Dog Walking with PetCloud is great way for animal lovers and pet care professionals to earn income doing something they truly enjoy! If you’re over 18 years old, own a smartphone and prefer an active lifestyle rather than working in an office cubicle, then becoming a dog walker with PetCloud might be the right fit for you!

Do you:

• Own an iPhone 6 or newer, or Android 4.2 or newer?
• Prefer working outside?
• Enjoy bonding with dogs?
• Like being greeted with excitement everyday?

Are you:

• Physically fit to walk several hours a day and handle dogs of all sizes?
• Familiar with basic training commands?
• Committed to providing quality care to animals?
• Friendly and outgoing?

Characteristics we look for:

Experience
Previous pet care experience is a big plus for becoming a PetCloud dog walker. Many of our current dog walkers are, or have been, registered veterinary technicians, shelter volunteers, foster parents, dog groomers, dog trainers, or have run their own dog walking business. We also evaluate your level of personal dog walking experience through our application process, interviews and hands-on test.

Passion
Demonstrating passion and commitment to quality animal care is a huge consideration to become a dog walker with PetCloud. Our walkers believe that ALL pets are furry family members and look forward to each and every walk they do. They're authentically passionate about contributing towards a dog’s happiness and being the highlight to all their four legged friends' day!

Trust
Trust is a critical characteristic to become a dog walker with PetCloud. As a PetCloud dog walker you will be entrusted to enter homes of dog owners to pick up and drop off dogs for daily walks, and read the notes from the owner regarding health issues, triggers and preferences to help you properly and safely care for their pets, so youll need to be prepared to undergo a police background check too.

Things you'll need:

1. Control: Firstly you'll need to understand the different types of harnesses you'll need to walk dogs with different energy level sizes, strengths, sizes, and amount of training they have had previously. YouTube videos like this can be a good place to start: 

2. Introducing: You'll need to understand how to introduce dogs, in case you are walking more than one dog at a time. This will help you decrease the risk of dog fights occurring. We cover this unit in our online course.

3. Breathing & Exercise Capacity: Then you need to understand the difference between brachycephalic (short-nosed) dogs and how having a short nose can impact on the amount of exercise you can give them, compared with long nosed dogs.

4. Treats: You may need to have some treats you have purchased in advance to reward dogs for good behaviour. You must always ask the Pet Owner whether they are ok with you rewarding their dogs with treats and what you will be feeding them in case there are any allergies in the dog.

5. Doggy Poop Bags: Pet Owners should always supply these but in the event that they run out or forget, you should have some on hand. Picking up dog poo is the law and must be done every time.

6. Length of time and distance: Always communicate to the Pet Owner up front how much you will charge, length of time, and distance.  Distance could be 1-2kms.

7. Price and time limits: For 30 minutes we recommend charging $32, for 60 minutes perhaps $45.  Then $8 extra for second dog if the Pet Owner owns more than one dog.

8. Know your own physical strength: Specify on your listing what sizes of dogs you feel you are capable of handling.

NEVER:

• Offer dog walking in the middle of the day in summer. They can quickly get heatstroke which can be fatal, they can also burn their paws.
• Never try and take on an aggressive dog. The Pet Owner should take it to a professional dog behaviourist if there are aggression problems.
• Never leave a client dog in the car
• Never take a dog to an off-leash dog park and unsupervise it. Off-leash dog parks are unpredictable places and dog fights are highly likely.
• Never assume that a flat nose or short nose dog can exercise as much as a long nose dog. They can't get as much oxygen in their lungs.
• Never take a female dog on heat out in public, it is actually illegal.

Keen to become a dog walker?  Join today and create your free listing. Then apply for jobs on our jobs board or share your PetCloud listing URL across social media. 

Dog Walker Jobs with PetCloud