For those of you who are reading this blog, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Elliot, and I live on the Upper West Side of New York City with my wife Karen, and our dog Lucy (a Puggle – half Beagle and half Pug). Just about every morning, my wife and I take Lucy to Central Park, where she has the chance to play with other dogs, get some exercise, and explore.

Although I work from home and rarely need a dog walker for Lucy, I found that finding one was a bit difficult. We have a couple of reliable dog walkers in our building, but I realize that many people may not be so lucky. Because I couldn’t find one central source of dog walker listings, I decided to make one.

I bought DogWalker.com in October of 2009 from the person who initially registered it in the 1990s but hadn’t built a website. It’s taken several weeks, but after working with a designer and programmer, I have launched this new website, which I hope you will like. In addition, I created this blog, so I can share stories with you about Lucy and other dog walking tidbits I see and hear.

If you are a dog walker and would like to contribute blog posts on DogWalker.com, please contact me.  I look forward to sharing dog walking stories with you!

One of the reasons my wife and I like to take Lucy to Central Park in the morning is because she loves playing with Fancy, a white 2 year old boxer who has a brown/black eye patch. Fancy and Lucy could run around the park for hours, playing with a stick, ball, or nothing at all. We’ve even had Fancy come over a few times to play in our living room, and of course we need to move furniture, chairs, tables…etc.

Just about every Saturday and Sunday morning, Lucy and Fancy can be found running around a field close to Bethesda Fountain in Central Park (just off the 72nd Street Transverse). They play with other dogs, too, but another dog better not growl at Lucy. Before you know it, Fancy will be on top of Lucy “boxing her in” and protecting her.

We had a great morning in Central Park today. There were thousands of people crowded around the park, in great anticipation of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which begins on Central Park West and makes its way down to Macy’s on 34th Street.

Every Thanksgiving, we get to the park early so we can take Lucy off leash before they close the entrance we use, but by the time we leave, the entrance is closed. It’s not always fun trekking up an extra 15 blocks to leave the park – since that means it’s another 15 blocks back. It delays my coffee intake for a few minutes

People were in a good mood today and it was fun watching Lucy play with the other dogs. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving with your family or friends (or both).

1) What do you like best about your job?

Working with animals, helping out fellow animal lovers, and making extra $$$ are three things that I love doing. It’s a win-win-win situation. It’s also great for networking and making new friends.

2) How did you start your business and why?

Well, being that I am a dog owner myself (I have a 3 year old border collie named Apollo), I also need occasional help with my dog when I am away. I did some research and found that there really aren’t that many dog walkers/sitters available in Orlando. Although, there are pleanty of kennels around. My experience with kennels makes me very uncomfortable. So, I only use kennels as last resort.

You see, I worked in a reputable kennel part-time while I was in high school. During the day dogs have a blast. The times that they are caged during the day is a chance at napping for most. On the other hand, they are locked in the cages and all alone during the night. If your dog/s are anything like mine, they don’t like being alone in those cages all night. In fact, this type of treatment creates a feeling of punishment for dogs.

Also, kennels are not sanitary. Dogs are exposed to several doggie germs and illness in the kennels. Many times you will have to follow up their stay at the kennel with a visit to the vet, to cure a cold, kennel cough, and/or diahrrea from the parasites that they picked up from the kennel. In conclusion, I started up my business to give people an option to kennels.

3.) What’s your favorite dog park in your area and why?

Fleet Peeples in Winter Park, FL. This dog park is amazing! It’s huge and it has a beach on the lake for the dogs to play. There are also nature trails and wide open fields. Provided are stations to bath the dogs (at no charge).

4) If you could offer advice to someone looking to start a dog walking business, what would it be?

Distribute as many fliers as possible!

5) Please share a funny story with us!

Hmmm… I will have to get back to you on this one.

I hate to think about anyone ever losing their pet, but it happens all the time. If you ever do lose your dog, don’t just contact the shelter that’s closest to you. A panicked dog can cover dozens of miles in a couple days; a well-intentioned (or not) person can pick up your dog close to your house and then drive it somewhere else and lose it there.

Contact ALL area shelters if you lose your dog. You should fill out a “lost report” and have a flyer with a color reproduction of your dog that you can leave with all the shelters. (BTW, have at least one color photo of your dog on your laptop, PDA, or a print handy at all times. Make sure you have access to it when you’re outside as well as in your home. If you lose your dog when you go to Tahoe for the weekend, you will want to make sure you have a photo with you.) Some shelters will take information over the phone, but most will want you to come in and fill out the lost report in person. It’s a good idea to go there yourself (or send a responsible, organized friend). You wouldn’t want a harried city employee to make a mistake on the lost report. Go there and bring at least one color flyer for each shelter.

Always make sure your pet has up-to-date identification on him or her. If you move, make sure the microchip company has your new numbers, and always make sure your pet’s ID has your most recent phone numbers. If you go out of town, especially if you will be somewhere where you might not have cell phone reception, make a temporary ID tag with the contact info of your friend or pet-sitter on it. (Doggy Lama has over 100 ID tags on the collars of all our dog walking clients. We’re the back-up in case one of our client dogs gets lost at any time, even when the dog is not with us. In fact, we have gotten about a dozen calls for lost dogs wearing our tags; all the calls were for dogs who got out of their yards at home or away from their owners!)

Not only days, but hours count, when you are looking for your dog. Some shelters only keep found animals for a few days during which an owner can claim its pet before it is euthanized. Shelters have varying days and hours that they are open and you can claim your pet. Another reason to go “all-out” trying to find your dog, is that animal shelters are dangerous places for the animals inside. If your dog is inside an animal shelter, he or she will be safe from being hit by a car, but he or she will be surrounded by other stressed-out pets, some of whom are unhealthy and not up-to-date on their vaccinations. Stress will reduce your pet’s immune system, making him or her more at risk for getting sick (kennel cough is frequently passed in animal shelters). If your dog was injured before being brought to the shelter, he or she will probably not get the top-notch veterinary care you would pay for. Get your pup out of the shelter ASAP.

Other suggestions:

• Put an entry on Craigslist in the Pets category. You can upload your dog’s photo to the listing.
• Put up color flyers with the date on them at area dog runs and trail headings.
• Attach flyers to telephone poles, in the grocery store, at vet offices.
• Enlist your friends to help you put out more flyers. You will be surprised at who is willing to help you—the most helpful person may not be your best friend, who’s busy with his kids, but the person you met in the grocery store who lost their dog a few months ago. Reach out to people—some people will amaze you at their generosity with their time and ideas.
• Make a list of where you put the flyers up and take them down after you’ve reunited with your dog. If you don’t take them down, you will have people looking for your dog when they don’t need to, and it will distract from newer flyers going up about other pets who are missing.
• If, after a week or two, you still don’t have your dog back, put up new color flyers that look a little different—mark them “Updated,” “Still Missing,” “Last Seen at Solano Ave. and Marin Ave,” etc.

If you lose your dog, let me know if there’s anything I can do to help. If you have thoughts or suggestions about things I should add to this blog entry, please email me. Info@doggylamapetcare.com

1) What do you enjoy most about your new career?

I love the freedom to get outside and not be stuck behind a desk all day. I also love the challenge of learning how to build a business.

2) Can you offer any advice to others who want to start a dog walking business?

I would advise that they find a mentor, someone in their area who has been in the business for awhile. I have received many referrals that way. I would also advise looking for professional consultation to learn about the aspects of the business particularly in areas that you may not be familiar with like advertising or having an online presence.

3) What is a typical day like for you?

Starts with a morning sunrise walk on Tabor with my dog and any dogs that I may be boarding. After that, some walks throughout the city and visits for any drop ins. Once my walks are done I get to enjoy the flexibility of being a dog walker. My day ends with any night visits to tuck dogs in while their owners are away.

4) Where is your favorite park to take your dog clients?

Mt. Tabor! Lots of trails, great views of the city and Mt. Hood and an off leash play area.

5) Do you have any dog walking pet peeves, and if so, what can people do to avoid them?

I don’t have any pet peeves yet, but I would say the best advice I can give to a Portland dog walker is to get a pair of comfortable, waterproof shoes!

Lucy also had fun playing with her friend Saia, a 2 year old Rhodesian Ridgeback who lives next door to us. She is much bigger than Lucy, but is very gentle with her. Today was the perfect snow day in New York City! Tonight will be tough though, with all the black ice and cold weather!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PR Log (Press Release) – Dec 22, 2009 – Every dog owner loves his favorite four legged friend, but not every dog owner loves going on walks – especially during the cold winter months or on wet and rainy days. A dog walker isn’t just a luxury to most people – it’s a necessity. Finding a reliable and trustworthy dog walker can be difficult, but with the launch of DogWalker.com, it has never been easier for dog owners and dog walkers to connect.

“I work from home with my two year old puggle, but I frequently need a dog walker to take her to the park to get exercise during the day,” said Elliot Silver, President of Top Notch Domains, LLC, the company that owns DogWalker.com. “It was difficult for me to find a dog walker that I could trust. I created DogWalker.com to make it easy for dog owners to connect with local dog walkers. I wanted the website to be as simple as possible, and for it to be easy to navigate and use. Based on early feedback we’ve received, I believe the site is poised for success.”

Operating on the exact keyword match domain name gives DogWalker.com a distinct advantage in search engines, especially when people are searching for a local dog walker. The website ranks well for a wide variety of dog walker related keywords, despite being in market for a short period of time. This helps drive targeted web traffic to the site, and the dog walkers benefit from being listed.

“I really believe this is a good opportunity for dog walkers,” Silver continued. “The cost of a listing is comparable to other website, but our domain name is unforgettable to consumers. One new client in a year can more than pay for the listing fee for dog walkers.”

For additional information or to create a listing, please visit DogWalker.com today.
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Top Notch Domains, LLC is a domain name development and investment company founded by Elliot J. Silver in 2006. The company is based in Nashua, New Hampshire, but operates in New York City, New York. The company operates websites such as Torah.com, Newburyport.com, CatSitter.com, AthensVacations.com, and Oenophiles.com.

We’re looking forward to another great year in 2010.

We wish you and your family lots of happiness, good health, and prosperity.

May your wishes and dreams come true this coming year.

All the best,

DogWalker.com

This great photo is courtesy of:

DogWalker.com: What do you like best about your job?

Sara: One of the things I like best about my job is knowing that I have all different kinds of dogs and cats with all different kinds of personalities.  Each pet client has his or her own unique personality trait– which makes things interesting and fun and keeps me looking forward to the next pet visit or dog walk!

DogWalker.com How did you start your business and why?

Sara: I started my business because pets are my one passion that I knew I could make a career out of.  I was growing tired of the corporate life I had been living for many years, and was ready to put my passion to work.  Having grown up with dogs and other animals all my life, I always knew that somehow, some way I would have to work with animals.  The first steps included getting a San Diego Tax License, Pet First Aid Certification, insurance, and a website for my business.  Once these and other basic steps were accomplished, I attracted local pet-owner clients through networking, flyers, and internet marketing.

DogWalker.com: What’s your favorite dog park in San Diego/La Jolla and why?

Sara: My favorite dog park in San Diego is actually a dog beach.  It’s nicknamed “dog beach” and is located in Ocean Beach.  I love this dog-designated beach area because I love playing with dogs by the ocean and you really get to see how happy and excited the dogs are to be there.

DogWalker.com: If you could offer advice to someone looking to start a dog walking business, what would it be?

Sara: For someone looking to start their own business in dog walking, I would recommend buying Patti Moran’s book “Pet Sitting For Profit”.  This book helped me a lot in getting started.  Other than that, it’s important for the potential new business owner to know that building you’re clientele will take a lot of persistence and patience.  Be ready to be creatvie in how you attract your clients…and don’t forget– customer service is everything!!! Not only will you need to treat the pets like royalty, you will also need to make sure to provide the pet owners with the best customer service possible!  This is what has helped me get tons of repeat business.

DogWalker.com: Please share a funny dog walking story with us!

Sara: Funny dog story: this one Great Dane client I have, the dog was so happy to see me (and she’s still technically a puppy but FULL GROWN), she jumped on me unexpectely, and I fell down with my fist landing in her pile of poo in the back yard.  Being that she is also deaf, I couldn’t really calm her down quickly. I was okay after the fall, and it wasn’t until cleaning myself up that I was able to really laugh hard about it!