Dog Wants Owner When Walking

If you do use treats just be sure that they are OK for the dog to have.  I don't know how extensive your initial consult will be but I used to go into all that.  I had quite a few that only wanted the dog to have certain treats or they could only eat a special food so they ate kibble as treats.  You just have to be really careful when you pet sit or dog walk.  You may have the best intentions but if something happens people just react.

It all depends on the dog and the owner if they will allow you to take the dog somewhere.  I had three that I used to take to parks for various reasons.  But, some dogs would never get in a car with me.  Nor, would the owners want that.  It all depends. 

spiritdogs

 I liked your first inclination - using treats to "introduce" yourself as a safe walking partner.  Owners who pay dog walkers are not paying for training, nor is that your responsibility, no matter how frustrating it is that they don't train the dog.  Realize that it often takes some dogs a few visits to acclimate to a stranger, and it often gets better all on its own.  Creating more fear by popping the dog into a strange car and taking it to a strange place might backfire on you, since you already know how easily this particular dog might make a negative association with an individual.  So, don't play trainer until you really know what you're doing, and then do training only for people who engage you for that purpose.  Your dog walking insurance policy may be specific to that, too, and you may not be covered for problems that occur if you cross that line.

I didn't think the car would be a good idea, and as I said I just don't see how that would ever solve the problem. So you think I should just keep doing what I'm doing? You think the dog eventually will be okay--without the owner being present? What if I just went a little further and a little further with each visit?

willowchow

If you do use treats just be sure that they are OK for the dog to have.  I don't know how extensive your initial consult will be but I used to go into all that.  I had quite a few that only wanted the dog to have certain treats or they could only eat a special food so they ate kibble as treats.  You just have to be really careful when you pet sit or dog walk.  You may have the best intentions but if something happens people just react.

It all depends on the dog and the owner if they will allow you to take the dog somewhere.  I had three that I used to take to parks for various reasons.  But, some dogs would never get in a car with me.  Nor, would the owners want that.  It all depends. 

Yep, when I initially talked to her on the phone I made sure there were no food allergies, aggression, or anything important I should know. FYI, I used Charlee Bear Dog Treats. Amazingly, they worked under these difficult circumstances. My dog would never eat those outside unless he was really hungry. Keep in mind, this is not an official client. This is a family friend who's doing ME a favor and letting me walk her dog. She never asked for this. I need references other than the shelter I volunteered at. When I'm ready to go, I will have a welcome pack which I'm working on now. The problem is, I'm going to need a lawyer to get the service agreement done first. That's a whole other subject.

ShelterDogs

When I go official with real clients, I am going to charge $2 dollars extra until dog can walk on a loose leash. My book "The Dog Walker's Startup Guide" specifically states to do this.

REALLY?! I wish I got $2 for every unruly dog I got to walk! Over the course of 5 years, that would have added up. I'd be rich!

I don't think you'll get that. What proves that you're training goes along with their training? Who's to say that their dog is or isn't walking well? What training methods would you be using on the dogs? I think you'll lose much more business this way.

My dog does not pull, but does not walk right next to me. Does that mean I'd be charged extra?

erica1989

I don't think you'll get that. What proves that you're training goes along with their training? Who's to say that their dog is or isn't walking well? What training methods would you be using on the dogs? I think you'll lose much more business this way.

My dog does not pull, but does not walk right next to me. Does that mean I'd be charged extra?

I'm surprised at the reaction towards the $2 fee. "Rich"? Okay, so let's say I get five clients. And only one of them has a dog that needs some basic obedience training. Let's say I walk the dog three times a week. And he gets it by end of week two. That's $12 dollars extra that the client has to pay. Is that really that much? Keep in mind, I also have to pay for the treats. Also, the first walk is free. See, you guys haven't seen the plan as a whole. Now, if the owner doesn't want this, they can cleary say that in the interview when it is offered. I don't see how someone would reject something like that, though. No owner wants their dog to pull on leash. I never said I'd be teaching "heel" either. Loose leash is not the same as "heel." Also keep in mind the average household income for people who hire dog walkers. It's around $85k according to my book. You're not going to find penny pinchers hiring dog walkers.

LOL, don't be so sure you won't find penny pinchers hiring dog walkers!!! They can be the worst ones!  How do you think they got so wealthy---one way is by saving as much as possible.  And, if you are charging an extra $2 for ANY reason and the next one in the phone book isn't--that's who they will be calling.

 Also, my dogs walk at a perfect heel, for me. I'd ask you, specifically, NOT to use that command. I don't want someone who isn't me potentially messing with their heel position. I'd also ask you, as a dog walker, to walk them in harnesses, which to them, is permission to sniff and pull.

They both have MORE than basic obedience training. Jewel is trained to CGC level (either basic or basic plus a bit, depending on who you ask) and Bean is competing in the highest level of rally. 

I'm a groomer. You WILL find penny pinchers, at all income levels. I used to lift a Standard Poodle into a Corvette for a guy who dropped me for raising his price $5.

willowchow

 

LOL, don't be so sure you won't find penny pinchers hiring dog walkers!!! They can be the worst ones!  How do you think they got so wealthy---one way is by saving as much as possible.  And, if you are charging an extra $2 for ANY reason and the next one in the phone book isn't--that's who they will be calling. 

Ya, I made a huge mistake with that "penny pincher" comment. I should know better, I delivered pizzas for over three years. I know exactly how the different class systems are with their money. The plan was to discuss the basic obedience offering in the client interview, not over the phone. If they don't want it, they don't have to take it. I really don't think it's safe for any dog to pull like a Mack truck and act out aggressively while on leash, though. It can't be too good for the image of a professional dog walker. Just think of the people that will be seeing you regulary.

 If a dog is aggressive enough that you feel it's not safe, fire the client. I am dead serious. It is far better than losing your health or repution because the dog either redirects and attacks you or somehow escapes and attacks another person or dog on your walk.

jennie_c_d

 Also, my dogs walk at a perfect heel, for me. I'd ask you, specifically, NOT to use that command. I don't want someone who isn't me potentially messing with their heel position. I'd also ask you, as a dog walker, to walk them in harnesses, which to them, is permission to sniff and pull.

They both have MORE than basic obedience training. Jewel is trained to CGC level (either basic or basic plus a bit, depending on who you ask) and Bean is competing in the highest level of rally. 

I'm a groomer. You WILL find penny pinchers, at all income levels. I used to lift a Standard Poodle into a Corvette for a guy who dropped me for raising his price $5.

Thanks for the advice, jennie. I think I'm not really communicating very well here since the business side of this thread started. I didn't intend for it to go in this direction. I haven't even worked everything out yet. I believe some of you are making big assumptions. I do appreciate the advice, but it's impossible to explain an entire book and business plan in one thread. A lot of this is being taken out of context. As I said earlier, I wouldn't teach a dog anything the owner doesn't want me to teach. The main thing is the loose leash training. 

ShelterDogs

If they don't want it, they don't have to take it. I really don't think it's safe for any dog to pull like a Mack truck and act out aggressively while on leash, though.

 If they are acting like that you need to go to a plan B with those clients like playing in the yard.  I can't say enough how much you don't want to get into "training" anything.  I can tell you if ANYTHING goes wrong, they will be calling you back--I paid you to "train" my dog and he's not walking loosing on the leash.  I feel like you took my money for nothing, blah, blah, blah.  Trust me--people do this stuff.  You are worried about appearances.  The last thing you want is someone later hiring an actual trainer and comparing him/her to you!  You don't want to blur the line for yourself.  They will then go around telling everyone they know not to use you for something that had nothing to do with the actual main service you are trying to sell.  Hopefully, that makes sense.  If you want to add to your services some stuff I offered was picking up dry cleaning, dropping dogs off at grooming, picking up mail, etc. 

I'm not familiar with the book you have.  But, a book that I read and after having worked for over a year in the field I can say it's right on target with being realistic and practical is Pet Sitting for Profit by Patti Moran.  You might also want to check out the NAPPS website. 

I'm just trying to help so I hope you aren't taking this as me being rude.

 My point was, if you told me you wanted them to walk on a loose leash, I just wouldn't use you. I don't ask them to do that for other people, period. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that way.

jennie_c_d

 My point was, if you told me you wanted them to walk on a loose leash, I just wouldn't use you. I don't ask them to do that for other people, period. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that way.

Okay, let me get this straight. So you like what you see about this potential dog walker. You see that he/she has good references, experience, a professional website... you've made the call and appointment for the client interview. Potential dog walker comes over to your house, is very professional, has a welcome packet to hand you that he goes over. He then asks how the dog is out on walks. You tell him about the pulling issue... and he offers give your dog loose leash training.

That said... if I'm reading you correctly, at this point you would throw the dog walker out of the house and shut the door on his face.

willowchow

If they are acting like that you need to go to a plan B with those clients like playing in the yard.  I can't say enough how much you don't want to get into "training" anything.  I can tell you if ANYTHING goes wrong, they will be calling you back--I paid you to "train" my dog and he's not walking loosing on the leash.  I feel like you took my money for nothing, blah, blah, blah.  Trust me--people do this stuff.  You are worried about appearances.  The last thing you want is someone later hiring an actual trainer and comparing him/her to you!  You don't want to blur the line for yourself.  They will then go around telling everyone they know not to use you for something that had nothing to do with the actual main service you are trying to sell.  Hopefully, that makes sense.  If you want to add to your services some stuff I offered was picking up dry cleaning, dropping dogs off at grooming, picking up mail, etc. 

I'm not familiar with the book you have.  But, a book that I read and after having worked for over a year in the field I can say it's right on target with being realistic and practical is Pet Sitting for Profit by Patti Moran.  You might also want to check out the NAPPS website. 

I'm just trying to help so I hope you aren't taking this as me being rude.

No, no. I really do appreciate the advice and it's great to hear from others who have the experience. But I think that also there might be a little bit of a difference in what we are all talking about. Did you and jennie advertise yourselves as pet sitters or dog walkers? Can you imagine if a professional dog walker in NYC had five dogs to walk at once and they all pulled? I'm not sure that is doable. It certainly wouldn't be safe. You really would have to teach those dogs to walk on a loose leash one at a time. The dogs would just be out of control. I'm familiar with the Patti Moran book. Thanks for the recommendation. My main thing is dog walking. Pet sitting will be offered, but I'm really focusing on getting clients who want their dogs walked. Well, it was certainly a bit of an eye-opener hearing you and everyone's point of view on this. I'll hafta contact the author and see what he says about this. To be honest, I don't think I'll enjoy walking dogs if I have to walk a dog that pulls for every single walk. And now knowing, there isn't a thing I can do about it... this is quite depressing news to hear.