|
Dog walkers learn
to fetch profits ; Physically taxing job can be source of
solid income
Copyright 2003 by the Chicago Tribune
Most days you'll find Cindy Cauley walking
the streets with her hair pulled back in a long, blond ponytail
and a pack of dogs in tow.
But don't be mistaken. She does not have
the day off. Cauley is actually hard at work, minding her
own business--as a dog walker.
"I'm one of those chicks you see with
three leashes in her hand and doggies leading the way,"
says Cauley, owner of Cindy's Doggie Service. "For me,
the typical day starts at about 10. I have about 100 keys,
and I drive all over town to get my dogs."
Cauley is part of a growing group of college-educated,
hard- working entrepreneurs whose careers have gone to the
dogs. The number of animal caretakers, which includes pet-walkers
and pet- sitters, is expected to increase 38 percent between
1990 and 2005, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In Chicago, listings show there already
are more than 25 small businesses that specialize in walking
pets.
"I think this job was invented for me," Cauley says.
"I've always taken care of other people's dogs since
I was a little girl. I thought dog walking would be a good
business to coincide with graduate school. And I like owning
my own business. There's a lot of freedom."
"When I first started, it was love
at first sight," says Pam Gordon, owner
of Cruisin' Canines, a business she now runs
with husband, Paul, a former trader.
"The business was just new then. We
were all college grads," Gordon said. "We'd meet
for breakfast, talk about our dogs and then go walk our dogs."
Some may find dog walking a surprising way
to make a living. But, at an average of $11 to $12 a walk--and
premiums for extra services such as overnight stays, training
and shuttle service to the vet or dog groomer--Chicago dog
walkers say they are making good money.
"When I first started, most people
thought of it as picking up poop," Gordon says. "They
thought of it as a dirty job. They'd say, what kind of money
can you possibly make? But as you know, and many people know
now, you can make really good money walking dogs."
Even though the money is good, many walkers
say people were surprised when they decided to stray from
the pack.
"People are surprised when you drop
out of the rat race, especially when you're a trader,"
says Rick Fried, owner of When Nature Calls.
Fried says he began walking dogs seven years
ago after he left the competitive and stressful financial
industry.
"I came to a crossroads in my life and decided it just
wasn't for me. When I left there, I didn't have a place to
go," Fried said. "I was going to interviews at Dean
Witter and Merrill Lynch, and walking out saying this is not
something I want to do. That's when I realized I was already
doing something I enjoyed."
Although it can be lucrative, Gordon says
dog walking should be less about money and more about caring
for animals.
"For me it was about passion,"
says Gordon, who says she has been "dog-obsessed"
since 3rd grade. "But I've seen the market change a lot.
Too many people are looking at this just as a viable business,
and their heart is not as much into the dogs as much as they
think they can make a lot of money."
Cauley agrees.
"There are dog walkers who don't do
what they say they're going to do when it comes to caring
for your dog. They won't clean up the footprints in the house.
Or they won't take them out for as long as they say they will.
Or sometimes they don't even show up at all and say they did."
Cauley began walking dogs in 1997. She says
the dog walking business has treated her well because she
treats it like a business.
"You show up on time. You respect your
client's time," Cauley said. "Really the most important
thing to remember is you're there to provide them a service.
We are truly caretakers. ... If you're not going to care,
then you shouldn't be a dog walker."
Most walkers have their own clients and
their own route. But like any business there is always room
for expansion--in size or services. Gordon now has six dog
walkers who work for her. Cauley offers overnight stays and
Fried offers dog training.
"When my clients are going out of town
or if they're sick or their house is getting remodeled, I
pick up their dogs and we have a big slumber party at my house,"
Cauley says. "A couple nights a week I have an extra
dog with me. On holiday weekends I'll usually have at least
four."
Although the perks are great, Cauley admits
there are some downsides.
"I see a lot of people who drop out
of the job market and go into this and maybe they don't know
how hard it was going to be," Cauley says. "Many
people don't realize this job is physically hard. You get
cold. The dogs jump on you. You have to love a dog when he's
wet and jumping on you just like you do any other day."
Then there's all that walking.
"The hardest part is it's very physical,"
Fried agrees. "At the end of the day, I just want to
go home and crash. I'm tired and I don't want to go out. My
friends want to go out on the weekend and be outside."
And while dog walkers say their day is flexible,
it's not all free time.
"I don't have time for lunch. I work
all day through the midday-- 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. is booked solid,"
Cauley said.
While they love their new roles, some dog walkers sometimes
miss their old job.
"Sometimes I miss the fast pace and
the excitement of being involved in the financial world, but
I don't miss the competition and the cutthroat environment,"
said Fried.
Cauley said her doubts disappear when she
takes a good look at the people she passes each day. "I
see people getting off the `L' every day--they were inside
all day, there's no color in their cheeks, no skip in their
step--their job takes everything out of them," she says.
But that's not the case for Cauley. She's
been out since morning- -no presentations, no politics, no
pressure. Just a ponytail and a pack of pooches. |
