Dog walking is an easy enough job that some young people age 16 or less are bound to think of it as a potential part time job. And it is a great choice for a part time job for teens and even for some children as young as ten years old. But there are some things you need to do to ensure everything works out for both the dog and the young dog walker.
1) Bring an adult or a parent for the first client interview
This is the most important thing to do. Even if the adult says nothing during the interview, and lets the young dog walker do all the negotiating and get all the information they will need to do the job, having an extra paid of ears there will be helpful.
If the dog owner ever has a complaint, the adult will know what was said at the first interview, and what the understanding was between the dog owner and the young dog walker. If something is misunderstood, it is quite possible that it was the dog owner who misunderstood, not the child.
2) Have backup
An adult or parent needs to know when the dog is supposed to be walked. Just in case something goes wrong, the young dog walker needs to have everything set up so either their parent, guardian or another very responsible young friend can step in an take care of the dog
3) Do not expect to get paid as much as professional dog trainer
It may be “age-ism”, but it does happen. Kids don’t earn as much as adults. Even though the going rate for a 30 minute dog walk in your area may be $40, a young dog walker will probably be lucky if they can get $10. Chalk it up to experience.
4) Have a defined path for the dog walk
To ensure the safety of the child and the dog, it may be a good idea to have a specific route for the dog walk. Good choices are low-traffic, well lit areas, especially if the young person has friends or reliable adults they know in the neighborhood. Being able to get to a friendly house in the middle of a rainstorm might be a welcome relief.
5) Not all dogs will be suitable
Very large dogs or aggressive or fearful dogs may be too much for a young dog walker. Stick to well-trained, mellow dogs. Ideally, the young person should be walking a dog that takes almost as much care of the young person as the young person is taking care of the dog.
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