Today we’d like to introduce you to Maureen Murphy.
Hi Maureen, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Growing up, just about every house in my neighborhood had a dog – all but mine. My parents worked a lot and my Dad is allergic, so having a dog of our own wasn’t in the cards. I’d go door to door asking if my neighbors dogs needed a walk and I’d take every opportunity I had to simply be around a dog anywhere we went. I adored their joy for the simple things in life : a cozy spot to curl up, sticking your head out the window of a car to feel the breeze, eye contact, a good head scratch, taking a walk, and sharing time with someone. The thumping of a happy tail or a floppy tongue sticking out of a dog’s mouth was MY joy, and I couldn’t get enough of it.
Fast forward to my twenties, I’d landed an incredible job on a backcountry trail crew in Northern California. Our job was to clear out the areas affected forest fires and avalanches, remove invasive plants, create drainage and bridges to prevent erosion, and build new trails throughout the vast region of the Klamath National Forest. We lived in tents far from civilization and had our supervisors “trail dogs” alongside us for the entirety of the six months. One was a goofy Black Lab and the other, a small but mighty Jack Russel. When that seasonal position was over, I missed the experience, being outside every day, and the dogs.
Coming back to Ohio that winter, I’d only planned to stick around until the next season opened for trail work. My intent was to save up as much as I could in order to sustain life in the mountains in the off season. I got a job as a bartender at my favorite spot – Edison’s Pub in Tremont. It’s a great craft beer bar that was dog friendly, and while I enjoyed the crowd and the cash, the dog patrons were my favorite part.
Since my shifts didn’t start until 3 pm and I lived nearby, I decided to start offering dog walks to my new Tremont neighbors who worked the typical 9-5. What started out as a few dogs quickly turned into much more. It was January 2012 – winter in Cleveland, and the city was full of dogs that needed exercise.
By 2013, I had expanded into Ohio City and Lakewood, and brought a friend on board to help me manage the dog walking routes. That helping hand enabled us to take on even more dogs in surrounding cities, and I made it my full time job. I missed working in the mountains, but I was still outside every single day, and had dogs by my side, so I felt fulfilled.
Over the years, we’ve made some adjustments and built a fantastic team of dog walkers and pet sitters, met hundreds of incredible dogs and their owners, and have continued to prioritize simplicity. It’s been amazing to do this day in and day out, and provide a position for others to experience the same joy – a job where all of your clients are happy to see you!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There was definitely a learning curve, understanding computer programs and figuring out what the best method was for scheduling, billing, and client communication. I started off with a spiral notebook that I kept my client notes in, highlighting addresses and time frames, and a daily work schedule in order of my first to last stop, separated by cities. Clients would pay me by cash or check, left at the house on the last walk of each month. The advancement to Google Docs and Spreadsheets has made my life a whole lot easier. We have an invoicing system and this wonderful alphabetically ordered document that is kept up to date with any and all changes in a dogs diet, tendencies, walking schedule, leash location, ailments, and client preferences. It’s a major step up from the spiral notebook!
As you can imagine, in 13 years of working with dogs professionally, I have met dogs of all ages, sizes, temperaments, backgrounds, and breeds. We have all learned a lot through experience working with such a variety, and have become familiar with many of the training methods offered by the local pros. Not all of the dogs we work with have been through a training program, so we have our share of dogs that pull on leash, or those that are just more difficult to walk all together. We’ve worked with dogs who have leash aggression, those who are extremely anxious, some with complicated harnesses, those with very particular owners, and have had our share of encounters with a frozen lock box on a frigid day that inhibits our ability to enter the home.. the list could go on! There are always going to be challenges, and I think the way that you decide to face them is key. I always try to be present in the moment and see the big picture when we’re in an unpleasant or unexpected situation. Understanding that there is a reason for certain behavior or finding an alternative when you feel stuck is key.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are a team of pet care providers who offer dog walks and overnight care for clients residing in the areas of Tremont, Ohio City, The Warehouse District, Lakewood, Westpark, Rocky River, Bay Village, and Fairview Park. We also offer boarding for existing clients, which takes place at the owners (Maureen) home, equipped with two social dog pals and a fully fenced acre of land to romp around in. We are known for our reliability, open communication,and overall good reputation in the area.
I’m most proud of my team and how well we all work together to manage our workload. We do a great job of covering for one another and ensuring that all of the dogs are cared for within the preferred time frames each client has set.
I find that a lot of people romanticize the idea of being a dog walker as a beautiful summer afternoon with cute puppies on a walk through the neighborhood. It’s often thought of as a gig for a high school or college student. In reality, we deal with such a range of dogs and know that it isn’t all about puppy kisses, baby talk, and sunny days. We walk in every season, through every type of weather, with both well behaved dogs and more challenging dogs. Not all of them respond the same way, and we develop a relationship with the animal as we continue to be a part of their routine. Each individual animal has different needs and requires a different type of collar or harness/leash, knows different commands, has a specific direction to turn out of the driveway, an entering and exiting routine, and so on. We go into our work day fully aware of all of the varying parts of the job as a whole, and our care is truly customized to each dog. My team and I do our best to keep pets in their regular routine, and strive to ensure that our clients feel comfortable knowing that their dog is in our care while they’re away.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
My Dad is a pretty big cheerleader for me. Having owned a business himself, he celebrates my achievements, the milestones I’ve hit, and awards I’ve won throughout the years. He knows how much there is to manage and has applauded my daily balancing act. He’s helped me to understand that while you can’t please everyone, you can give it your best shot.
I also have to thank my existing team and everyone who’s been a part of it over the 13 years Cleveland Dog Walk has been in business. I would not be able to manage the flow of dogs, e-mails, meetings, and scheduling without their help. I’m a parent, which is a job itself, and I’ve had to take extended time off over the years due to a work related injury and a major medical procedure. I would not have been able to have that time off or feel comfortable leaving our clients in the hands of others if it weren’t for the amazing people I have on board.
Nina, my team member and business partner, has been with the company since 2014 and she manages the Lakewood/surrounding area route, invoicing, and communications. She opened a franchise in the Bay & Fairview Park area, which I fully trusted her with. She is a huge help and a blessing to have. We have a great thing going and I couldn’t do it without her!
Pricing:
- $20-$30 dog walk
- $65-$100 overnight care
- $65-$100 boarding
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.cledogwalk.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cledogwalk
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CleDogWalk/
