Dog Walking Business Books
There are more and more books available about how to start a dog walking business. Some of them are much better than others. Here are a few of the good ones I've come across, and which ones you might want to avoid, especially if you can only afford to buy one or two books. Frankly, my two favorite books cover everything so well that you probably won't need to buy any others.
Many of the books available, especially the ebooks, are written by people who probably have never had a dog walking business; they lack the specifics that a real dog walker would know. But my favorite two titles are clearly written by people who have been around the block with walking dogs.
First Pick
The Dog Walker's Startup Guide: Create Your Own Lucrative Dog Walking Business in 12 Easy Steps
You can also get this with a companion CD if you look hard enough; there's one copy available on Amazon as I write this. The book alone is $16.50, and while that's good, its worth the money to spend the extra $10 and get the DVD.
This is an extremely detailed book about starting a dog walking business from stratch. The CD is particularly valueable because you get to see videos of client interviews, and you get template of dog walking forms that will be very useful.
I really like one of the early sections of the book that talks about figuring out how much money you need to be earning. Please, please do this exercise. Freelancers and small businesses are notorious for getting into problems with back taxes (I myself am guilty). You need to be clear about how much money you have to make to have dog walking be a viable job for you. Ignoring this kind of stuff causes more stress than its worth.
Ths Startup Guide has some good starter information about Dog First Aid (you can take a class) and some very important information about dog fights and how to avoid them. He does not go into detail about dog body language, but does cover avoidance tactics and the basics of how to tell when a dog is going from stressed to aggressive. At the very least, you must know what "leash aggression" is because it is going to come up in your walks.
Second Pick
The Dog Walker & Pet Sitter Bible: A recession proof business guide to starting a pet service and then turning it into a six-figure income
This is another great book, possibly more detailed than the Startup Guide above. The problem is, though, that this manuscript really needed a proofreader before it went to press, and it didn't get one. There are typos on almost every other page (no exaggeration), and they do interupt the flow of reading, and sometimes you even have to pause a second to figure out what a word is.
That said, I still recommend you get it, and I recommend it strongly. Despite the typos, this is a comprehensive guide to not just dog walking and pet sitting, but some very smart advice for any small business. It includes excellent tips like remembering to smile when you answer the phone (it makes your voice sound much more welcoming and will get a conversation with a prospective client off to a very good start). There's even a section on co-ordinating one or more dog walkers and dog walks in a way that is the most time and gas efficient.
One of the most valuable things about the book is how much detail it goes into for dealing with clients. There is enormous experience here, and if you want to walk dogs in any serious or semi-serious way, I think you have this book just for the client-management course it contains. It is easily worth $27 to know how to avoid being pushed around by a difficult client, and how to handle an unhappy client at the stage where they are still willing to talk with you in a reasonable way. A bad client can kill your enthusiasm for dog walking. You are going to run into at least one or two of them eventually. Knowing how to handle them in a way that protects yourself and is fair and professional to the client is extremely important.
Finally, though I had to warn you about the typos, do know that the writing in the Bible is very good -- you'll enjoy reading it. I just wish Josh had hired a proofreader.
MORE DOG WALKING ARTICLES:
How to Start a Dog Walking Business
How to Write a Dog Walking Business Plan
Dog Walking for Children and Teens
Dog Walking Services: Dogs' Day Out
Be the Best Dog Walker in Your Town
How to Handle Aggressive Dogs
How to Get a Dog Walking Job
Dog Walking Franchises
Additional Dog Services to Offer
Walking Puppies
How to Advertise and Promote a Dog Walking Business
How to Get Insurance for Your Dog Walking Business
How to Get Experience with Dog Walking and Dog Training
Pricing Your Dog Walking Services
Would You Make a Good Dog Walker? 5 Questions to Ask Yourself to Find Out
How To Interview Clients: The Owners and Their Dogs
Dog Training Basics Every Dog Walker Must Know: Dog Walkers' Obedience Training
Dog Walking Safety Tips
Dog First Aid
Dog Walking Etiquette
Dog Walking Flyers
Dog Walking Business Names
How to Stop a Dog Fight
Dog Walking Business Cards
Dog Walking Rates
Dog Walking Tips
Reviews of Dog Walking Business Books
Dog Walking Forms