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Dog walking seems like such a simple thing to do: grab a lead, attach it to the dog, work out your route and away you go. But when you’re running a professional dog walking business, things aren’t necessarily quite that simple.
First of all, you’re likely to be walking several dogs at the same time, all with their own characteristics and energy levels, giving you lots to manage and think about. Then you’ve got all the hazards around you to avoid: people, bikes, traffic and other dogs, to name just a few. And on top of that, then there’s the weather to consider, and how your dogs might be affected if it’s too hot or too wet, for example.
All this means that owning a few nifty bits of kit can make the whole act of professional dog walking much easier for you, and potentially much more enjoyable for the dogs, too. In this blog, we’ve picked out some of the best gadgets for dog walkers.
Our choice of the best gadgets for dog walkers
There’s a huge marketplace for dog-related gadgets nowadays, but not all of them serve the needs of those walking multiple dogs simultaneously. With that specific consideration in mind, here are some of our favourites:
Pet Room Pouch Bag
There’s seemingly a million and one things that a dog walker has to carry with them: poop bags, treats, water bowls, phone, wallet/purse, keys, and so on. This can lead to some very full pockets, or the need to wear a big jacket in summer, which is where a handy pouch bag comes in handy. It’s full of space for treats and valuables, can be slung over your shoulder to free up your arms for lead control, and can even have things like water bowls clipped to the outside.
Portable Poop-Scoop
Clearing up dog mess isn’t pleasant, but it’s a necessary evil of the job when you’re a dog walker, so anything you can use to make it a bit more palatable is a worthwhile investment. A portable poop-scoop looks just like a giant Bulldog clip and works a treat: it even has an expandable chamber so it can handle even the biggest piles that the dogs you walk leave behind. The ability to clip it to a belt (or the pouch bag mentioned above) makes it especially user-friendly, too.
Biodegradable Poop Bags
No dog walker ever leaves the house without a copious supply of poop bags in their pockets, but the plastic nature of them isn’t especially kind to the environment. Instead, it’s worth looking at biodegradable poop bags made with a blend of corn starch that will eventually degrade over time. And don’t worry about leaks: they’re made from an especially thick material.
Car Seat Covers
If you’re collecting dogs from their owners, or taking them out for a walk in the countryside, then you may have to transport them in your car. Understandable, you won’t want to get your seats dirty, which is where you can benefit from car seat covers specifically designed to carry dogs. Not only do they protect your upholstery, but they can also come in the form of a basket that can give smaller dogs stability when they’re in the car.
Portable Dog Washer
If you do venture into the country, then it’s easy for dogs to get wet and muddy. However, a portable dog washer can solve the problem of getting everything dirty, or of you returning a dog to an owner much muckier than it was when it left. All you need to do is fill it with water, use the hand pump to build pressure (no electricity required) and use the brush attachment to clean the dog. It’s small enough to fit in the boot of your car, too.
Get Dog Walking Insurance with Protectivity
As useful as all these gadgets can be for dog walkers, you never know what might happen when you’re out on a walk. Whether it’s dogs jumping out in traffic, attacking other dogs, or their leads tripping people up, there are many things that can happen that could lead to a claim being made against you.
That’s why Protectivity provides comprehensive insurance specially tailored for the needs of professional dog walkers. With our competitively priced policies, you’ll be covered for injuries, accident damage, public liability, vet bills, and ‘Care, Custody and Control’, so you can grow your business with confidence. Find out more on our dog walking insurance policies here.
Get Dog Walking Insurance from Protectivity
*Disclaimer – This blog has been created as general information and should not be taken as advice. Make sure you have the correct level of insurance for your requirements and always review policy documentation. Information is factually accurate at the time of publishing but may have become out of date.
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