Latest news with #AngusHealy
Int'l Business Times
9 hours ago
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
The Surprising Rise of Dog Walking As A Gen Z Career
Gen Zs Are Ditching Desks for Leashes, And Why It Works For Them Want In? Here's How to Start Your Dog Biz For some, it's a weekend gig for extra cash. For others, it's a post-university fallback. But for a growing number of Gen Z workers, dog walking is becoming a full-time, high-earning career. Turns out it's also a surprisingly sustainable business model. Take 19-year-old Angus Healy from Sydney, Australia. He started walking dogs in his local neighbourhood in Year 8. Just five years later, his business, 'Happy Paws by Angus', brings in up to £170,000 ($231,047) a year. He's able to bring in profits with strategies like one-on-one sessions for reactive pets, premium pricing, and clever social media promotion. While overheads reduce his net income, the young lad's success has gone viral and sparked global curiosity: Is dog walking a viable career path in 2025? A Tail-Wagging Trend Among Gen Z When you tune in to TikTok and Instagram, countless videos are documenting the lives of dog walkers who earn more than some junior bankers or entry-level tech employees. Many cite a desire for flexible hours and being able to work outdoors. The good thing with this gig is they're able to establish meaningful connections - not just with animals - but with members of local communities who hire them. In Boston, a young man interviewed on Tiktok bared that he earns a low of £36,790 ($50,000) to a high of £73,600 ($100,000) a year walking dogs while having another job. He got his first gig through a friend who owned a pet grooming service and he's been doing it ever since. He ticks off the perks of the job: 'You get a lot of exercise. You know, you don't have to deal with too many people. Every day is kind of different. It's flexible for other things that you have to do.' Another young lady, who owns Cooper & Co dog walking service in East Yorkshire, posted on TikTok how much she earned walking dogs five times a week. It was £1,135 ($1,542). Do You Need to Be a Dog Lover? Absolutely! While no formal licence is required in most regions, being a dog lover, plus having experience handling dogs of different sizes and temperaments, is crucial. Walking one Labrador is easy. Walking five high-energy breeds through a city park is a different story. 'It's not just cuddles and Instagram reels,' says Kaur. 'You need to know leash techniques, basic obedience commands, and how to handle emergencies.' How to Start a Dog Walking Business: Tips and Tools 1. Start with your network Offer free or discounted walks to friends, family, or neighbours. Build testimonials and get permission to post photos of happy clients. 2. Register your business In the UK, that means registering as a sole trader or limited company, depending on scale. Get liability insurance in case a dog gets injured or causes harm. 3. Understand your city's laws Some councils limit how many dogs one walker can handle at once. London boroughs, for example, often cap it at 4 per person. 4. Create a niche Angus Healy's edge was walking reactive or high-energy dogs one-on-one. Others offer puppy socialisation, weekend 'adventure hikes,' or dog + house-sitting packages. 5. Set your rate—and stick to it UK rates average £12–£20 ($16-$27) per walk. But niche services and consistency can justify higher prices. 6. Use tech to your advantage Apps like Rover, Tailster, or even local Facebook groups are gold mines for first-time clients. Many pros later move off-app to avoid platform fees. 7. Stay visible Post regularly on TikTok or Instagram. 'People want to see how you treat the dogs, not just how they made it back home,' a dog walker recommends. The Bottom Line Dog walking may not sound glamorous, but for Gen Z workers rejecting traditional office life, it offers something far more valuable: Freedom, purpose, and the ability to shape your own schedule. And as urban dog ownership continues to rise, the demand isn't slowing down. What used to be a side hustle is now a serious business: One with six-figure potential. Add to this the bonus of four-legged clients who always greet you with a smile. Originally published on IBTimes UK
News.com.au
a day ago
- Business
- News.com.au
‘A lot of money': Insane amount young Aussie can earn an hour through dog walking business
A university student has stunned Aussies after revealing the staggering amount of money he is earning through his dog walking business. Angus Healy was recently stopped on the streets of business by jobs app, GetAhead, and asked what he does for a living and how much he earns. The 19-year-old, who was walking four dogs at the time, revealed he owns a dog walking business. 'It is $50 an hour for each dog,' he said. 'I do three packs a day, keeps me busy, which is good.' Mr Healy said the most amount of dogs he will walk at one time is six, which sees him earn $300 for an hour of work. The young Aussie first got the idea for the business when he was in Year 8 and he wanted a dog but his parent's wouldn't allow him to get one. 'I thought, 'all right, well how can I spend time with dogs and earn money?'' he said. He started off slowly, walking one or two dogs at a time, but over the years his business, Happy Paws by Angus, grew and he now does sessions five days a week while also studying at university. Even if the teenager only walks one dog for each of his three sessions a day, that would see him earn $750 a week, which would add up to $36,000 a year. If he were to have the maximum number of dogs in each session, this would see him earn up to $4500 a week or 18,000 a month, which would result in a yearly income of $216,000. Mr Healy said the earnings are enough to pay his bills and also allowed him to buy a house. However, he said, like any business, there are 'expenses' to be considered. The teenager also offers pick up and drop off services, which is included in the $50 fee. 'We do go through a process in the application with all our clients to make sure all (the dogs) are friendly,' he said. The business also caters to reactive dogs, offering private walks for $60 for a one hour session. The video quickly gained a lot of attention, with commenters stunned by how much money the teenager was making through the side hustle. '50 bucks an hour. Wow really?' someone said. 'That's actually is a lot of money,' another said, with one person adding the business idea was 'so smart'. Another person claimed it was basically 'free money' and others branded it a 'dream job'. On the Happy Paws by Angus website, the 19-year-old states he understands the 'importance of providing exceptional care for your beloved dogs'. 'Founded out of a deep love for animals, we've built a trusted service that treats your pets as if they were our own,' the website reads. 'With every interaction, we strive to deliver not just pet care, but a community service that Clayfield residents can rely on.'
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Aussie stuns over $300-an-hour side hustle: 'It keeps me busy'
A teenager has revealed how he can make as much as $300-an-hour after turning his modest high school gig into a part-time job. A street interviewer from jobs app GetAhead approached university student Angus Healy as he was walking four dogs together in Brisbane at the start of the week. The 19-year-old told the interviewer he started walking dogs for cash in high school and continued doing it after graduating for a fee of $50-an-hour. He said he walked three 'packs' of dogs a day, with anywhere between one and six dogs per pack. 'It keeps me busy, which is good. I mean, walking along here each day, can't complain,' he said. Mr Healy was walking four dogs at the time, earning $200 in that hour alone. He said the most he had done was six dogs at the same time, worth $300. Mr Healy admitted the number of dogs he walked during the week could change across the day and the week. According to his numbers, he could pull in as much as $750-a-week, or $36,000 per year only walking just one dog in each of his sessions. If he walked a group of six dogs in those same sessions, he would net $216,000 each year. 'I love it, it's good,' Mr Healy said. 'But, I mean, it's like any business, you have expenses and stuff.' The amount of dogs he could walk each time depended on their nature. Mr Healy said he had to take more difficult animals on solo walks. He added he got into dog walking because his parents did not let him have one as a pet when he was younger. People starting out dog walking typically charge $20 to $25 per hour. More experienced walkers can charge more for their work, between $30 and $50. The job does not require any additional qualifications in Australia. Some social media users were impressed and said it was 'actually a lot of money'. 'Free money, how do I get in?' one joked. 'So smart,' another said. Others did not believe the 19-year-old could have many expenses. 'Expenses? Bro is just walking, hardly any expenses - fair play though!' one said. 'Insurance, petrol for the car, dog food, harnesses, leashes,' another viewer answered. One person said the trick to the job was 'getting the business' in the first place. 'People in Brisbane clearly have too much money,' another wrote.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Aussie teen's job paying $300 per hour without a uni degree: 'Love it'
An Australian university student has revealed the side hustle job that pays him sometimes as much as $300 per hour. Angus Healy wasn't allowed to get a dog when he was young, so he decided to walk other people's pets in his spare time. What started as a small-time gig while he was in high school has now morphed into a five-day-a-week job. He revealed he gets paid $50 per dog for an hour-long walk. "I do three packs a day. Keeps me busy, which is good. I mean, walking along here [in Brisbane] each day, can't complain," he told jobs app GetAhead. Aussie's wild $180,000 month for job that requires just a few weeks of training Major RBA interest rate call set to give homeowners $250 per month win $400 cash boost available for thousands of Aussies in new energy rebate When the 19-year-old was stopped on the streets of the Queensland capital, he was walking four dogs, meaning that hour alone saw him earn $200. He said his biggest pack was six dogs at once, which would have been a $300 gig. His pack size could change across the day and across the week, so it's hard to work out how much he could make. But if he only walked one dog per session, he'd pull in $750 per week, $3,000 per month, or $36,000 per year. If he were able to do his biggest pack size three times a day, every day, he'd make $4,500 per week, $18,000 per month, or a jaw-dropping $216,000 per year. Healy said he works the job into his weekly university schedule, and it's helped him keep on top of everyday bills and expenses. He hopes it will eventually allow him to buy a house."I love it, it's good," he said. "But, I mean, it's like any business, [where] you have expenses and stuff." He said sometimes he'll be able to do a walk with multiple dogs if they're social and relaxed, however, he also did one-on-one walks with pooches that might not gel well with others. You don't technically need any qualifications to be a dog walker in Australia. Aspiring dog walkers can take certain online courses to brush up on their knowledge of certain breeds or dog behaviour. People starting out in the industry can expect to charge around $20 to 25 per hour, however, that can reach up to $30 to 50 per hour once they have a bit more experience. A woman who owned a dog behavioural business revealed she charged $80 per dog to look after them for several hours. This involved a 5km walk in the morning, as well as some off-lead social play time, followed by a nap and more social interaction in the afternoon. She also does one-on-one sessions with owners to help them improve their dog's behaviour and temperament. While each day can vary, she said her team looked after between 12 to 22 dogs per day. That means her business was pulling in up to $1,760 every single day. Being a dog behaviouralist takes a bit more training than being a dog walker. Dogs Australia said the industry isn't properly regulated, meaning people could call themselves a dog behaviouralist without proper training. But you can help legitimise yourself by completing a course like the Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services - Knowledge assessed and Skills Assesses, or the Certificate III Canine Training & Behaviour-Knowledge Assessed and skills assessed.
