What to Ask Potential Dog Walkers

Once the list of possible dog walking services has been narrowed down, it's time to schedule interviews. An in-person interview with the dog walker, family, and the dog, is the best way to make sure the service is a good fit.

Watch how the dog walker interacts with the dog. Does he or she seem comfortable with the pet? Does the pet seem comfortable with the dog walker?

A sit-down interview should include questions about a typical day of service: when the dog walker will arrive, how they will gain access to the home, how many animals will be included in a group walk, and how long the walks last. This is also the time to provide information about the dog's behavioral issues, feeding requirements, normal schedule, and special medications, if any. Ask about payment methods, scheduling, and minimum walk requirements.

Dog Walking!

Dog walking really is as easy as it sounds. You arrange to pick up the animals, take them for a walk and then return them home. You might need to do it twice a day for each dog and a good walk means a minimum of half an hour - ideally an hour.

Dog-walkers charge per dog, per hour. Rates range from about £10-15 per dog, per hour (or half hour in some cases). If you're able to take several dogs at once you can earn significant amounts per day.

However, to start off with you need to be careful not to take on too many dogs for one walking slot. You should be able to cope with about three or four dogs depending on their size, speed and levels of obedience early on. As you get to know their characters, you can organise them into groups that will get on well together.

There are no current legal limits on how many dogs you can take out at once but local councils say the worst problems they have are with dog walkers who take out more animals than they can cope with at any one time.

The main problems are typically dogs running away and not coming back (dangerous and very bad for business), and dog walkers who can't clean up after all of the dogs under their care (this is not only illegal, it's a health hazard).