38 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Summer 2004

“What I do is totally illegal,” says a seasoned 

Baltimore dog walker as he ushers several 

dogs through the woods. 

The reference to lawlessness isn’t about what he 

does (walking dogs) but, rather, how he does it: this dog 

walker—who prefers to remain anonymous—allows the 

pets in his care to run free on public property in violation 

of community leash laws. 

Not all dog walkers tread on the wrong side of the 

law, though. In her business, dog walker Cynthia Elkey 

follows the rules. For reasons of safety, both the dogs’ 

and people’s, Cynthia insists that her pooches remain onleash at all times.

Most dog-walking services, including Cynthia’s, are 

geared toward people who are gone for long periods during the workweek. Services are especially helpful, she 

says, for those who have puppies or older dogs that need 

to go outside more often, as well as for those who have 

high-energy dogs.

 For Cynthia, this occupation allows her to earn 

money doing what she enjoys: Being outdoors, getting 

exercise, and caring for dogs. It also capitalizes on other 

strengths she has. “When I heard about this occupation, I 

thought it’d be perfect for me,” Cynthia says. “I’m very 

detail oriented, self-motivated, like to work unsupervised, 

and can follow a schedule.” 

Cynthia typically 

begins her work in 

midmorning or early 

afternoon, driving to her 

clients’ homes. She takes 

each dog for a 15- or 

30-minute walk around 

the neighborhood and then 

brings the dog back to its 

home, where she might 

give it a treat. Before moving on to her next client, 

she always makes sure that 

the dog has plenty of fresh water.

“It’s a very physical job,” she says. “You need to get 

in and out of cars, put on leashes, bend over to pick up after the dogs. We’re outside a lot—in all kinds of weather.” 

And walking dogs, especially large or headstrong ones, 

can be challenging in any conditions. 

As an occupation, dog walking varies significantly 

in the details. Some dog walkers, particularly those in 

large urban areas, walk more than one dog at a time. The 

terrain and duration of the walks can range from a brief, 

leisurely stroll on city sidewalks to long, brisk hikes 

through rural parks. Furthermore, some dog walkers work 

independently; others have helpers or work as part of a 

team. 

Cynthia is part of the latter group; she hires other dog 

walkers to help her respond to a growing clientele. She 

and her assistants work Monday through Friday, each 

of them walking two to six dogs every day. As business 

manager, Cynthia establishes territories and arranges her 

teams so that each dog walker works in one area, usually 

close to his or her home. 

Positioning workers and working with dogs are only 

part of Cynthia’s duties. “You wear a lot of hats with 

this business,” she says. Cynthia also is responsible for 

advertising and marketing to attract new clients, hiring 

and managing employees, and doing administrative tasks 

such as billing clients, paying workers, and preparing 

taxes. In addition, she holds monthly employee meetings 

to discuss dog health and behavioral issues.

Another part of Cynthia’s job is to train her assistants. 

Training may include instruction on basic dog-walking 

techniques, such as the proper way to hold a leash, and 

a review of Cynthia’s business policies. There are no 

formal training requirements for becoming a dog walker, 

however. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn’t collect 

You’re a what?

Dog Walker

Elka Jones is a contributing editor to the OOQ, (202) 691-

5719.
Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Summer 2004 39

by 

Elka 

Jones

data specifically 

for dog walkers. 

Cynthia estimates that 

most dog walkers make 

about $10 to $15 an hour, with business owners earning 

more. She pays her employees a commission—a percentage of the money that clients pay for each walk. But it’s 

hard to make walking dogs a full-time career. “It’s an 

ideal job for people who want to work part-time during 

the middle of the day,” she says, adding that many of her 

employees are homemakers, retirees, or self-employed 

people.

 Cynthia, like many dog walkers, entered the occupation informally. In the mid-1980s, a friend asked Cynthia 

if she would be interested in taking her dog outside in the 

afternoons. Cynthia’s schedule allowed her to be home 

during the day, so the arrangement worked well. And the 

experience helped Cynthia realize the potential for making a living by walking dogs. 

Before embarking on any new career, of course, 

people should research it—and dog walking is no exception, says Cynthia. Occupational research should include 

learning and reading as much as possible about dogs, she 

says, especially their behavior and body language. 

The details of creating a business require research, 

too, beyond learning the basics, such as how to 

set up a spreadsheet to track income and expenses. 

Some dog walkers may be required to have a 

business license, for example, and many opt to 

become insured and bonded as a safeguard for both 

themselves and their clients. Cynthia recommends 

contacting local jurisdictions for specific requirements. National and international associations also 

can provide valuable information, she says, especially for those who are just starting out. 

In addition, prospective dog walkers should 

realize that the work isn’t just a walk in the neighborhood park. As with any caretaking job, dog 

walkers need to be able to deal with problems their 

charges present. One of the most common problems, says 

Cynthia, is dogs that pull on the leash. Cynthia instructs 

her employees to change directions when this happens, 

tugging on the leash to get the dog 

to follow. “You can almost keep 

going in circles doing this,” she 

says, “but the dog will usually learn from this corrective 

behavior.” 

But some of what prospective dog walkers need to 

succeed comes from neither 

research nor instruction. “It 

takes a special person,” 

says Cynthia. “A good 

dog walker has patience 

and a love of dogs, a 

sort of empathy for 

them.”