Safety must be a priority for pet sitters and dog walkers, and it never hurts to review a few basic safety precautions, which are very important in this line of work. If you’d like your business to succeed, make sure you do the following:
Avoid Distractions
Dog walkers have to be aware of their surroundings at all times. It’s also important that you are familiar with the areas where you will be walking the dogs because this will provide you with peace of mind. Clients need to be able to trust you and your services, and knowing your surroundings will help in this regard. If you will be walking in a new neighborhood, it’s wise to visit the area in advance so that you get an understanding of the route.
If you don’t feel comfortable with the area or think that it’s too secluded or poorly lit, choose an alternate route. Your focus should always be on the dog, and your surroundings, and your phone should never be a distraction. Put your smartphone away and don’t use it to chat or to listen to music because this can lead to an accident.
Enter Your Clients’ Homes Safely
It’s highly likely that you will have to enter clients’ empty homes at different times of the day, and you need to be cautious when you arrive for pet-sitting duties. If you ever see an unexpected vehicle or person in their home or driveway, call your client right away to see if they are aware of this fact. Only if they confirm that it’s safe should you proceed with your services. Always lock the door of your client’s home once you’re inside and keep your phone handy.
Prepare for Your Assignments in Advance
You need to do your research before you accept an assignment because this will allow you to feel safe, and you will be able to conduct your dog walking or pet-sitting business comfortably. Whenever you are contacted by a potential client, do some research first to ensure the address is valid. You should also check that it’s a residential home and always make sure someone knows about your assignments before you leave. This is especially important if you are not familiar with the area that is being proposed.
A meet and greet is also a must because this will allow you to do a walkthrough of the home, and you will know where the pet supplies are kept. You will also get the chance to assess your comfort levels and how you feel about the home and environment. If other people have access to the home in the client’s absence, you need to be aware of this information, and this has to be included in your service agreement.
Suburban Dog Inc prioritizes safety and takes this aspect very seriously. We will make sure your dog is safe, and we take a number of precautions to offer clients the best service possible. If you’d like more information, contact us today!
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