Growing a Dog Walking Business: Hiring, Hustle, Shelter Miles, and What’s Next

Running Lucky’s Dog Walks and growing a dog walking business has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done, but lately, it has also been one of the most exhausting.

This week, I began interviewing people who could potentially help with some of the workload. I’ve completed two interviews so far, and the process has been much harder than I expected.

Lucky’s Dog Walks is my baby. I’ve built it from the ground up, formed relationships with every client, and personally cared for every client's animal(s). Handing even a small part of that responsibility to someone else feels like a huge decision.

The people I’ve interviewed have been perfectly nice and would probably do a good job. Still, I’ve found myself hesitant to make a commitment. Maybe I’m being too selective, but it’s difficult to accept that there probably isn’t such a thing as the “perfect” employee.

I also haven’t enjoyed the idea of turning people down. Interviewing someone means meeting a real person who is giving you their time and hoping for an opportunity. Even when you know a candidate may not be the right fit, saying no doesn’t feel good.

Maybe this is simply part of growing a dog walking business. I may hire someone soon, or I may decide to hold off for another few months. Either way, the process has shown me that I need to figure out what kind of help I truly need, and whether I’m ready to let someone else represent Lucky’s Dog Walks.

Realizing I Overdid It While Growing a Dog Walking Business

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve had three pet-sitting jobs happening at the same time, along with my regular dog-walking schedule. On some days, I completed between 10 and 12 visits.

I would leave home around 9:00 in the morning and sometimes wouldn’t return until 11:00 at night. Even when the visits themselves were enjoyable, spending that many hours driving and caring for animals eventually caught up with me.

By Monday I felt sick. My head was pounding and the rest of my body ached; I had to cancel some of my bookings. I hated doing it, but I had reached the point where coffee wasn't going to get me through the day.

Having an employee could help prevent that from happening again. At the same time, I don’t know if this level of demand will continue consistently. The Fourth of July and summer travel likely created a busy stretch, so it may have just been a temporary rush.

Still, it was a reminder that being busy isn’t always the same as growing sustainably. I want Lucky’s Dog Walks to continue expanding, but I also need to make sure I can provide dependable care without completely wearing myself down.

Self-Care, Socialization, and the Lonely Side of Dealing with Self-Employment

Ever since I started growing a dog walking business, I think it’s fair to say I’ve been a little obsessed. Almost every waking hour is spent doing something for the business: walking dogs, caring for pets, answering messages, working on the website, posting on social media, or planning what comes next.

Sometimes I miss those early months when it was just Nelly, Newman, Chloe, and Opie, six walks a week while I was still working at Ottumwa Family Animal Care. I may not have loved being an employee, but I do miss the socialization and camaraderie that came with having coworkers. Since leaving the clinic, I’ve found myself feeling increasingly lonely.

I think that loneliness occasionally shows itself when I talk to a client for a little too long after their dog’s walk.

I remember being about 14 and laughing with my dad about the pest-control guy who owned his own business and sprayed our house. Whenever he visited, he would talk my ear off about his life, divorce, relationships, and whatever else was going on. I understand him now.

When you work alone, you still need an outlet. Your clients are often the only people you see during the day, and after caring for their pets for a while, you naturally begin to feel friendly toward them.

Sometimes, you just want to tell someone about what’s going on in your life, even if they’re politely smiling and nodding until you finally realize they’re ready for you to leave. Then, in true Midwestern fashion, I slap my knees and say, “Welp, I’d better get going.”

As I get into my car, I’ll feel embarrassed that I kept them longer than I should have. It’s funny in hindsight, but it has also made me realize that I need to make room for a social life outside of my clients and the business.

I’ve been trying to address that by meeting new people and making new friends. I don’t hear much from the people I went to high school with anymore, which I’m told is a pretty normal part of getting older, I'm 22, going on 23 now. I’ve had some success forming new friendships, though, and it has helped.

My physical self-care has also taken a back seat. I’ve basically given up any exercise that doesn’t involve walking a dog. Before starting Lucky’s Dog Walks, I had begun putting on muscle for the first time in my life. I’ve always been incredibly skinny, so it felt good when people would ask, “Have you been working out?” and I would proudly flex my admittedly measly biceps.

Since then, I’ve lost around five or six pounds. I struggle to eat enough calories to keep up with how active I am, and after spending the entire day walking and driving, finding the energy for a workout can feel nearly impossible.

I’m beginning to understand that self-care isn’t something I can keep pushing aside until the business is less busy. There will probably always be another walk, message, project, or idea demanding my attention. If I want Lucky’s Dog Walks to succeed for the long term, I also need to take care of the person running it.

Also, my room and car have been a mess for months.

The 150-Mile Challenge Continues

The busy pet-sitting schedule has also affected my progress on the 150 Miles for Shelter Dogs campaign.

I wasn’t able to complete any shelter walks during the past couple of weeks because nearly all of my time was spent caring for clients’ pets. I tried visiting the shelter in Oskaloosa today, but they understandably weren’t allowing walks because of the heat.

My next plan is to visit Noah’s Ark Animal Foundation in Fairfield earlier in the morning, when the temperature is cooler and safer for the dogs.

At the pace I’m going now, the challenge will probably continue into August. That isn’t what I originally planned, and I’ve felt some anxiety about reaching the goal. If I’m being completely honest, there have been days lately when I’ve dreaded making another trip to one of the shelters.

That doesn’t mean the campaign is no longer important to me, but I am tired.

Between client visits, driving, managing the business, maintaining vending machines, and trying to find time for my own animals and responsibilities, the challenge has started feeling heavier than it did in the beginning.

But I made a commitment to walk 150 miles with shelter dogs, and I intend to finish it. It may take longer than expected, and I may need to approach it at a healthier pace, but I’m not giving up.

Vending Machine Updates

I also fixed the soda machine at Steel Skin Custom Auto in Ottumwa today.

The problem turned out to be the bill acceptor. It was an older unit, and after trying to troubleshoot it, I determined that it wasn’t something I could realistically repair. Thankfully, I already had a newer replacement sitting at home from a previous project.

I installed that one, and the machine appears to be working properly again.

Eventually, I would like to replace or upgrade some of these traditional vending machines with HaHa Mini AI machines, similar to the one I currently have at Ottumwa Family Animal Care. The smart machine is easier to stock with a wider variety of products and provides a more modern experience for customers.

I’m also preparing to move the vending machines that were previously at Heartland Humane Society to OG Ink sometime this month. I’ve spoken with Danny there, and he has been very relaxed and easygoing throughout the process. I think it has the potential to be a great partnership.

This weekend, I’ll also be recycling a few old vending machines that I’ve already stripped for usable parts. I’m not looking forward to that part. Vending machines are unbelievably heavy and moving them is one of my least favorite parts of the business, but at least the old machines won’t continue taking up space.

Exploring In-Home Grooming Services

Another service I’ve wanted to add for a while is basic in-home grooming.

I’m currently looking into apprenticeships and other hands-on learning opportunities so I can become more comfortable with nail trimming and basic cuts. My hope is that I'll be able to begin offering nail trims within the next couple of months.

Cutting a dog’s nails can be very nerve-racking, especially when the nails are dark and you can’t clearly see the quick. For now, I’ve been practicing by trimming my own dogs’ nails. They are not pleased about being part of the training process.

I don’t plan to rush into offering anything before I’m properly prepared. I want to

receive the right instruction, practice safely, and feel confident in my abilities.

A Pet Taxi May Be Coming Later

I’ve also been thinking about adding a pet taxi service to Lucky’s Dog Walks.

The idea would be to provide safe transportation for pets going to veterinary appointments, grooming visits, boarding facilities, or other local destinations, especially when their owners can’t transport them themselves.

I’m not ready to launch it quite yet. I want to purchase high-quality crates, seat-belt-compatible harnesses for larger dogs, proper seat covers, and the other equipment necessary to transport animals safely. That initial setup will require an investment that I’m not in a position to make right now.

It remains one of my goals, but I would rather wait and do it correctly than introduce the service before I have the proper equipment.

Figuring Out Growing a Dog Walking Business as I Go

This chapter of Lucky’s Dog Walks feels like a collection of growing pains.

I’m learning how much work I can reasonably handle, whether I’m ready to hire someone, how to balance client care with the shelter campaign, and which new services make sense for the future.

I don’t have every answer yet. There may be times when I need to slow down, adjust a deadline, or admit that I’ve taken on too much. That’s uncomfortable, but it’s also part of building something that can last.

For now, I’m going to keep caring for the animals who depend on me, continue working toward the 150-mile goal, and take the next step as it comes. Lucky’s Dog Walks is still a growing dog walking business, and apparently, I'm growing as well.

-Bret Shepard