Some of the best things about dog walking are spoiling other people’s dogs, working outside, getting regular exercise, and having a flexible schedule. Over the past 5+ years, I have walked over fifty dogs.
I have the pleasure of working at State College, Pennsylvania where I get to walk in neighborhoods with parks, dog-friendly businesses, and hiking trails.
On the contrary – the practical side of things brings along early mornings and late nights Monday through Sunday, walks in the rain, poop to be picked up every single day in a variety of shapes and forms, and muddy paws and slobber to be wiped.
The admin tasks can be somewhat tedious and include marketing efforts to bring new clients on board, scheduling new client meet and greet, invoicing, planning dog walks and pet sitting visits, coordinating routes, bringing the right keys, logging miles, making estimated tax payments…
…and yet I wouldn’t have it any other way! Welcome to my life as a professional dog walker and pet sitter!
A typical day in my life as a dog walker consists of a combination of dog walking and pet sitting visits anywhere between 7:00 am and 10:00 pm.
A big part of pet sitting is daily walking. At Love of Dogs, we call them mid-day walks, which is what they sound like. Also, these services are typically used by pet parents who are working during the day and may not have the time to let their pets out mid-day. Each pup gets walks, cuddles, and playtime.
Additionally, during those hours I’m not only walking dogs whose owners are at work, but I’m also taking care of pets whose owners are out of town.
I love walking dogs and caring for animals. Being outside every day has improved my health and cleared my mind. The people I meet and the connections I make on my routes have made me feel like a bigger part of my community.