walked someone's dog once a day...$5 a day?

Please only respond if you have something helpful to say, no smart comments.

 

[tiffanyh]

For a midafternoon walk, yah, Id say $5. For overnight care at someones home, where you stop by 3x daily, up here in CT, they get about $25 a day.

 

[LittleChickenRacingTeam]

I think $5 is way too low. Here is what they are charging around here. My friend is making 60-70 K a year doing this as a part time job.

http://www.k925.ca/?page=services-3

http://www.fourlegsandatail.ca/060~Rates/

 

[nccountrygirl]

If I walked someone's dog once a day...$5 a day?


Trisha, that would not even pay for your gas much less your time and your time is valuble. I say charge more.

 

[Southern28Chick]

I've been looking at real pet sitting and dog walking companies in Raleigh and they charge $15 a day! I'm not going that high, maybe $10. They're bonded and insured, I won't be. I'm not going to do it outside of my town either.

Hey think of all the exercise!

 

[Rosalind]

Way more than that. Well, if you could walk a whole bunch of dogs at once, and they were all giving you $5?

You would want a whole lot more than $5 to walk a rambunctious working dog, I guarantee it. They will dislocate your elbows and shoulders if they are not well trained, and many aren't. Heck, even the ones that are well trained but nervous around strangers, or not bred for temperament and thus anxious/stressed, or dogs that have dominance issues, are all worth more than $5 to walk.

I would say more like $15/day to walk with a stop to drink water. And if I could make $100,000/year doing it, I still would not, because I am not Cesar Millan. My dog, a 6-month-old Pyrenees, managed to break my foot in one moment of exuberant squirrel-chasing while on a leash I wasn't quick enough to drop. My aunt's Newfie has dislocated her elbow twice and her shoulder once, from her trying to hold it away from a dogfight with the neighbor's dog.

Around here, dogs get ticks like mad, so after every walk there is the Tick Removal Ritual, which consists of me praying to the Wolf Gods that I don't get nipped this time, a ceremonial chant over a fresh bone to mesmerize the dog into a state of deep meditation, then swift exorcism of the demonic tick by The Holy Tweezers Of Doom. Would you do that part too? I think I'd pay $50/walk to do the tick removal...

 

[adoptedbyachicken]

Yeesh, get your dog some flea and tick soap Rosalind, prevention is way easier.

Hey tere is an idea Trishia, make some flea and tick soap and offer to bath the dogs too. Have you seen this?

http://cgi.ebay.com/DAWG-ISLAND-All...hZ019QQcategoryZ46306QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

I too think that $5 is way too cheep. When working with other peoples horses I figure it out at $25 an hour so it's worth my time. So if I have to travel they are paying my travel time, for me that is easier than calculating the costs, and if they bring the horse to me they get more time. Hope that helps.

 

[Rosalind]

get your dog some flea and tick soap Rosalind, prevention is way easier.

I did. That's why there's only one or two ticks.

Back on topic--yes, all-natural flea and tick stuff would be nice. As would grooming services. They drop doggie off, you wash doggie and walk him, doggie returns ready to nap and smelling daisy-fresh, yes, I would pay big bucks for such a service.​

 

[jab91864]

I think $5 is too cheap. I'd go atleast $10 with maybe a special rate for repeat customers who do a daily request schedule.

Julie

 

[Southern28Chick]

Quote:
I am working on a doggie shampoo bar with citronella and cedar essential oils. Cedar repels fleas. I never thought about offering the service of washing the dog though. HUMMMM. This could be fun.