On Thursday, I'll fly to Paris to meet a dear friend, Eyal. We met in Colombia and immediately shared a profound connection. However, once our trips ended, we were likely to never see each other again as Eyal lives in Israel, and I, of course, am a Torontonian.
Despite the distance, we were able to reconnect in person, in 2014, and have stayed in touch through, first Skype, then FaceTime. Next week ,we are finally reconnecting in Paris, a city that's roughly between our two hometowns. It's also a place where we're sure to drink and eat modestly each and every day (sigh).
As a Toronto dog walker, I have experienced how difficult it is to manage time off; finding backup is tricky and most clients prefer their dogs take a rest day than spend one or two days with someone new. To many dog walkers, a vacation seems impossible and is a common lament in our community discussions.
So, let's talk vacation. Dog walkers, take them if you can financially. Your day is long and physical and you need one! I do find the following has helped me to take relatively worry free vacation days and hope you find the same:
1. Take the Public Holidays: yes, boarding is a great way to earn extra cash and holidays are replete with boarders. Still, most of your dogs aren't walking. How significant is the financial gain from boarding? Also, boarding is a ton of work: multiple dog walks, managing different personalities, and 24 hour care. I include walks in my boarding rate so I only make an additional $37/dog I board and I generally only board dogs that participate in group walks. As a result, the potential profit from boarding is negligible. I'd rather use the holidays, when possible, to rejuvenate. If you also have most dogs off during public holidays and don't rely on boarding to support yourself, I definitely recommend using this time too.
2. USE YOUR NETWORK: if you are a Toronto dog walker and do not belong to a community group, sign up immediately. There are groups for types of walkers, such as force-free, on Facebook. I do follow these groups quite closely; I know who is force free and services the same areas as K9 Kate's. I have met and trust these walkers. As a result, when I do go away I know who I can reach out to for worry free back up.
3. Timing is everything: I give my client at least one month's notice when taking a vacation. This affords all of us ample time to prepare.
4. Don't apologize for taking a break: YOU ARE A PERSON!!! You deserve a break. Also, in my case, travel is a lifelong passion. I spent 4 years teaching ESL and travelling through: Thailand, Taiwan, Philippines, Colombia, Bolivia Peru, Ecuador, and Australia. Travel is truly a part of who I am. Sure, as a dog walker, I don't get to travel nearly as much as I'd like. Still, knowing that every 4 or 5 months I get to see somewhere new is crucial to my happiness. I'm certainly not going to apologize for missing a day or even a week every now and again. If you work with a client who gives you a hard time on this topic, well, consider giving them a permanent vacation.
5. Stay in Touch: this is particularly important if you're using backup or employ other dog walkers, and everyone on your team will appreciate it. I use Rogers (yes, I know, THE Rogers) and it provides customers with a Roam like Home option in most countries that makes staying in touch easy and affordable. Check with your provider if they offer a similar service
6. Short and Sweet: Keep your vacation on the shorter side. This will place less stress on you, your clients and on those covering for you.
I hope this helps and that everyone enjoys the upcoming pawlidays!