411 Bliss

Introduction

Keeping a dog might be considered relatively simple. After all what are a dog’s basic needs? A good home; regular meals; a good amount of exercise; plenty of affection and fun. What happens if you need to go away? What are the best boarding kennels? They will require up-to-date information about vaccinations? Suppose something happens to you? What becomes of you best friend then? Will people have to go trawling through your house to find all the relevant information? It seems that a dog’s life can be as complicated as that of its owner.

Types of information

How much information would you need to organise? Well, that would depend on personal preference. For example you might consider appointments at the dog grooming parlour an absolute necessity and therefore the details of such an establishment may be essential as part of the emergency information. However there maybe other types of information that you had not considered, such as what to do in the event of your death (very cheery); or a maybe common doggie illnesses and their symptoms, or what sorts human foods might be poisonous to a dog. What has to be borne in mind is that the information is for the benefit of Fido, and in the event of your demise, the people who might be looking through the information are your friends or family.

Who is going to need the information?

Whatever system of organisation that you go for it would be best to remember that it’s not just the information that is important. You might be completely happy with your organisational skills, but they could be completely incomprehensible to anyone else. Make sure those closest to you can work the system and your dog will always be assisted.

Computer programs

The most sensible thing would be to make sure all the necessary information is in one easily accessible place. Perhaps Fido could have his own filing cabinet, or a card index system with everything cross referenced. This might be a little labour intensive, and in this age of save the tree and use less paper, it could be construed as no very eco-friendly. Database it is then: easy to store and certainly easy to back-up: why even friends and family could keep a copy for you! And just before you baulk at the thought of spending hours creating this relational database monstrosity, fear not! There is software packages on the market specifically designed to do the work for you. All you have to do is fill in the data! Now where did I put that policy number?

Conclusion

There is no doubt that it will be a lot of work setting up an information system for your dog. Equally, if a problem does occur, you will need that information pretty quickly. If you organise yourself now, then it will be a simple matter to maintain the information thereafter, and be prepared for the time when something does happen to your dog and you need to act quickly.

Introduction

The first thing to do is list reasons why you would want to start a dog walking business: a love of dogs; enjoyment of great out doors; the need to be active in your work rather than sitting in an office all day. The second question: Are you physically fit enough to do all the walking? It’s no good starting a business if you aren’t up to the physical tasks involved. Finally do the research! There are plenty of pet trade magazines and publications on the web to help with this. Most importantly research your potential client base: is there need for your dog walking service in the local area?

What is a Dog Walker?

It is also a good idea to define exactly what you business will do, and what exactly you will be offering your clients. For instance there is a good deal of difference between a dog walker and a pet sitter, but some activities might overlap. A dog walker takes dogs for walks, cleans up the poop when it happens during walks, and make sure that the dogs have enough to drink. Pet sitters on the other hand will not just have dogs as their charges, as they will be responsible for feeding and other domestic needs, which might also include taking a dog for a walk. Both could be required to administer meds if qualified to do so.

The Legal Side of Business

A business, no matter how much fun, is still a business, and the legal side will also require attention. The type of business structure you intend to use needs to be researched, whether Sole Proprietor, or Limited Liability (which will protect your personal assets in the event of failure), it’s an important decision! Other areas to investigated are the legal requirements of you local area: you may need a licence, or to register your business. Of course good insurance cover should never be overlooked.

Administration

Any business will generate admin. This will involve contracts with you clients; reports on what your doing; a register of client details; vet details and pet care information; tax details. The most important are the rates you charge for your services. This can be dependant on the area where your clients live as well as what you will include in your service: for example, would you be qualified to administer meds? Therefore look at what client would require a dog walker and sort out the rates accordingly.

Conclusion

A dog walking business is a wonderful idea for any person who is active, and hopefully, likes animals. You will be rewarded for doing a job you like and for being out and about rather than for being behind a desk. However, you should always remember that it is a business, and you should treat it as a business. You should maintain a professional manner, and be ready to fulfil all of your commitments, irrespective of other considerations such as bad weather. If you can do all of this, then you could be looking at a successful and rewarding business.