Dog Walkers Can Keep Your Dog Out of a Shelter. Learn Why and How You Can Start Your Own Dog Walking Business.

There are professional people giving up their careers and jobs to change the course of their lives.   Lawyers, nurses, writers, accountants and others walk away from successful careers to walk other people’s dogs.   When you hear the term, dog walker, I’m sure it sounds simplistic enough to put a leash on your dog and take him for a walk.

For one,  you’re not walking your own dog.   You’re responsible for walking other people’s dogs.   According to Veronica Boutelle, dog**tec Dog Walking Academy co-founder and San Franscisco Dog Walking Academy,  “there’s much more to the job.”  “In today’s world, pets are an integral part of the family and safe walking demands technical skill, physical stamina, and in-depth knowledge of everything from dog behavior and pack management to canine first aid and trail etiquette.”  “If you worship the outdoors, if you yearn to be your own boss and don’t mind being your own office manager, marketing executive, and customer service representative to boot, dog walking just might be for you.”

Boutelle and Mik Moeller, co-founder and instructor for the Dog Walking Academy, together run a dog walking certification course that lasts 3-4 days depending on the location.  Moeller states that managing and training one or multiple dogs is more difficult than people realize.  “Nobody is surprised that training a sled of dog pack requires expert knowledge and skill.  I don’t know why anyone thinks dog walking is different.”  “Many dog walkers soon realize is about dog training and being responsible for the safety of someone else’s beloved companion.  It’s about having the appropriate licenses and insurance, knowing when and how to say no to a client whose dog isn’t a fit with your business.   You must also know how to break up a fight within your own group of dogs.   Do you know how to handle an unleashed dog who rushes you and the dogs on the street?  These are some of the things that must be taken into consideration before choosing this endeavor.

“It is pointed out too rarely what a great contribution dog walkers make to the quality of life of the dogs they serve. Instead of being home alone all day, these dogs are given crucial exercise and social interactions, which isn’t just healthy, it keeps dogs safe and in permanent homes, too.  Studies show that many dogs given up or returned to shelters are there because of normal expressions of boredom or lack of exercise: barking, chewing, excess energy, and so on.  Dogs are doing their level best to fit into our twenty-first century lifestyles, the least we can do in return is to take their physical and mental health seriously.   That means entrusting your pet to a professional.”

What should you do if you are interested in becoming a professional dog walker?  The Dog Walking Academy suggests the following:

•    Get educated and certified. Learn dog body language, walk management techniques, building a strong recall, fight prevention and protocols, canine first aid, group composition, business practices, etc.
•    Start a legitimate business—get your business license and other necessary paperwork, obtain professional insurance, and research the rules for walking in your area.
•    Talk to other certified professional walkers to learn of their experiences and ask to join them for some hands-on experience.

The Dog Walking Academy offers an intensive 4-day workshop leading to professional dog walking certification. Graduates will be prepared to start a dog walking business—or advance an existing one.  You will be taught about “canine behavior, will learn new pack-management techniques and fight protocols, and learn how to run and market a dog walking business.”

What the Dog Walking Academy  course teaches:
Group management | dog communication & body language | aggression in all its forms: what it means, how to prevent it, and what to do about it | safety and fight protocols | basic training: build reliable sits, recalls, and polite leash behavior | client and dog screening | public relations | small business practices | liability protection | marketing | increasing profits | legalizing your business

The course is taught through lecture, video analysis, demos, hands-on exercises, and fieldtrips.

This is a professional course for adults 18 years and older.

Professional dog walking certification includes:

• First Aid certification
• Certification seals for marketing
• 24 CPDT CEUs
• Continental breakfast (weekend), afternoon power snacks
• Copy of The Business of Dog Walking   

Where: Multiple Locations
Duration: 3 or 4 days, depending on location (either Th & F evening and all day Sat & Sun OR all day F, Sat, Sun)
Size: Limited to 16 students
Cost: $850 USD – United States Locations
$650 USD – Canadian Locations
$650 USD – Australian Locations
$1000 NZD – New Zealand Locations

Your city’s dates not up yet? Email us and we’ll let you know them as soon as we have them.

Dates and Locations