If you are a dog lover, you’re probably constantly trying to find ways to incorporate them into your life. Whether you want to have a dog hobby as another stream of income or just want a doggone good way of filling your time, we have some ideas!
Keep in mind that some of the potential ideas we have could involve specific training and potential certifications. So, here are some ideas to get you started. Who knows, you might even come up with a stellar idea that is unique on its own!
The 6 Dog Hobby Ideas
1. Grooming Dogs
Grooming dogs can be a very lucrative way to make money doing something you love! It might take a little as far as startup costs are concerned and you might want to get a certification first.
There are many ways you can get a certification. You could obtain a job through a chain company, like PetSmart. They offer training programs permitted that you work for them, sometimes contractually for an extended period of time.
You can also enroll for hands-on training or an online certification and dog grooming. Some online certifications will not be nearly as credible as hands-on type training, so keep that in mind before you spend your money.
However, once you learn the basics, you can pretty much take off, learning skills as you go. You can even develop your own styles, creating a personal brand. You will get a reputation for the particular cuts that you do, and the perfect unique ways you make people’s pets adorable.
2. Selling Homemade Dog Treats
If you’re a person who can really get down with some old-fashioned baking, you might try your hand at selling homemade dog treats. There are tons of recipes you can choose from, selling them online or from your own home.
You can even market yourself by donating your products to local shelters, rescues, and charities. The great thing about selling homemade dog treats is that you can make as much or as little as you’d like.
You can fill orders as needed or pump out orders and try to sell them around town. It’s really up to you.
Picking Your Recipes
If you are a skilled Baker, it probably won’t take much brainpower to come up with a few recipes off the top of your head. In fact, many folks prefer this. However, if you’re just getting started and need a few ideas, the Internet is crawling with potential choices.
You have the option to create lots of dog-friendly treats, provided you have a solid knowledge of what is and is not suitable for the canine species. We highly recommend speaking with a pet nutritionist or a veterinarian to clarify any recipes that you’ve chosen with them.
Dogs have different allergies, just like people. So, it is important to list the ingredients you are using so pet parents can make health-conscious choices for their dogs.
If you need to speak with a vet but can't get to one, head over to PangoVet. It's an online service where you can talk to a vet online and get the personalized advice you need for your pet — all at an affordable price!
Online vs. In-Person Buying
With the Internet being our main lifeline these days, it’s no wonder so many people use it to sell their homemade supplies and services! You can do the same thing with dog treats. Some people do hybridized models, which they sell both in person and online.
Others stick strictly online due to the ease and hands off nature. Ultimately, it will be up to you. Keep in mind that if you do choose the online route, there will be domain fees and other potential expenses associated with it.
3. Dog Walking
If you live in or close to a city, picking up dog walking can be a very valuable service to many potential clients. Often, people have very demanding schedules that take them away from home, which includes the time they could be spending with their pet.
So their dog doesn’t spend all day cooped up in a small apartment, many people will hire dog walkers to make sure Fido gets his exercise.
Depending on the state you live in, you might need a license in order to walk dogs. Since this is a typical liability situation, it requires certain measures to ensure accountability.
Dog Walking Supplies
No matter how many dogs you’re planning on walking at a time, it is important to have the necessary supplies for each one.
- Leashes
- Backpacks
- Fanny packs
- Treats
- Emergency First Aid Kit
- Dog food and water bowls
- Poop bags
- Harnesses
So even though it might seem as simple as popping a dog on a leash and having to go, a lot more goes into it than you might think. It may take you a few weeks or months to fully get your supply list purchased and ready to go.
4. Dog Sitting
If you have some extra space at your house, or don’t mind staying at someone else’s, you could market yourself as a dog sitter. You will have to build a credible reputation in the community to pick up clientele.
Dog sitting can be particularly rewarding in larger cities. Many people work out of town and require dog sitting and there is a vast population to appeal to. When you start dog sitting, you have to decide whether you want to invite dogs into your home, go to other people’s homes, or do a blended combination.
Some people are only comfortable having other people’s dogs in their home as opposed to entering someone else’s home when they are not there. Some dogs also have territorial aggression and can pose a threat to a dog sitter if they don’t understand why they’re there.
There are several factors to consider when deciding the services you’re going to offer. Keep in mind that it would be your own business and you can tailor it to match your needs. In certain areas, you might be able to get a job as a dog sitter through a company.
You might get paid less than you would if you made your own rates, but it would be a consistent stream of constant clientele. Dog sitting can be a nice way to get some side money.
5. Dog Training
Dog training might take earning some certifications, but it can be a very rewarding hobby or even career for the right person. Obviously, you have to have the right type of personality and work ethic to be a professional trainer, but the most important part is passion.
Even though you can learn a lot on your own, it is definitely more professional to get accreditation. There are several different dog training schools across the nation. You can enroll in a physical-based dog training program or try an online option.
Online vs. In-Person Options
Even though there are online training programs available, that doesn’t mean that they are all created equal. Often, you miss the classroom-type setting, preventing you from truly knowing if you are performing the tasks correctly.
It’s best to have that in person teaching experience to fully benefit from the training. There is likely a dog training program around your area if you give it a quick Google. Prices can range and certification can take longer or shorter amounts of time depending on the program.
Often, you will need to bring your own dog with you, so keep that in mind. Are you ready to have a dog of your own? Do you have a family member’s dog that could help you through the program?
These are all important factors to consider if you’re thinking about training dogs.
6. Conduct Therapy Dog Events
Animal behavioral therapy goes by a few names including animal therapy or pet therapy. It is the concept of using our beloved pets as a means to soothe, calm, or entertain people and children with emotional or physical disabilities.
This can be an incredibly fulfilling pathway for many people, especially if your entire goal is to help others. Therapy dogs are becoming more and more prevalent as the years pass. Many psychologists see value in the emotional benefits animals can have on their psyche.
If you have compassion for other people and a desire to change these stigma around mental health, you can always look into providing therapy services to people in need. This might require you to get your dog registered, depending on what you have them do.
Sometimes, you can simply conduct an event where you meet at the library with emotional support or service dogs to read to children or interact with them. People who get into this line of work find it very rewarding and uplifting.
Often, it does require a certification if you plan on going into a lot of businesses. You will just want some credentials to back up your mission. Emotional support animals generally don’t require any type of extra training.
However, if you have a therapy animal, they will need to undergo extensive training to fulfill the task.
Temperament of Dogs
Because many, if not all of these dogs will be around children and humans adults with disabilities, it is imperative to ensure the safety of all involved. You should always select a sound-minded dog with a fantastic temperament for this position.
Dogs can be just like people: moody and unpredictable. It is important to elect the job to the dog you think would be the best match for the task.
Conclusion
Now you understand a lot more about interesting ways to make a hobby and some side money as a dog lover. Your area of interest will likely fall where your passion lies. So always make sure to keep in mind that not everything on this list will be for every dog lover.
You should always go with what you’re most passionate about or what seems like the easiest and most feasible option for you.
Featured Image Credit: Sergey Nivens, Shutterstock
The 6 Dog Hobby Ideas
