The Art of Dog Walking with Robert
Photo Credit: Robert Chatham
Taking your pup on a stroll isn’t always as simple as it looks. Robert discusses the best ways to accompany your pooch.
Walking your pup these days isn’t always easy. Besides dealing with your canine, you have to be aware of speeding cars, scooters, dogs off leash and rambunctious kids. I recently spoke to Robert, a long time dog walker, to get his advice on the subject.
How did you get started walking dogs?
Prior to 2012, I worked 11 years managing a local pet products store. Eventually, my bad back prevented me from doing all the heavy lifting required for the job and I had to retire. But I knew that I didn't want to just sit around the house and watch Gilligan's Island reruns. So I began trying to figure out what I could do to both stay active and make some money. I was 60 years old at the time and my employment options were severely limited. A friend, knowing how much I adore dogs, suggested I should consider dog walking and pet sitting. I bought some business cards, several leashes, a box of poop bags and a bag of dog treats. The first year was slow but then NextDoor came to town and my neighborhood - Sylvan Park - embraced it wholeheartedly. I was able to get a few dog walking/pet sitting gigs and seemingly did well enough that the dogs' owners posted recommendations for me on NextDoor. That word of mouth really started the ball rolling. I am proud to state that I have had 85 clients in the past nine years, primarily in Sylvan Park.
How do you handle a dog you don't know?
Gently. Carefully. Respectfully. Unlike cats, dogs will pretty clearly let you know what they're feeling when they meet you. They're great communicators that way. After receiving permission from the dog's owner, I'll usually squat down, hold out my hand palm down and let the dog sniff me. And, if the owner reassures me that the dog doesn't have any food allergies or weight issues, I'll give the dog a small tasty treat. Dog treats are magical! I would like to offer one story about how I dealt with a challenging situation meeting a new dog. One of my clients lost his dog that I had walked for years. About a year later, he called me and said he had adopted a new dog that he wanted me to begin walking. When Brian was home, I went over and met the new girl. Her name was Luna and she was a gorgeous, blond-colored Shepherd/Husky mix. Luna was O.K. with me on that initial visit but things were far different when I came over the following Monday to walk her for the first time. Luna was in a dog crate and she absolutely panicked upon seeing me enter the room. It was imperative that I not ramp up her already high level of anxiety, so I opened the crate door, went and opened the back door and then went and sat down at the back of the yard. My hope was that she would calm down enough to understand that I was not a threat to her. After the third day of this trust-building process, she finally let me put a leash on her. It's now two years later and, around 11:00 every morning, I see her beautiful face staring out the front door window waiting for me to arrive.
For individuals or families considering adopting a dog (the best thing in the world to do!), I have a bit of advice. Many, if the most, dogs available for adoption are considered "rescues." I'm a greyhound person and virtually all greyhounds are ex-racers from the various dog tracks around the country. They're never bred to be pets. Hence, any greyhound you see is a rescue from some track. Regrettably, far too many dogs available for adoption have come from abusive situations. Meaning they can have issues stemming from the abuse. So be aware that there may be some hiccups when a dog is first introduced into a new, forever home. Show the dog love, compassion and patience and you will be rewarded a thousand fold. Grateful dogs who have been given a second chance in life are God's most exquisite creatures.
Photo Credit: Robert Chatham
Do you ever get attached to the dogs you walk? If so, is it hard leaving them after they're walked?
I'm attached to all the dogs I walk. They are quite literally my best friends. It's not difficult to leave them after I walk them because I know I'll see them tomorrow. However, there was one case where I was deeply affected emotionally. Tyson was a very large pit bull-mix with a head the size of a cinder block. Despite his quite intimidating appearance, he was just a big ol' lovable teddy bear. The only time I saw him was once or twice a year when his folks went out of town. He worshiped me and I was in love with him. A couple of years ago, I watched him while his family went on vacation and Tyson and I partied like it was 1999. Then, a few days after the owners' return, they called me sobbing and saying that they had had to put Tyson down. Because they were so emotionally distraught, I didn't press for details about what happened to him. But I was absolutely devastated and I grieved as much as if I'd lost one of my own dogs. I still miss him. He was my buddy.
What's been the biggest rewards of walking dogs?
Getting exercise and fresh air are two. Meeting new neighbors who you might encounter walking is another. But the biggest reward, by far, is getting to hang out with my canine friends each day. Despite any kind of a bad day I might be having, being greeted at the door by a dog going bouncing off the walls because their buddy, Robert, has arrived washes away any negativity I might be feeling.
Photo Credit: Robert Chatham
What are some downsides of dog walking?
One downside is that, like postal carriers, we have to work in all kinds of weather. As a male, I am somewhat of an anomaly as the vast majority of walkers are female. The female walkers I know dread the winter while I thrive in it. It's all about the layers, folks. What I dread are the summers. Even though I was raised in Houston (as miserably humid as New Orleans), I wilt in Nashville's humid summer days. But, after nine years of doing this, I've developed strategies to slightly mitigate the misery of hot weather. Every piece of clothing I wear - down to my boxer shorts - was purchased at REI. My shirts, pants, socks and shoes are all lightweight, breathable and wicking. I wear a big ol' floppy hat, put on sunscreen and carry a Yeti water bottle to which I've added electrolyte powder.
Also, anyone considering becoming a dog walker must accept the fact that they will be picking up dog poop. A lot of it. Picking up the dog's poop is just the right thing to do, but you should also do it because, if you don't, someone will look out their window and see that you've left dog poop in their yard. They'll then go on NextDoor or Facebook and tell everyone what an irresponsible dog walker you are. It's not worth the grief. Scoop the poop!
Finally - and this is the big one - you'll learn what all dog walkers learn to their dismay. There are way, way too many clueless dog owners out there walking their dogs. Consider this scenario: you're walking a senior dog who possibly has arthritis and is often cranky due to the pain (sounds like me). Out of nowhere, here comes running at you and the dog you're walking a Golden Retriever puppy that its owner doesn't have on a leash. The owner is quite proud of their puppy and secure in the knowledge that everyone is as charmed with their puppy as they are. Do you know who's not charmed by all this puppy energy? Who's not happy that a 40 pound fur ball is in their face? You guessed it. The otherwise sweet and gentle senior canine citizen who was enjoying their walk with me until this clueless owner decided against practicing basic canine interaction protocol. It wasn't the puppy's fault. The owner is 100% responsible for any expensive veterinarian bills that arise from this nasty incident that was easily avoidable. If only people walking their dogs would adhere to a few basic, commonsense rules, we could all be kumbaya.
Do you have any special memories from dog walking that you can share?
My answer to this question is going to sound like a copout, but every dog walk I do is special to me. I'm an old geezer who's perfectly happy as a bachelor who shares his life with Ava and Cash, two greyhounds who are possibly the fastest dogs in Nashville. I base that opinion on their racing histories in Miami/Palm Beach and West Memphis, respectively. All of my family lives in Texas and I don't have a ton of two-legged friends. So, I've created a life where I have a coterie of wonderful four-legged friends who are loyal and faithful and give me indescribable joy. Life is good.
Photo Credit: Robert Chatham
How can someone get started in the dog walking business?
Some walkers start out working for a dog walking/pet sitting company. The advantage to this is that the company provides you with clients and often insurance. The disadvantage is that you don't get to keep all the money. There are online courses that will train you to be a dog walker. There are insurance companies that will insure you. You will need to buy some business cards and maybe some flyers that you can place in coffee shops, animal clinics and at the local dog parks. And, as previously mentioned, you'll need supplies. I have about eight leashes that I use depending on the size of the dog and how they walk (they all have their individual style of walking). Most walkers use 6ft leashes but I only use 4ft long ones. I want the dog close to me and feel that they never need to be more than 4ft from me. And I NEVER use those retractable leashes. Too many bad things can happen with them. I carry my own biodegradable poop bags, but you can save money by asking the owner to provide you bags. I always carry a pocketful of treats because...well, because they make the dogs happy. If it's a super hot day, you might carry a small bottle of water and a collapsible water bowl. Some dog walkers carry pepper spray because it's not rare for an off leash dog to attack the dog you're walking. One of my fellow walkers carries bear spray. Yikes! I also own a reflective vest like you see road workers wear because I sometimes walk dogs at night. Please don't be one of those bozos who walks their dog on pitch black streets wearing black clothing and not carrying even a flashlight. It's not safe for either you or the dog.
Are you available to walk new dogs?
I haven't accepted any new clients for a few years now. I confess that I'm terribly spoiled by my situation. I only work in Sylvan Park and can literally walk to all my gigs. Most walkers, at least new ones, don't have that luxury. The 7-8 dogs I walk every day are enough for me and I'll keep doing this as long as I'm still ambulatory.
I have one final piece of advice to anyone considering a career as a dog walker: each day when walking a dog or dogs, you basically have two jobs. One small and one very large. The smaller job is to make sure the dogs have as much fun as possible. The larger, far more important job, is to keep the dogs safe. Dog walking may seem to be a very simple job, but it can come with its unique set of dangers. I once had to repeatedly punch a boxer who had attacked the two dogs I was walking. He'd probably been hit harder by a bag of cotton candy but he got the message and ran off. Recently, a guy backing out of his driveway somehow didn't notice in his rearview mirror me and two dogs walking down the sidewalk. After I screamed at him, his car finally stopped inches from us.
When I walk dogs, my head is on a swivel. Having said all that, I'll finish by saying that I have the best job I've ever had in my peripatetic career history. I still pinch myself knowing that nice people pay me good money to hang out with their happy dogs.
Photo Credit: Robert Chatham
Robert shares some great tips on walking your pup:
1. Keeping the dog you're walking safe is your paramount responsibility: keep the dog close to you and your head on a swivel while you watch for potential trouble. This will help you avoid possible friction with another dog and it will help you avoid being run over by distracted motorists.
2. Dogs love to sniff just about everything on walks, so be aware of what they smell: this can be a problem when the dog sniffs some thrown-away food in the grass and quickly eats it. I'll often walk past construction sites where the workers have thrown chicken bones in the yard. Not good. I tell all the dogs I walk that street/alley food is strictly forbidden.
3. On really hot day, remember that you're wearing shoes but they're not: asphalt can get extremely hot and burn a dog's paws if the dog is required to stand in one spot more than 20 seconds. If you meet a friend walking their dog and stop to chat, be sure to stand on a sidewalk or, ideally, some grass. And it's not a bad idea to carry a bottle of water and a collapsible water bowl if your walk lasts more than half an hour.
4. Dress for the weather: all the clothes I wear during the miserable days of summer are super lightweight, wicking and quick drying. I wear a big floppy hat to protect my face and neck from the sun and also a scarf that I soak in water and wrap around my neck. Sunscreen is highly advised, as well. Know that there will be the rare days when you'll have to walk dogs in rain. Having a good raincoat is advisable and I carry ziploc bags of different sizes to put my wallet, phone and car keys in if there's a heavy rain.
5. There are many different devices available to walk dogs: although 6 ft. leashes are most common, I prefer 4 ft. leashes so that I have better control and can keep the dog close to me. This is especially important when you're walking on narrow streets where cars zoom dangerously close by you. Some dog owners have harnesses for their dogs if the dog is especially rambunctious. It gives you a bit more control over the dog. Another form of harness is one that goes around the dog's muzzle. Commonly called a Gentle Leader, this harness inhibits the pup from pulling too hard; if the dog pulls excessively, the Gentle Leader pulls the dog's head rearward and this is uncomfortable for the dog.
6. Always carry plenty of poop bags and always pick up the dog's poop: it's not the most enjoyable aspect of a walker's job, but it's necessary and shows your professionalism. The only time this is challenging is when it's really cold during the walk. It's almost impossible to open a poop bag with gloves on, which means that you have to remove your gloves. This is not fun if it's really cold. So I developed a trick of opening up several poop bags before the walk and putting them in a pocket. That way, I don't have to remove my gloves while struggling to open a poop bag.
Thanks Robert for all this great advice on dog walking. I’ll definitely keep all of this in mind the next time I walk Ricky. I know he will appreciate it.
