TheAgitator.com
Dog Walker Wanted
Sunday, March 16th, 2003So the only big letdown about my new place is the commute. When I lived in North Arlington, my commute to work was 25 minutes on a really, really bad day. Usually 15-20. From West Alexandria, it’s more like 45, on a great day. It’s sometimes well over an hour.
That also means the dog gets less attention. And if I want to do anything afterwork, I have to go home and walk her, because a trip home and then back into the city after work sucks up about two hours.
So I thought I’d look into a dog-walking service. I called around a bit, and asked for prices. You’d be amazed. The cheapest service I found was $15 per half-hour walk. That’s $75 per week. That’s $300 per month.
Let’s do a little math here. Most of these “services” are actually one-man/one-woman operations. In the D.C. area, it’s a popular job for musicians. Play gigs at night, wake up at noon, walk dogs for a few hours, pay the rent.
Generally, they walk three or four dogs at a time. Let’s go conservative, and estimate at three. Three dogs per half hour, at $15 each. That’s $45 per half-hour, or $90 per hour. Let’s say our musician dog-walker work five hours per day. That’s $450 per day. That’s $2250 per week. That’s about $9,500 per month. That’s $113,400 per year! For walking dogs! Five hours per day!
Clearly, I’m in the wrong business. No way in hell I’m taking on what is pretty much a second car payment for dog-walking services.
My new plan: put out an ad looking for a junior high or high school kid to come walk her after school. I’d have loved to make $20 a week in junior high just for walking someone’s dog.
Or, I guess I could invest in one of these.
A Monkey Butler is cheaper.
You need a wife and kids. Dogs become extremely low on the ‘what’s important’ list.
Guarantee you won’t find anyone in junior high who will do it for $20 a week. Better try and talk to a third grader for that. Make sure you do not offer the kid candy at the same time, probably not a good way to get the kid’s parents to agree.
My friend runs a ‘doggie day care’ out of her house and makes more than her husband now, who is a large retail store manager. No taxes, she keeps the dogs in the nice basement that has a dog door and plans ‘activities’ (whatever that is) for them. Yeah, you and me both, in the wrong business.
So, just how important is your pet to you? Did you know that it can cost as much to hire a babysitter for your kids? Have you seen the cost of daycare?
A dog-walker/pet-sitter will have expenses. Think about it – travel time/expenses to your home, insurance and bonding, taxes… It is a viable business, just like any other.
I am not a dog-walker, but know several. Some offer obedience training, overnight sitting, etc. Most don’t have the luxury of sleeping till noon. They are out there working – and if you don’t think walking and caring for pets, keeping clients happy, promoting your business, etc., is work, think again. What difference does it make if it is a one man/woman business?
So again, I ask you, how important is your pet to you? Do you really want to entrust a teenager who has no stake in his/her reputation as a professional in the care of your pet?
Just think about it. And while you’re at it, think about supporting a rescue organization.
hi… I’m interesting in walking dog but can the pay be negotiable? $20 per week ?…come on now. I’m a freshmen at boston latin school. Please email me and give me a little information about the dog, hours of walking and location.
Seriously 20 dollars per week. Are we talking 7 days a week here buddy? That’s 2.85 per day man. Why don’t you just pay the damn kid to sew his hands to the bone in your dank sweaty basement and skip the hastle of dog walking? Clearly you’re in the sweatshop business, as most kids’ allowances far exceed the weeks worth of caring for, picking up ****, and doing other things for your animal.
Okay, so you’re charging a 5 day work week. That’s 4 dollars a day. Now you’re almost giving the kid a little respect, minus the fact that he could probably make that shoveling show or mowing lawns in half an hour. You’re a moron. Whatever business you claim to be in, you obviously don’t even need a high school diploma as a prerequisite for being hired.
Oh, by the way, I’m going to get a malt shake. That’ll be a nickel. And can I have a penny for a comic too? Mmm.. burger and coke for a dime. Welcome to the new era buddy, things cost more, thus pay rises to reflect the hightened cost of living. ;) Take that 20 bucks, put it in the piggy bank, and walk the dog yourself.
I walked dogs in 7th and 8th grade for $20 a week. I was the only one of my friends for a job, so they all thought I was so cool. Now I’m a freshman, and I would kill to have that job back (my “boss” got an enormous pay cut and couldn’t afford to pay me anymore). Hey, how far is where you live from The Colony,TX? I need money for my motorcycle!!!
i am going into gr 9 and i would like a job for the summer. i will have to talk to my parents and i would like to negociate the pay. i am good with animals and this is the perfect way for me to stay active during summer
i’m going into grade 6 and we have to do comunity service. (it’s when u help people by doing stuff for them for FREE.) anyways i love animals and if any of you people out there need a dog walker or a pet sitter please contact me at awesomepup27@hotmail.com.
so if you live near BELMONT, MA feel free to contact me.