how to put dog walking on a resume

3 min read 23-01-2025

Meta Description: Need to add dog walking experience to your resume? This comprehensive guide shows you how to effectively showcase your dog walking skills and experience to impress potential employers. Learn how to highlight relevant skills, craft compelling descriptions, and choose the best resume section for this unique experience. Boost your resume's impact and land your dream job! (158 characters)

Making Your Dog Walking Experience Shine on Your Resume

Landing your dream job often hinges on effectively showcasing your skills and experience. Even seemingly unrelated experiences, like dog walking, can demonstrate valuable transferable skills. This guide helps you seamlessly integrate your dog walking experience into your resume, making it work for you.

Why Include Dog Walking on Your Resume?

Don't underestimate the value of dog walking! It might seem unconventional, but it demonstrates several highly sought-after skills:

Responsibility: Reliable dog walkers are punctual, attentive, and accountable. They ensure the safety and well-being of their furry clients.
Time Management: Juggling multiple dogs, appointments, and potential unexpected situations builds strong time management skills.
Animal Handling: Knowing how to approach, handle, and understand different dog breeds showcases empathy and competence.
Physical Stamina: Walking dogs, especially multiple energetic ones, demands physical fitness and endurance.
Customer Service: Building rapport with clients and ensuring their satisfaction are key customer service skills.

These skills translate remarkably well to various professions, making your dog-walking experience a valuable asset.

Where to Put Dog Walking on Your Resume

The best placement depends on your overall resume structure and the type of job you're applying for. Here are a few options:

Work Experience Section: If dog walking was a paid position (even informally), this is the ideal place. Use a professional title, such as "Dog Walker" or "Pet Care Provider."
Skills Section: List relevant skills gained from dog walking, such as "Animal Handling," "Responsibility," "Time Management," and "Customer Service." Consider a separate "Skills" section if your resume is short or you want to emphasize transferable skills.
Volunteer Experience Section: If you volunteered to walk dogs, include it under a "Volunteer Experience" section.
Summary/Objective Statement: Briefly mention your experience in a compelling summary statement if it aligns directly with the job description.

The most important thing is consistency and relevance. Always tailor your resume to the specific job you're applying for.

How to Describe Your Dog Walking Experience

Use action verbs and quantifiable results to showcase your accomplishments. Avoid generic descriptions. Instead of writing "Walked dogs," try these alternatives:

"Provided reliable and safe dog walking services for up to 10 clients weekly, ensuring the well-being and safety of each animal." (Quantifiable, highlights key skills)
"Managed the schedules and needs of multiple dogs simultaneously, maintaining a calm and positive environment." (Focuses on time management and animal handling)
"Exceeded client expectations by providing personalized care and exceptional communication, resulting in consistent repeat business." (Shows customer service skills and positive results)
"Successfully handled dogs of varying breeds and temperaments, demonstrating competency and safety in a variety of situations." (Highlights adaptability and experience with diverse canines)

Remember to tailor your description to the specific job requirements.

Example Resume Entries

Here are examples of how to include dog walking experience on your resume, depending on the context:

Example 1 (Work Experience):

Dog Walker | ABC Pet Care Services | City, State | June 2021 – Present

Provided safe and reliable dog walking services for up to 15 clients weekly, maintaining detailed records of each walk.

Effectively handled dogs of various breeds and temperaments, ensuring their safety and well-being.

Maintained consistent communication with clients regarding dog behavior, health, and walk details.

Example 2 (Skills Section):

Skills:

Animal Handling

Time Management

Customer Service

Responsibility

Physical Stamina

Excellent Communication

Example 3 (Summary Statement):

Summary: Highly responsible and organized individual with proven experience in managing multiple tasks simultaneously and providing exceptional customer service. Experience with dog walking demonstrates strong time management, animal handling skills, and a commitment to safety and client satisfaction.

Remember to use keywords from the job description throughout your resume to improve its visibility to Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

Final Thoughts

Including dog walking on your resume can be a strategic move, demonstrating valuable transferable skills to potential employers. By strategically presenting your experience, you can leverage this seemingly unconventional experience to boost your resume's impact and improve your chances of securing your dream job. Remember to tailor your resume to each specific job application for maximum effectiveness.