Having a dog can make you healthier. The vast majority of dog owners (70%) take their furry friends for at least one walk a day, with the average duration of that walk being around 17 minutes. According to the American Heart Association, the benefits of getting such walks in are numerous. They reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, improve blood pressure, lower the risk of obesity, and more.
But did you know that dog walking could also make your bank account healthier, too?
According to a report from the Telegraph, the salaries of dog walkers in the United Kingdom are one-fifth higher than average. What’s more, professional dog walkers only have to work two weeks a month to earn their full pay.
On average, dog walkers charge about £11.50 per hour per dog, walking 192 dogs per month. That’s an annual salary of £26,496, 20% higher than the United Kingdom’s national average salary of £22,044.
The crazy part is that dog walking isn’t a full time profession. Most dog walkers use their time as efficiently as possible, taking several dogs for a walk all at once rather than walking each of their clients one by one. Typically, they take about 13 dogs on a walk per day, which gets the job done within 15 days.
Dog walkers in the United States aren’t being left out entirely, either. Thanks to a new app called Wag, it’s now possible to easily get a paid side gig walking dogs. All users have to do is sign up to be a walker via the Wag app or through Wag’s website, answer some simple questions, such as “What qualities do you have that would make you a good dog walker,” pass a background check, and they’re signed up for a side job where they can make a maximum of $25 per hour.
In other words, if you need to make a bit more money, and have an affection for dogs, consider becoming a dog walker.
