About J.D. Antell

"What I want for myself, I want for everybody."
—Samuel Jones, Major of Toledo (1897-1904)

I have been walking dogs for over seven years (you'll read about my business in the book). I started out when “professional dog walking” was really a pretty new idea in most of America. My background was in advertising and video/film production but that didn’t stop me. I made mistakes along the way, and found what worked and what didn’t. My wife and I read tons of books on dog behavior, training, and history. My wife took courses on animal behavior at Harvard University and attended lectures by world renown scientists—we both learned quite a lot.

Over that time the idea of creating a dog walking startup guide and kit began to emerge and eventually I overcame my inertia and put pen to paper to tell others what I learned. What has resulted is “The Dog Walker’s Startup Guide” and “The Dog Walker’s Companion (DVD)” which give you step-by-step instructions on how to start your own dog walking business.

If you think dog walking might be right for you I invite you to try my Kit.

J.D. Antell

“I don't have professional experience, so how will people trust me with their pets?”

The Dog Walker's Startup Guide contains lots of useful information which will help you build trust and credibility. For example, consistency (Step 9 in the book) is one of the most overlooked things to consider when building a sense of trust.

References, a beefy resume, and certificates can help you get clients but it's just as important to know how to keep them!

Also, you may want the credibility of membership in a professional organization to get started (see our resources page). There are many associations but not all are equal in value or in services, and their respective benefits can make all the difference in your success.