Dog walker/sitter questions

[Catz]

Does anyone on here pay for dog walking/sitting services? Or for cat sitting services?

Or do the majority of dog owners manage to organise their own dog care even if they work full-time?
If you go on holiday do you just stick your dog/cat in kennels/cattery?

The reason I ask is that I'm toying with the idea of setting up a small business in this area. However I thought I'd do a little research first.
I know it would pay peanuts but I'm thoroughly fed up with what I'm doing at the moment and have been mulling over various options.

Thanks.

[Simpo Two]

Round here most people have cats and we swap favours looking after each other's during holidays etc. No catteries or sitters needed, sorry!

[ascayman]

we try not to put our dog into a kennell he hates it. when going away my brother dog sits.

i would much rather use a good dog sitter than a kennell.

[Tino]

I normally get neighbours to feed the cat, but if they weren't willing, I would pay someone to feed him in his own environment, rather then being couped up in a cattery.
I would also pay someone to walk a dog, if I had one, but not very much.
I guess for this to work, you would need to live ina neighbourhood with a high dog/cat to home ratio.
Perhaps combine it with offering 'treatments' etc

[mark_makak]

We're starting with a dog *sitter* next week as the wife is going to be working in an office, rather than at home. She'll just come into our house, let the dog out for a wee, and play ball with her. We chose her because has been through police checks, is insured to look after dogs and for if she looses our house keys. £6.50 per 1/2 hour

When we go on holiday the dog goes to my in-laws, or if they are also away she gets put in www.mypetstop.co.uk which is about £30 per night. It's pretty expensive, but it's worth it for our peace of mind as we know they look after the animals that board with them.

[Catz]

mark_makak said:

We chose her because has been through police checks, is insured to look after dogs and for if she looses our house keys. £6.50 per 1/2 hour

I'd be looking to do this "by the book" with insurance, police checks etc not just a cash in hand thing.

[Wigeon Incognito]

A friend set up such a business in Surrey a few years ago and did pretty well out of it (well, pretty well in the sense that she enjoyed the job and took home a teacher style wage and was completely flexible in how she worked).

As you've sussed, the key was market research.

At the time, in her particular pocket of Surrey, there was a void in the market - she has since had a kid and sold her business on but the market is swamped now.

I think that in most areas people will have jumped on this already. I'd suggest it also tends to work better in more affluent and heavily populated areas - I have no idea what type of area you live in aside from 'Scotland'.

[pugwash4x4]

we use doggy day care- they come round in the middle of the day and take him away for 2 hours to have a good play in a huge enclosed field with a few other dogs- frankly it's the best part of the day for him.

When we go away we use http://www.barkingmad.uk.com/ and he goes to the same house pretty much all the time- its perfect and costs £5/night more than a kennel plus a £25 delivery charge.

Personally i will never put a dog in kennel- one time Barney came back with kennel cough and both time he has come back absolutely stinking of pee. When he comes back frmo barking mad he is usually knackered so i know he has at least been exercised properly.

[ali_kat]

Check with your local Vets as to what services they know of, tis also worth advertising there

I know the student Vet nurses at our local practice offer a house/dog/cat sitting service as well as walking them in the morning/lunch/evening. IIRC the walker charged £6 per walk.....

[Catz]

Wigeon Incognito said:

I have no idea what type of area you live in aside from 'Scotland'.

I live just outside Edinburgh. The area is becoming more and more popular to live as Edinburgh prices push people out.

I intend to do some more research locally, this is just a little first step to see if people do use these services in general.

I know there is a dog walking business about 8 miles away which seems busy. I need to check out potential competition a little more!

[Deluded]

Putting a dog in kennels when you go on holiday is an option, although not nice for the dog. Giving it to a willing family member/friend is a better option if possible.

as for getting a company to walk your dog... What the fk do you own a dog for if you dont have time for it? Bullst, you dont have time. Me and my partner both work full time, yet we manage to walk our dog twice a day. If you havent got the time for your pet then give it to someone who has.

[BlackMagic *tree]

Catz said:

Dog stuff

How ironic.

[Wigeon Incognito]

Catz said:

Wigeon Incognito said:

I have no idea what type of area you live in aside from 'Scotland'.

I live just outside Edinburgh. The area is becoming more and more popular to live as Edinburgh prices push people out.

Ahh, I used to live in Edinburgh so know the area pretty well.

On the whole, I'd say there's potential for this sort of business - plus you have plenty of open space for exercise!