Dog walker (Hondenuitlater)
Information on this skill...
A dog walker is responsible for walking dogs. In general, these are dogs whose owners have no or not enough time to do it themselves. In addition, it may be the case that a dog owner walks his own dogs himself and that the dog walker walks the dogs for an extra long time in, for example, the forest, in the presence of several dogs. For most dogs, being walked by a professional dog walker is a party they look forward to every time. As a dog walker, you walk dogs from other people, who do not have time for that themselves. There are quite a lot of dog owners who use a dog walking service because this has many advantages. There are quite a few companies active nowadays that focus on walking dogs. These types of companies are also called a walking service or dog walking service. How exactly a dog walking service works can vary per company; however, most dog walking companies take the dogs to a free-range area or to a fenced private area where the dogs can run and romp. A dog walker can also work for a dog boarding house, in which dogs are temporarily or permanently housed. A dog walker usually has to deal with a pack of several dogs, but in some cases a dog walker can only walk a dog. The profession of dog walker is fairly popular nowadays. The profession of dog walker is a liberal profession that can be carried out by anyone. This does not alter the fact that dog walkers have to deal with great responsibilities because accidents or incidents must be prevented. Not all dogs can just be walked in a pack. A dog walker must therefore have sufficient knowledge of animal behavior to prevent problems.
As a dog walker, your house lets dogs out for other dog owners, and you can therefore also be considered a pet sitter during the walking period. The profession of dog walker has become a popular profession in the Netherlands within a relatively short period of time. Because of this popularity, more and more dog walking companies have been added that in most cases consist of independent entrepreneurs who have a great passion for dogs. Because a dog walker in most cases walks several dogs at the same time, most dog walkers have a van in which the dogs can be transported. These vans are generally equipped with various dog benches so that the dogs can be transported safely. Although a dog walker does not have to have specific training to be able to work as a dog walker, it is important that a dog walker has knowledge of animal behavior and animal welfare. Not all dogs fit together equally well, and in some cases they cannot be walked together. In addition, it is important that the dog walker knows the characteristics of dogs to prevent problems. Think, for example, of dogs that cannot run loose because they run away or do not come back if they have to. A good dog walker therefore only leaves dogs in a group if the dogs fit together.
Because the profession of dog walker has become fairly popular, it is conceivable that dog walkers meet each other within nature reserves. Encountering other dog walkers while walking the dogs does not have to be a problem, but it is conceivable that the dogs of another group do not fit in with the dogs that the dog walker is walking at that time, which in some cases can cause problems. It is fairly common for dog walkers to choose the same walking areas. A professional attitude as a dog walker is therefore important to prevent possible problems during walking. It is not the case that dog walkers only work with a pack of dogs because a dog walker can also provide customization. Some animal owners do not want their dog(s) to be walked in a pack. In all cases, a dog walker will only walk dogs that listen to the basic commands, such as sit, here and off. In addition, a dog walker will not walk dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs and / or people. The big advantage of dog walkers is that dogs are walked in a good way. In other words, the dogs usually come back from the walking service very tired. It is not the case that a dog walker can also automatically be regarded as a zookeeper. At its core, a dog walker is only responsible for walking dogs.
WHAT DOES A DOG WALKER DO:
DOG WALKER TRAINING
There are no recognized dog walker training courses. Most dog walkers are experienced dog owners themselves who have a great passion for dogs. In addition, there are no real national requirements with regard to the profession of dog walker. Anyone can become a dog walker. However, the profession must suit you. There is, however, a trade association for dog walking service, namely HUS-Nederland, that stands up for the interests. See further for possible training opportunities in the more specific professions. In addition, there are also plenty of external training institutes where you can follow a course. Accounting is also important as an independent entrepreneur.
COMPANIES WHERE A DOG WALKER CAN BE EMPLOYED
A dog walker is generally not employed by companies, but works as an entrepreneur within his or her own dog walking service. In addition, a dog walker can also work for an animal boarding house. The profession of dog walker must also be seen as fairly general because everyone can be regarded as a dog walker. For example, a dog walker can also just be a volunteer who has a great fondness for dogs. Professional dog walkers must in most cases be regarded as entrepreneurs. It is also conceivable that a kennel owner can be regarded as a dog walker.
COMPETENCES DOG WALKER
The most important competence of a dog walker is a sense of responsibility because it concerns dogs that are not your own. In addition, animal welfare can be regarded as an important competence. Because in most cases you work as an entrepreneur, you must also have a commercial attitude. Communication can also be regarded as an important competence because you have a lot to do with different clients. Another important competence can be networking in order to be able to get enough assignments. Generally important words are passion, motivation, knowledge, insight, energy, independence, service, reliability, planning and fun.
LABOUR MARKET PERSPECTIVE AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AS A DOG WALKER
Labour market perspective does not really apply to the profession of dog walker because most dog walkers work as entrepreneurs. In other words, there are not many vacancies to be found for the profession of dog walker. The career opportunities as a dog walker should be seen in building a good name among dog owners so that you get more assignments.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT AND SALARY DOG WALKER
Employment conditions do not apply to a dog walker because you will determine these yourself as an entrepreneur. It is also not possible to give a salary indication for this profession because the salary will depend entirely on the number of assignments. Most dog walkers charge a fixed fee per walking round and do not work per hour.
The content on this page has been automatically translated from the Dutch language. For this reason, texts and videos on this page may contain small errors.
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