Should You Hire Another Dog Walker When You Get Busy — or Stay Solo? The Honest Truth
- Tori Lynn Crowther
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
Should You Hire Another Dog Walker...
One of the biggest questions dog walkers face as their diary fills up is this:
“Should I bring someone in to help…or am I better staying on my own?”
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but there are clear benefits, challenges, and things you must think about before taking the next step. This post will help you figure out what’s right for you—and for the long-term future of your business.
1. Staying Solo: The Benefits
There’s a lot to love about running a dog walking business alone, especially in the early years.
✔ Complete control
You choose:
Which dogs you work with
What hours you work
How you walk and train
What areas you cover
Your business is 100% your way.
✔ Lower stress (for some)
No managing staff. No worrying about someone else letting you down.
Just you, your dogs, and your clients.
✔ Higher take-home income
You keep everything you earn. There’s no payroll, no insurance for staff, and no admin around HR.
✔ Strong client loyalty
Clients book you specifically. That bond can be powerful.
2. Staying Solo: The Drawbacks
At some point, every solo dog walker hits a ceiling.
✘ Limited income potential
You can only walk so many dogs in a day. Expand your hours and you work yourself into burnout.
✘ No flexibility
Holidays, sickness, emergencies… everything rests on you.
This is why so many dog walkers feel trapped by their business.
✘ Turning away money
Every time you say “Sorry, I’m full,” you’re handing potential clients to someone else—maybe even a competitor.
3. Growing Your Team: The Benefits
Hiring another walker—whether employed or self-employed (see your previous blog)—can transform your business.
✔ More income
Each walker brings in revenue for your business. Even after paying them, you can earn significantly more than you would solo.
✔ You can finally have days off
With a team, the business doesn’t stop when you stop.
✔ You can expand into new areas
You can grow strategically.
✔ Better service for clients
More availability.More flexibility.More consistency.
✔ Your business becomes a brand, not just one person
This creates long-term stability and future opportunities—courses, training hubs, memberships, and more.
4. Growing Your Team: The Challenges
Bringing someone in comes with responsibilities.
✘ Training
If you want walkers to do things your way, they must be trained properly.
✘ Legalities
You need to understand if they are truly self-employed or employees.
(Your previous blog covers this in detail.)
✘ Reliability
Not everyone will match your work ethic, passion, or professionalism.
✘ Management
Rotas, communication, standards, incidents… you’re now a leader, not just a dog walker.
5. Which Option Is Right For You?
Here are some questions you should ask yourself:
Do you want to grow?
👉 Then yes—you need another walker. You cannot grow without help.
Do you want more freedom and flexibility?
👉 A team will give you that.
Do you love working alone and don’t want management responsibilities?
👉 Stay solo. There is absolutely nothing wrong with choosing simplicity.
Do you want to specialise in behaviour cases or large breeds?
👉 A team helps, but you need the right, trained people.
Do you dream of a business that runs even when you’re not physically walking?
👉 You must build a team.
6. The Reality Nobody Tells You
Most dog walkers don’t plan growth—they wake up one day overwhelmed, overbooked, exhausted, and stressed. Then they panic-hire the wrong person or bring in a “self-employed walker” who legally should have been an employee.
Slow, intentional growth is the golden path.
Start with:
Clear systems
Clear standards
Clear onboarding
Clear expectations
This is how TLC has built a strong team with team leaders and trained walkers.
7. The TLC Perspective (My Personal Experience)
I’ve experienced both sides:
I’ve walked solo.
I’ve built a team.
I’ve learned the legalities, the mistakes, the triumphs.
I’ve seen how walkers can expand your reach and support your reputation.
The truth is:
👉 I could never run the successful, multi-area business I have today without a team.👉 But I also completely understand why some walkers prefer staying solo—and that’s okay too.
8. Final Thoughts: Choose What Fits Your Life
There’s no wrong answer.
If you want simplicity, stay solo. If you want growth, build a team.
But whatever you choose, make sure it supports:
your mental health
your income goals
your lifestyle
and the quality of care you want to provide
Because at the end of the day, this business isn’t just about dogs—it’s about creating a life you’re proud of.
NEXT SATURDAY If You’re a Solo Dog Walker, What Are Your Options When You’re Sick, Need a Holiday, or Something Goes Wrong?
About Tori & TLC Canine Crusaders Business Hub
I’m Tori, founder of TLC Canine Crusaders Business Hub and The Dog House, where I help dog walkers and dog owners build confidence, clarity, and success. With years of hands-on experience running a busy dog walking company and training academy, my mission is to make the industry easier to navigate. Whether you're growing your business or supporting your dog at home, you’ll find practical guidance, community support, and resources designed to help you thrive.
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