Today we’d like to introduce you to Linda Gregersen.
Hi Linda, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was in my mid-30’s and looking for a career change. I had tried lots of different things, but what I really wanted to do was to work with dogs. I didn’t know how I could do that without being a vet or a groomer or a trainer, none of which I wanted to be. I wanted to do something fun with dogs. Basically, I wanted to play with them all day. So, one day while I was hiking, I met a dog walker with a pack of dogs off-leash. I didn’t even know that was a thing, but it quickly became my thing.
I started my business in 2013. My first clients were two big Labs that hiked with me twice a week. It was just them for a while while I was still working part-time as a property manager. However, soon I decided to quit that job and really put my all into the business, and it quickly grew to my full-time career within a year. I soon had to hire some people to help me, and we’ve kept it going ever since.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
People think, “Oh, what a fun job!”, which is true, but it comes with its challenges, just like any other job. Most days, everything runs smoothly, but there are times when the dogs misbehave on the trail, or someone poops or pukes in the car, or clients want last-minute changes that throw the schedule off, or an employee does something that upsets a client, and I have to mediate, or we get caught in a rainstorm while we are out hiking. Teaching new employees how to handle a group of dogs can be challenging as well. Fortunately, most of my dog walkers have been able to handle it well, but there have been some that just weren’t catching on, and that’s always tough to have to let someone go.
Probably our biggest challenge right now is that dog walkers are being prohibited from hiking on forest service land, which means we can no longer go to Millcreek Canyon, Neff’s Canyon, Ferguson Canyon, or any other forest service land. This significantly reduces the places we can hike and makes the few places where we do go crowded.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My business specializes in group dog hikes. We pick up 3-6 dogs and take them hiking on nearby trails. We also do in-home pet sitting. I can either have one of my pet sitters stay at the client’s home, or we can have the pet stay at one of my sitter’s homes. We are known for our professionalism, our very warm, friendly staff, and our reliability. We never cancel on our clients unless the road conditions are dangerous, but other than that, we hike in rain, snow, and sunshine!
I’m most proud of the systems I have in place to make things run smoothly and consistently. I spent a lot of time creating training videos and a training manual, and I have a very well-organized assistant who handles a lot of scheduling and day to day operations for me. I think what sets us apart from other dog walkers is that we work as a team. The clients get to know me, my assistant, and the other dog walkers, and they get consistent care from everyone, so they feel like there will always be someone to care for their pet, and they always know what to expect from us.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I don’t need to micromanage employees. Most people work better when they feel like they are trusted and valued. I give them training and guidance and then trust them to get the job done. Of course, we have systems in place so that I can see what they have accomplished each day, and we ask for regular feedback from our clients, so if there were a problem, I would know about it. However, my employees love that they work more or less on their own, and they know they can reach out to me if they have a question or problem and I ‘ll guide them through it.
Pricing:
- $35/group hike – 1 dog
- $60/group hike – 2 dogs
- $125 and up – overnight pet sitting at the client’s house
- $85/night – dog stays at the pet sitter’s house
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.doggysbigday.com
- Instagram: @doggys.big.day
- Facebook: /doggysbigday
