I'm Not a Puppy Anymore

We luv it that our dad is dog walker

So many people ask me in passing what I do?  I give them the elevator pitch..."I walk dogs." then they look at me all confused and respond.  "Oh cool that must be fun.  What do you do for a living?"

"Hey dumb ass, this is my living." 

"Oh jeez," I think.  "Here we go again."  I spent many years telling people I was a waiter, a bartender, a restaurant manager and got the same response. 

In 2008 I quit my lucrative position at a world-renowned hospitality organization and hit the pavement right when unemployment was at its highest.  I dabbled in consulting, contract work and unemployment like a stray dog in the back alley way...sniffing dumbsters for that discarded rib bone.  I was in survival mode.  Then I hit pay dirt and now am in driving mode.  Yes, this is not (yet) a lucrative venture, but (and I am not giving away my secrets) can be.  I may not have cable, but I love my job.

You get up in the morning dreading the commute to your little cubicle and computer screen waiting for the half hour lunch break. I show up at your house on time, in shorts or jeans, walking shoes all decked out like one just came out of an LL Bean catalog.  Training treats in one pocket, cell phone, sets of keys in another, note pad and pen and of course the walkers best friend...Poo Bags! I'm ready to take your dear four legged precious (like it was another child) friend on a stroll.  All the while you are sweating in the cubicle worrying how Fido is doing all cooped up in his/her crate - I give you a sense of relief and I give your dog smiles and exercise.  Plus my cubicle is the entire outdoors.  Uh yes, the Weather Channel on my phone is a good friend.

Walking dogs is a profession like any other.  There are the fly by night amateurs, there are the neighbors daughter getting some summer work and there are the ones doing this in between the next big novel.  Walking a few dogs for a few bucks on the side.  Then there are the ones who take it seriously like a business and implement solid business practices into being one of the best damn effective dog walkers there is.

Look, this is a $52 Billion a year industry.  I am an extension of the owner.  Think about it.  I walk a dog five times a week for six months that's 120 walks.  Damn right the dog and I are getting to know each other.  I know your dog as well as you know Joe in the cubicle next to you.  I give your canine a lunch break, you and Joe shoot the shit at lunch on the back loading dock.

Joe's having girlfriend problems.  Fido is discharging diarrhea.  Same difference.

Hope your doctor is reading the latest periodicals before he prescribes that prescription and your lawyer on the latest legislation before that court date and you better hope I am reading dogstardaily.com and checking the twitter account on the latest canine trends in training and behavior.  I'll know your food is on a recall list before you do.  Why?  Because I treat it like a profession.  Plus I work in a pet store too which helps.

So, as I carry around my hand recorder I thought why not share my whimsical, serious, humorous, insightful experiences as a dog walker.  Ya never know, I might be walking your canine buddy soon.

Look Mom & Dad I am not a puppy anymore!