Top dogs: Meet nine of Adelaide’s professional dog walkers earning up to $300 a day playing with pooches
Some quit boring office jobs, others wanted a side hustle – but all Adelaide’s dog walkers. And they can bring home big dollars just by going for a stroll.
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Fancy outdoor work, with plenty of exercise and happy customers every time? Adelaide’s dog walkers love what they do.
And it’s time-poor corporate workers and older pet owners who can no longer keep up with their beloved pooches who are keeping Adelaide’s dog walkers pounding the pavement for up to eight hours a day.
Meet nine of the city’s professionals switching the rat race for dog walks.
A BIT DIFFERENT
Brooke Walmsley, 40, owns Happy Pet Helpers and has been in the business for 10 years.
She used to work in retail, and when her boss did not agree to her having time off to go away, she quit.
“While I was [away], I was like ‘what am I going to do when I get back?’ I pondered and pondered and I just thought I’d try something a bit different,” Ms Walmsley said.
She has dogs of her own, and wanted to help other pet owners who may be unable to walk their pooches.
Ms Walmsley said the job keeps her active – her days average 32,000 steps. Through an app, she tracks her walks and so far she has 6000 walks recorded.
As well as keeping fit, she said she can make up to $300 a day starting about 9am, averaging eight walks a day.
From her home in Hillcrest, Ms Walmsley walks dogs in the eastern suburbs, the CBD, and some north.
COMPETITIVE WALKERS
Cathie Malyschko, 55, and her husband Kevin own Dog-Gone Walking and Pet Minding.
Ms Malyschko said a couple could earn up to $100k a year if they committed to walking six-to-seven hours a day.
The business began when Ms Malyschko and her husband left their office jobs and bought the business.
“I did office work for 30 years and my husband was working in an office so thought it would be a nice change,” she said.
“I love doing service work; it’s lovely with the dogs and it’s lovely to help the people.”
Ms and Mr Malyschko cover many suburbs and have competitions with one another to see who can walk the most kilometres in a day.
Dog-Gone Walking and Pet Minding is a family business, with Ms Malyschko’s son and daughter helping out from time to time.
WITH DOGS, EVERY DAY
Amy Janosevic, from PawPaws Doggy Services has always been a dog lover. After studying animal behaviour at university and working with dogs at her previous job, she knew she had to be with dogs every day.
She started her business after working long hours at a previous job, and having little time to walk her own dog, Frank.
She now has five teams, working from Hahndorf to Trott Park, Brighton to Nailsworth and beyond.
Fully booked, the team walks 150 dogs a week and charge $44 for a half day and $80 for a full day.
Ms Janosevic says people think it’s a great job, but it takes passion.
“In reality it is a hard job and you have to be extremely dedicated.
“It’s absolutely key for us to all have a bond and trust with our clients, both people and doggos”.
She said while she enjoys the attention she gets walking six dogs at a time, “sometimes people don’t realise we are actually working and we do have to be extremely present with the dogs.”
She is also anxious when people bring children to dog parks.
“Not all kids understand dogs, and that’s OK, but it’s not a risk we like to take so we often leave in that situation. There are playgrounds for children that dogs aren’t allowed into for a reason,” she said.
IT’S ALL ABOUT TAKING CARE
Dog walking and pet sitting can also be a part time gig, with Julie Drechfler saying she could make $28-$30k a year working part time at her Adelaide PetSitters business.
Ms Drechfler, 65, started dog walking and pet sitting 10 years ago as Adelaide PetSitters. She walks about eight dogs each week and takes care of other animals.
“You’re looking after the animals but you are selling trust,” she said.
To make sure all animals in her area are cared for, she set up a network of pet sitters and dog walkers who cover for each other when needed.
A really good dog walker pays attention to the dogs, and lets owners know if it needs its nails cut, or isn’t coping.
If there is something wrong, a dog walker can offer to take the animal to the vet, in short, “to care for the dog as if it were their own,” she said.
Ms Drechfler works in the immediate northeast of the city, so Dernancourt, Magill, Norwood, Burnside, Rosslyn Park, up to Tea Tree Gully, and enjoys walking in the linear park.
She charges about $35 per walk, depending on the type of dog and length of walk.
All of the dog owners emphasised how important it is for families to seriously consider what sort of dog they wanted and whether they had the space and time to make the pet happy.
Ms Drechfler says dogs need companionship and a consistent relationship with their owner and family.
“They don’t have to train them to do tricks, just to have manners. Even small dogs need to learn manners,” she said.
She also said if people spent a little time volunteering at AWL or RSPCA or other shelters to see the sadness of dogs that have to leave their home and go to a shelter because the owners can’t cope with them.
“The shelters do a wonderful job and many dogs get a great new home, but many of the dogs wouldn’t be there if people thought about the decision before they got a dog,” she said.
KNOW YOUR DOGS
Jesse-lee Lloyd started her business, Pawesome Walkies in 2020. It combined her love of dogs and fitness and says she is proud to give 100 per cent to her clients, which involves understanding what the clients’ and dogs’ needs are.
“The best part of my job is seeing how happy the dogs I walk are when they are on their walks from beginning to end, seeing them with their wagging tails and smiles just makes my day,” she said.
“I also love seeing the dogs bloom and open up and just be themselves around me which always leads to many fun and playful times.”
She works in the northern areas, charging $25 for a 45-minute walk around the local area.
SMALL START UP COSTS
Like other dog walkers, Claire Sara, from Village Dog Walking loves being her own boss.
“The start-up and running costs are minimal and if you’re punctual, reliable and a good communicator word gets around pretty fast,” she said.
Communication is important, she says – with both animals and owners.
“You need to be able to voice any concerns you might have about a dog behaving differently from normal (this can be a sign they are unwell/stressed out).”
Ms Sara sends a photo of every dog walking to their owners, because the dogs can’t “tell their humans what a wonderful time they’ve had”.
She also gets frustrated at people walking dogs off-leash in non off-leash designated areas.
“I might be doing a solo walk with a dog who experiences a bit of anxiety or is reactive and when a dog comes bounding up out of nowhere, regardless of how friendly that dog may be, it puts both dogs and the people walking them in a potentially dangerous situation,” she explained.
She mostly works around Parkside but is not taking new clients while she is recovering from an injury.
ANIMAL LOVER
Maureen Taylor began her business in 2009 after working in retail and administration. She got the word about Mad About Muttz out via letterbox drops, online advertising, posting flyers in vet surgeries and supermarkets and through social media.
“Once I started to get jobs, I found word of mouth spread quickly,” she said.
“I started the business while I was doing temp work as a receptionist. I did well enough in the first year to enable me to quit the temp job and concentrate on building the business to a full-time income.”
She says communication skills are important, but a passion for animals is critical too.
Ms Taylor has loved meeting dogs and owners, and walking in the sun and rain.
“The most rewarding thing about this job is the way I am greeted by the dogs when I arrive. They know why I am there and totally give me a whole lot of loving,” she said.
She serves the southern suburbs of Adelaide within a 25km radius from Morphett Vale, and charges $25 for 30 minutes and $35 for 45 minutes, with fuel costs sometimes added.
ETHICAL CHANGE
Kylie Gibbons, from West Adelaide Pet Sitters was made redundant after working in airfreight for 15 years.
In June 2015, she began to think about what she really wanted to do, asking the big “is this all there is?” question.
Julie from Adelaide Pet Sitters, a local business, helped her set up her own business and Ms Gibbons said she will always be grateful.
“It’s the only job I’ve ever loved in my life. It’s my business and I feel really proud and happy doing it,” she said.
Like other dog walkers, Ms Gibbons said keeping your eyes on your charges the whole time is important, but there is a bonus in that a lot of walking gives her time to think and study.
Ms Gibbons works in the city and western suburbs, from Brighton to Semaphore, charging from $25-$35 for a 20-40 minute walk.
LOTS OF LOVE
Chelsea McIntyre-Hook’s business, Walkies with Chels was started because she always felt a special connection with dogs.
“I’m at my happiest when I’m spending time with them. I love helping people too, so being able to look after someone’s dog to help make their lives easier brings me a lot of joy,” she said.
The job has its downside – cleaning all the dirt and dog hair from her car is not a highlight.
But Ms McIntyre-Hook said the joy she felt from gaining the trust of an anxious dog reinforced her decision to begin her business.
She works in the city and eastern suburbs, charging $45 for a one-hour walk (including pick up and drop off), up to $65 for a two-hour walk, with one or two other dogs.
“I offer a variety of services and I am happy to discuss to tailor to my clients’ needs,” she said.
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