I'm very excited as I have an interview this Friday for a dog walking job, and I wondered if you guys could help me come up with some shining example questions that I could ask!
I have thought about insurance so far, as well as numbers of dogs that can be walked at once...anyone know about this?

Anything else would be very helpful, especially if you work as a dog walker or employ one yourself.

Thankyou

I would be interested to hear replies to this topic.
I recently met someone out on a walk with a lovely dog, she asked me if I would like to walk him during the day when she's at work.

She said she would call me but it was over a week ago and nothing yet :(

Anyway, good luck with your interview :)

I'd want to know about qualifications/experience that the walker had.
Are they an experienced dog owner, ex kennel person etc, did they have any experience
of behavioural problems or dog training etc etc etc.
I'd also want to know about their insurance, public liability, police checks etc.

I'd want them to meet my dogs and see how they interact after obviously telling them
all about my dogs 'issues' etc BEFORE they even got to walk them out etc.
They may want to know what you'd do in certain instances, how you are going to take
them for a walk i.e. if you are using your car how you will transport (car cages) etc etc.
They may want to see all the certificates of insurances.
Previous references from other clients/employers etc.

Sorry if someone else has posted - started this and the phone rang so if repeating sorry!

Funny enough just looking into this myself - I would be hoping that they would say no more than 5 dogs at a time.  Also ask how long each session will be.  How do they match the dogs up to be walked etc.

Insurance requirements.

How does/will the pay work do you get a basic salary or per dog etc.

Transport etc. collection dogs - do you have your own transport - you will need insurance?

support

Thats just the first few things I can think of.

but how exciting for you - and what better thing to be doing than walking with dogs on a day like today!!

GOOD LUCK!

I can't wait to get started - hopefully mid December!

That's great so far, thankyou!!!

It mentioned in the ad that own transport would be preferable so I guess I will have to ask about insurance in that respect, and whether I would need to do anything to my car.

I'm really excited, obviously don't want to get my hopes up but I've been looking for a job for about 2 months now and this is the first one that I think I'm really suited to....so please send positive thought my way on Friday :D

as someone who employs a dog walker I would want to know what you would do if my dog didn't get on with any of the other dogs, what if my dog got injured while out with you (would you take the dog to my vet and arrange treatment, on my account or just phne me to tell me I need to come home from work?).  I'd also want to ask if you pick up poo - may seem obvious that they should but not all do!

Sending very positive thoughts, what a rewarding job, hope that you get it. Good luck. :-)

Is this just to walk one dog or are you having an interview for a dog walking company??

I am asking because my friend and I are looking to start up our own dog walking/training business wthin the the next few months and are at this very moment researching everything very thoroughly,so I will be interested in what comes up in respnse to your question.

Rosie

Hi,

I personally don't think more than two dogs should be walked at one time.  It annoys me when I see dogs walkers out with 4/5/6 10 recently, dogs at once, it gives the good dog walkers a bad name and makes me think they are just in it for the £s
Q's I would ask
Are you happy for your dog to be walked with another?
Is it good with other dogs/people?
What commands do you use?
Are you happy for your dog to be let off lead (get that in writing for insurance purposes)
Is there anything that worries or upsets your dog?
Does your dog have a good recall?
Are you happy for your dog to have treats?
Are there any behavioural problems that you should be aware of?

They are a few, I would also want to go out for a walk with the dog and owner before hand so that you can get the feel of the dog and it can get to know you a bit.

Karen

Some councils restrict the number of dogs you can walk at one time and I see that some councils state you need a licence!
Have you had some basic first aid training? Will the firm be providing you with a mobile phone or pager, in case of emergencies? Will they be paying for public liability or personal insurance, or will that be down to you? Will there be a uniform included?
If you have to transport the dogs to a park or common, will your car insurance cover this?
Sorry to look on the downside, but if all this is covered first, then you will enjoy the job in the long run, and any employer who resents these questions is not, in my opinion, worth working for.

Please let us know how you got on!  I  do hope the interview went well.

Interview went very well, or so I thought! But of course now there is the usual wait while all the other potentials are interviewed...will keep you posted tho :)

Thanks to everyone who gave me ideas for questions, it really helped...as did the positive thoughts

I've got my fingers crossed for you!

Glad it went well - when will you hear do you know!!?

I'm so excited and can't wait to get going on my new venture - got to quit my current day job first!!!  Possibly doing that next week!

Will keep fingers and paws crossed here!

How much does a dog walker earn, if you dont mind me asking. :)

I think it varies too much from dog walker to dog walker and area.  Some charge per hour per dog and others charge per session.  And it depends on how many dogs that walker takes on - some walkers insanely (IMO) walk 10 dogs at a time.  Others have a max. per session.

so I think that question is a bit like how long is a piece of string!!! :)

It really depends on the type of set up and if you work for someone or run it yourself etc.

Hope this is a little bit of help!