If there’s one thing I’m noticing more of across NYC over the past few years, it’s an abundance of furry friends! Since Manhattan is one of the loneliest places on earth, a dog as a best friend is needed more than ever.
Although the Big Apple is a concrete jungle, ironically, it’s not designed for all species, namely dogs. Some may say it’s even difficult for tourists and residents to thrive here. But we push through it for the unlimited return and potential in a city that never sleeps.
Although it can be impossible to get anywhere when there’s gridlock, in the city, the WFH craze, home buying spree, lack of interaction, and hourly commutes saved by the pandemic led city dwellers to become a bit bored in a good way and adopt new ways of living and earning! The entrepreneurial wave got kickstarted across the nation at the most opportune time as cheap borrowing rates, frothy valuations, soaring stock market, rock bottom interest rates, and the gig economy/side-hustle revolution became fierce.
As Americans hoarded cash in anticipation for the worst in 2020, they also spent it on things that in hindsight they may partially regret or have concerns about nowadays as we transition back to the offices and to post-pandemic living. A while ago I wrote about Millennials regretting their rushed FOMO-driven home-buying purchases when deals were abundant and from 2020–2022, it felt like everyone was scooping up homes as if there was an apocalypse.
On top of this trend, there was another life-changing purchase that sprung from larger homes and a lack of interaction during lockdowns: pandemic puppies!
As a previous dog owner myself, I always heard that taking care of one is great training before having kids which I agree with but I find it only covers about 20% of what is needed in terms of costs, mental agility, stamina, time, effort, etc. compared with having a child. You can’t even begin to compare the two! This is not to say having a dog or any pet is a breeze. It certainly isn’t but as with all precious responsibilities, initially we tend to believe it’s easier than it seems and the grass always looks greener on the other side until we’re in owners’ shoes and faced with cleaning up after the dog, waking up at 5 am to walk your furry friend, attempting to squeeze it on the subway, and most challenging of all, budgeting time and expenses accordingly towards it.
Pandemic Puppies
Now as pet owners are transitioning back to real life living and reassessing their lifestyle choices, in the city and nationally, I’m reading countless stories of the booming or shall I say, barking business of dog walkers! More than ever before I see a couple dogs stroll down the streets of New York at once. I can’t walk a block without seeing a dog walker with a school of dogs these days.
Recently I came across an article from the New York Times that discusses how New Yorkers have turned this side hustle spurred by the pandemic into a full-time career and hobby! Not a bad way to earn a tax-advantageous income source and get a few steps in!
For a few hours a day, you not only get to be outside and meet new friends but make an abundance of connections with high-earning dog owners and business savvy dog walkers!
Pro Tip: If you want more friends and expand your network for opportunities, get a pet or have kids!
They’ll do the heavy lifting when it comes to small talk for you! All you have to do is show up at the park or playground.
With owners heading back into the office nowadays, those that can afford a dog walker are paying top dollar for their pets to be treated like royalty. Not a bad gig in terms of work-life balance and a pretty stable one compared to drop shipping or e-commerce!
The thing that stands out about dog walkers unlike many side gigs such as being a YouTuber is its high predictablity factor. Whenever I’m deciding on taking on a new role, I try to gauge the level of security or reliability it’ll provide me in the long run and dog walkers are certainly high on that list.
As long as the owner can afford to pay you regularly like a babysitter, will keep the dog, and is busy enough to justify paying someone to walk and take care of it while they’re earning, you get paid.
It’s like day care but no screaming kids. What better way to get in shape, lose those pandemic pounds, and meet even more savvy well-off dog owners and walkers IRL?!