Hi there

I am doing a bit of market research as regards dog walking business.

As a group of caring dog owners, could you kindly give me your thoughts on the following questions:

1. Out of the following 3 options, which is the first and main place you would look out for adverts for dog walking businesses:

a. google/web search/websites

b. leaflets on noticeboards in pet shops/vets/newsagents etc

c. phone books

2. For option a - websites - which type of design would you prefer:

a. A corporate business style which just details the services in a business promotional style, only containing generic corporate 'library' style photos and does not mention the individuals involved.

OR

b. a personalised website which explains the services available from the point of view of talking about the people walking and caring for the dogs and features photographs of those people with animals.

3. What other features would you like to see on a website advertising dog walking services?

I would be very grateful if as many people as possible could answer these questions and give me their thoughts and reason.s

Many thanks to all

google search,

a friendly but professional website with "case studies" if possible

things I'd like to see on website:
*your dog experience, breeds you've been involved with, canine qualifications eg first aid- a must for me. any behavioural background?
*types of walks eg road walks, woods etc also length of walks available and times available between eg 9am-5pm
*insurance? (dont know if you can get this?)
*how many dogs you can take at one time. do you mix packs? could i ensure you walk my dog alone as he/ she is dog aggressive
*your views on people aggressive dogs
*is it all on lead walking?
*what dogs will you not walk eg in season bitches, entire dogs, in whelp bitches
*testimonals
*the importance of exercise
*price list- can you offer deals if book and pay a block of ten in advance for example
*areas you cover

I would go for option B as I am frequently in pet shops when I get food and also vets for jabs and check-ups. I would also look for;

*canine qualifications eg first aid
*types of walks eg road walks, woods etc also length of walks available and times available between eg 9am-5pm
*insurance? (dont know if you can get this?)
*how many dogs you can take at one time. do you mix packs?
*is it all on lead walking?
*testimonals
*price list- can you offer deals if book and pay a block of ten in advance for example
*areas you cover

I think a website would be a back-up to read more information.  My first port of call in this area is the adverts in the local free magazines and papers.  We have several really well produced ones here.  I would look to not putting too much flowery information in an advert  - but to be prepared to talk to people - ie feel free to phone me and ask questions.  We have one advert for a dog kennels that is so sentimental - the owner is shown kissing his dog - they also offer training etc - even pick ups from London for goodness sakes - why anyone from London would kennel their dog all the way to South Wales is beyond me.  It put me right off the place straight away.  I am probabally very wrong but the advert says all the wrong things to me - also that he is probabally charging the earth too. 

I think a website is a good idea, alot of people use google etc to find local services (I do)
I would like to see;
-Feedback from real clients, it is obivious when these are made up.
-Any qualifications you may have with regard to the service you wish to provide.
-Insurance details
-Walks available: lead walks, woods, fields, parks etc
-Areas you cover
-Wether my dog would be walked individually or with others.
-Times available
-Pricing, do you discount for more than one dog from the same home?
-I would like to know a bit about you. Is it just you who would walk my dog? What kind of dog(s) do you own? With what breeds are you experianced?
-Wether you are CRB checked. I think people would like to know, especially if you will be entering peoples homes when they are in work.
-Obviously, clear contact details.

I would suggest a professional looking website with a more 'personal' content. Include pictures and stories as this gives a personal touch. You want people to think you business is accessible to them, not to business like but formal enough to show that you are serious about your work.

I don't know about anyone else, but what really puts me off is a website that is not regularly updated. I think it shows a lack of commitment. But that might just be me being a fussy git.

Posters, flyers and signs are also a good idea though. These can be relatively cheap to produce and very effective if know where to put them

This is just my humble opinion, but I hope it helps.

I would only go by word of mouth and meeting the dog walker and walking with them until I was sure I would feel comfortable leaving my dog in his/her hands. I would want to know where they walked my dogs and would they be walked with others. I would want to know what they would do if an emergency arose, i.e. an injury while the dog is in thier care. I would expect them to use my vet not just any old vet, as I know in my area there are a growing number of agency vets, which I do not like.
Above all safety of my dog and his/her well being would be paramount. If I could not find one via word of mouth and I really needed one I would look in my vets and ask my vet if they knew them well and had my vet had any dealings with the walker.
Mmmmmm....... Perhaps thats why I do not have a dog walker???

I would go with 1a and 2b.

But just to add I would also go with home delivered flyers or leaflets something which you haven't mentioned. Particularly if a dog walking business is small and covers maybe one or two towns, having flyers and leaflets printed off and delivered to households is often the quickest and easiest way to reach people in that area before they go Internet surfing which may also find you lots of other competition in doing so.

So, I would have flyers or leaflets with a web address on them for people to view the business both ways and reach the maximum amount of people possible. 

think I'd be more inclined to be interested in a notice at vets- providing when i ask at reception the people are actually known to the practise.
website I wouldn't trust a great deal as its easy enough to pop up a website-vet/dog training club approved would be more interested

Vet recommend and personal or previous dog training activity clubs.  A new busines can have difficulties giving business recommendations -only just starting up so no past custoers. Local ads esp vets pet/farm stores.  Opportunity to meet, greet, walk with.  It's a very personal service and developing trust and showing commitment in the first stages without fees can be worth an awful lot and eventually gain a good consistent and loyal client base.
Web-sites are great these days - give specific details as above [sorry forgot who but great list]