My dog walking questionnaire

I am currently in the process of setting up a dog walking service in the Southampton/ New Forest area of Hampshire and want to provide the best possible service. Therefore, I would really appreciate help with some basic market research from Dogsey members, who know about dogs.

There are only 10 questions!

DOG WALKING SURVEY

Thank you in advance for taking part in my survey!


Q1. How many dogs do you own?

1
2
3
4+
I do not own a dog

Q2. Do you currently use a dog walking service?

Yes, regularly
Yes, occasionally
No, but I am interested in exploring this option
No, I am not interested in a dog walking service

Q3. What are your reasons for using or considering a dog walking service?

I am at work when the dog(s) need to be walked
Due to medical reasons, I am physically incapable of walking the dog(s) myself
I do not have transport
Family or social commitments
I trust a professional dog walker to provide my dog(s) with high quality walks
Other, please specify:

Q4. How much do you currently pay for a professional dog walker to walk your dog (per dog per hour)?

Less than £10
£10 - £19
£20 - £39
£40 or more

Q5. What do you think is a reasonable price for a professional dog walker to walk your dog (per dog per hour)?

Less than £10
£10 - £19
£20 - £39
£40 or more

Q6. How did you/will you go about finding a dog walking service?

Internet
Recommendation
Poster
Flyer or leaflet
Noticeboard
Newspaper or magazine advert
Other, please specify:

Q7. How important are the following factors in a dog walking service

Very Important Important Neither Important or Unimportant Of Little Importance Unimportant Don't Know

Previous dog walking experience
Cost of Service
Professional qualifications
Previous client testimonials
Flexible booking/short notice
Friendly and caring walker
Other services, such as pet sitting

Q8. In your opinion, what is the ideal duration for a dog walk (by a professional dog walking service)?

Less than 30 minutes
30 minutes – 1 hour
1 hour or more

Q9. Which of the following dog walking services, if offered, would appeal to you?

Please indicate all that apply

Discount for dog(s) walked in a group (of no more than four)
One-to-one dog walking service
Weekend service available
Emergency booking available
Dog walking service in a variety of locations
Dog transportation service to and from walks
Online booking service
Dog walked by the same person
Pet-to-vet taxi
Pet sitting
Home care (visiting pet in owner’s home)

10. What pattern of walks would you require for your dog?

Twice a day, five days a week
Twice a day, less than five days a week
Once a day, five days a week
Once a day, less than five days a week
One-off walks
More than five days a week


Thank you to the admins for allowing me to post on this forum. Thank you also to Nippy and Carole for their help.

Q1. How many dogs do you own?
2

Q2. Do you currently use a dog walking service?

No, I am not interested in a dog walking service

Q3. What are your reasons for using or considering a dog walking service?
Other, please specify: If I got a job that required a very long commute I might consider a dog walking service.

Q5. What do you think is a reasonable price for a professional dog walker to walk your dog (per dog per hour)?

Less than £10
£10 - £19
£20 - £39
£40 or more
In US $ and knowing that each dog must be walked by themselves $20

Q6. How did you/will you go about finding a dog walking service?

Internet
Recommendation

Q7. How important are the following factors in a dog walking service

Very Important Important Neither Important or Unimportant Of Little Importance Unimportant Don't Know

Previous dog walking experience
Cost of Service
Professional qualifications
Previous client testimonials
Flexible booking/short notice
Friendly and caring walker
Other services, such as pet sitting

All of the above are very important. I would also want a walker with good physical strength who is comfortable and experienced with the bull breeds in particular.

Q8. In your opinion, what is the ideal duration for a dog walk (by a professional dog walking service)?

30 minutes – 1 hour per dog-the boy a half hour, the girl a full hour

Q9. Which of the following dog walking services, if offered, would appeal to you?

Please indicate all that apply

One-to-one dog walking service
Weekend service available
Online booking service
Dog walked by the same person


10. What pattern of walks would you require for your dog?

Once a day, five days a week

Thank you very much lovemybull. In around 12 replies, in 24 hrs, to my online questionnaire, posted on various sites, you are the only person to continue beyond the second question. You alone have seen the point that all the others have missed.

APOLOGIES

A number of contributors were not getting past the second question, so I have rewritten my questionnaire to allow for those who are not currently interested in using a dog walking service. I have also allowed for American contributors.

Thank you again.


DOG WALKING SURVEY2

Thank you for taking part in my survey!

I am currently in the process of setting up a dog walking service in the Southampton/ New Forest area of Hampshire and want to provide the best possible service. Therefore, I would really appreciate your help with some basic market research. There are only 10 questions!


Q1. How many dogs do you own?
1
2
3
4+
I do not own a dog

Q2. Do you currently use a dog walking service?
Yes, regularly
Yes, occasionally
No, but I am interested in exploring this option
No, I am not interested in a dog walking service

Q3. What are your reasons for using or considering a dog walking service? If you are not currently interested, what could be the reasons at a later date?
I am at work when the dog(s) need to be walked
Due to medical reasons, I am physically incapable of walking the dog(s) myself
I do not have transport
Family or social commitments
I trust a professional dog walker to provide my dog(s) with high quality walks
Other, please specify:

Q4. How much do you currently pay for a professional dog walker to walk your dog (per dog per hour)? If not applicable please go directly to Q.5.
Less than £10 (US less than $15)
£10 - £19 (US $15-$29)
£20 - £39 (US $30-$59)
£40 or more (US $60 or more)

Q5. What do you think is a reasonable price for a professional dog walker to walk your dog (per dog per hour)?
Less than £10 (US less than $15)
£10 - £19 (US $15-$29)
£20 - £39 (US $30-$59)
£40 or more (US $60 or more)

Q6. How did you/will you go about finding a dog walking service? If you are not currently interested, how might you find services at a later date?
Internet
Recommendation
Poster
Flyer or leaflet
Noticeboard
Newspaper or magazine advert
Other, please specify:

Q7. How important are the following factors in a dog walking service? (Whether you use one or not)

Very Important Important Neither Important or Unimportant Of Little Importance Unimportant Don't Know

Previous dog walking experience
Cost of Service
Professional qualifications
Previous client testimonials
Flexible booking/short notice
Friendly and caring walker
A strenuous walk
Other services, such as pet sitting

Q8. In your opinion, what is the ideal duration for a dog walk (by a professional dog walking service)?
Less than 30 minutes
30 minutes – 1 hour
1 hour or more

Q9. Which of the following dog walking services, if offered, would appeal to you? If you are not currently interested in a service, which might appeal at a later date?

Please tick all that apply

Discount for dog(s) walked in a group (of no more than four)
One-to-one dog walking service
Weekend service available
Emergency booking available
Dog walking service in a variety of locations
Dog transportation service to and from walks
Online booking service
Dog walked by the same person
Pet-to-vet taxi
Pet sitting
Home care (visiting pet in owner’s home)

10. What pattern of walks would you require for your dog? If you are not currently interested in a service, what is your pattern of walking?

Twice a day, five days a week
Twice a day, less than five days a week
Once a day, five days a week
Once a day, less than five days a week
One-off walks
More than five days a week

Q1. How many dogs do you own?
1
2
3
4+
I do not own a dog

Q2. Do you currently use a dog walking service?
Yes, regularly
Yes, occasionally
No, but I am interested in exploring this option
No, I am not interested in a dog walking service

Q3. What are your reasons for using or considering a dog walking service? If you are not currently interested, what could be the reasons at a later date?
I am at work when the dog(s) need to be walked
Due to medical reasons, I am physically incapable of walking the dog(s) myself
I do not have transport
Family or social commitments
I trust a professional dog walker to provide my dog(s) with high quality walks
Other, please specify:

Q4. How much do you currently pay for a professional dog walker to walk your dog (per dog per hour)? If not applicable please go directly to Q.5.
Less than £10 (US less than $15)
£10 - £19 (US $15-$29)
£20 - £39 (US $30-$59)
£40 or more (US $60 or more)

Q5. What do you think is a reasonable price for a professional dog walker to walk your dog (per dog per hour)?
Less than £10 (US less than $15)
£10 - £19 (US $15-$29)
£20 - £39 (US $30-$59)
£40 or more (US $60 or more)

Q6. How did you/will you go about finding a dog walking service? If you are not currently interested, how might you find services at a later date?
Internet
Recommendation
Poster
Flyer or leaflet
Noticeboard
Newspaper or magazine advert
Other, please specify:

Q7. How important are the following factors in a dog walking service? (Whether you use one or not)

Very Important Important Neither Important or Unimportant Of Little Importance Unimportant Don't Know

Previous dog walking experience Very Important
Cost of Service very important
Professional qualifications neither important or unimportant
Previous client testimonials important
Flexible booking/short notice very important
Friendly and caring walker very important
A strenuous walk of little importance
Other services, such as pet sitting important

Q8. In your opinion, what is the ideal duration for a dog walk (by a professional dog walking service)?
Less than 30 minutes
30 minutes – 1 hour
1 hour or more

Q9. Which of the following dog walking services, if offered, would appeal to you? If you are not currently interested in a service, which might appeal at a later date?

Please tick all that apply

Discount for dog(s) walked in a group (of no more than four)
One-to-one dog walking service
Weekend service available
Emergency booking available
Dog walking service in a variety of locations
Dog transportation service to and from walks
Online booking service
Dog walked by the same person
Pet-to-vet taxi
Pet sitting
Home care (visiting pet in owner’s home)

10. What pattern of walks would you require for your dog? If you are not currently interested in a service, what is your pattern of walking?

Twice a day, five days a week
Twice a day, less than five days a week
Once a day, five days a week
Once a day, less than five days a week
One-off walks
More than five days a week

Good luck and I hope you have fun with you dog walking buisness

Thank you for taking the time to complete my questionnaire, ndidi.

RESULTS


After nearly one hundred responses in just under two weeks, I thought I would update everyone who has contributed with a brief analysis of the survey.

Q1. Almost half the respondents own one dog, ten percent less own two dogs, another ten percent less own three and so on.

Q2. Around half were not interested in a dog walking service, the remainder used one or were at least thinking about doing so.

Q3. The main reason for using a dog walking service was working, at nearly fifty percent, followed by illness or family commitments.

Q4. Most people, by far, paid £10 ($15) an hour or less. Some paid up to £20 ($30), but no-one paid more than this.

Q5. Contributors' thoughts regarding the fairness of prices matched their answers for Q4, with slightly more optng for £10 ($15), rather than for less.

Q6. The largest group by far, 85 percent, said they would use a service following a recommendation, followed by the internet at 40 percent. Flyers were next and a small proportion said they would rely on posters, cards in shop windows or newspaper adverts (around 5 percent each).

Q7. The factors judged very important in a service were, in order: (i) previous experience, (ii) being friendly and caring, and (iii) references from previous clients. Many felt flexible bookings were important. Offering other services had little significance.

Q8. Well over half of respondents thought the ideal duration for a dog walk was 30 minutes to an hour, with most of the remainder opting for more. About 5 percent thought less than half an hour.

Q9. The services that appealed most were, in order: (i) dog walked by the same person, (ii) emergency bookings, and (iii) one-to-one dog walking. The other services came close and were level with each other. The least appealing (less than 10 percent each) were taxi-to-vet, online booking and other. I expected online booking to be more popular.

Q10. The required patterns of walking were, once a day for five days a week, one-offs and more than five days a week. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the survey, to me, was that only ten percent expected twice a day for five days a week or less.

Thank you again, and the survey is still open.

before you even embark on this project have you made enquiries about taking out third party insurance . Why?

what happens if one of the dogs your walking slips a lead and gets run over or attacks or gets hurt by another dog/for just two examples of what might/might not happen.
If your using a vehicle as a transporter to say a park is it insured for commercial use?

Also consider the income tax side, you should be paying tax on your earnings and keep accounts for end of tax year to submit.

As to your survey good as it is I don't understand why you just don't ask another company who already does dog walking in your area.


Just pretend you may be interested in using their services and then you get an idea of walk time costs etc etc. Asking on here prices for example will depend on the area members live in, so that with all their good intentions won't help that much

When we had our boarding kennels we annually rang other local kennels to find out their costs (cheeky I know) then we pitched our charges about half way between the replies, but that is how businesses work

Once you get established and think of taking on help do be aware of the employment laws especially pay attention to T.U.P.E. If you don't know what that is then you should make yourself well aware it before taking on anyone

Thank you for your comments, tumbleweed.

There are at least three types of insurance needed of which I am aware, including harm to the animal (five if you include the vehicle and recovery). So, I have made enquiries, but insurance figures change almost day-to-day.

I am aware of the taxation and NI requirements. They seem straightforward at the moment.

I have found that the best organisations make the prices clear on their websites. Looking at competitors' prices is sensible to me; after all, potential customers will expect me to know what to charge. As you described, an inbetween compromise price seems the fairest approach, but prices will depend on the services offered as well as discounts.

Other considerations are obtaining a vehicle and crates (possibly my biggest sticking points), a business bank account and contracts, as well as setting up a website.

I am currently constructing a website, but if anyone has advice on contracts, vehicles/crates and business bank accounts, I would be grateful.

Thank you

How many dogs do you own?

2

Do you currently use a dog walking service?

No, but I am interested in exploring this option

What are your reasons for using or considering a dog walking service?

Due to medical reasons, I am physically incapable of walking the dog(s) myself

Q4. How much do you currently pay for a professional dog walker to walk your dog (per dog per hour)?

Less than £10
£10 - £19
Both, I'm American btw.

What do you think is a reasonable price for a professional dog walker to walk your dog (per dog per hour)?

Less than £10
£10 - £19
Both

How did you/will you go about finding a dog walking service?

Internet
Recommendation
Poster
Flyer or leaflet
Noticeboard
Newspaper or magazine advert
All

How important are the following factors in a dog walking service

Very Important Important Neither Important or Unimportant Of Little Importance Unimportant Don't Know

Previous dog walking experience: important
Cost of Service: important
Professional qualifications: a little important
Previous client testimonials: important
Flexible booking/short notice: not important
Friendly and caring walker: very important
Other services, such as pet sitting: not important

Q8. In your opinion, what is the ideal duration for a dog walk (by a professional dog walking service)?

30 minutes – 1 hour
1 hour or more

Which of the following dog walking services, if offered, would appeal to you?

Weekend service available
Dog walking service in a variety of locations
Dog transportation service to and from walks
Online booking service
Dog walked by the same person

What pattern of walks would you require for your dog?

Twice a day, five days a week
More than five days a week