How to Get More Customers as a Dog Walker in Perth

Introduction

You got into dog walking because you love dogs. Not because you love marketing. But here's the reality: Perth has hundreds of dog walkers competing for the same clients, and the ones winning aren't necessarily better with dogs — they're just easier to find online.

Most dog walkers in Perth still rely on word of mouth and a few flyers at the local vet clinic. That approach worked a decade ago. Today, 97% of customers search online before choosing a local service provider. They Google "dog walker near me," scan the top three results, read a few reviews, and call whoever looks most trustworthy. If that's not you, you're invisible.

The good news? You don't need a marketing degree or a massive budget to fix this. You need a system. A clear, repeatable process that puts your business in front of Perth dog owners right when they're searching for exactly what you offer.

This guide walks you through that system, step by step. We've helped dog walkers and other local service businesses across Perth build their online presence from scratch, and we've seen firsthand what moves the needle. Whether you're a solo operator walking five dogs a day or running a team of walkers across multiple suburbs, these strategies will help you fill your schedule.

Let's get into it.

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TL;DR

• This is a step-by-step guide to getting more customers as a dog walker in Perth
• We cover Google Maps, reviews, your website, content marketing, and AI search optimization
• The average dog walking job is worth $20–$40 per walk, which means even a handful of new weekly clients adds up fast
• You can start with zero budget — just time and consistency
• We'll tell you when it makes sense to handle it yourself and when hiring a professional pays off

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Step 1: Claim and Optimize Your Google Business Profile

If you do one thing after reading this article, make it this. Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is the single most powerful free tool available to a local service business. It's what shows up in the map pack — those three listings with the map that appear at the top of Google when someone searches "dog walker in Perth." That's prime real estate, and it's free to claim.

Here's how to set it up properly:

1. Go to google.com/business and either claim your existing listing or create a new one. Use your real business name — don't stuff keywords into it like "Best Dog Walker Perth CBD." Google penalizes that.

2. Choose the right category. Your primary category should be "Dog Walker." Add secondary categories like "Pet Sitting Service" if that applies.

3. Fill in every single field. Business hours, service areas, phone number, website URL, services offered, a business description. Google rewards completeness. Leave nothing blank.

4. Add photos. Real photos. You with dogs. You in Perth parks. Your branded vehicle or uniform if you have one. Businesses with photos get 42% more direction requests and 35% more website clicks than those without.

5. Set your service area. List every Perth suburb you cover. Joondalup, Fremantle, Subiaco, Scarborough, Morley — whatever your range, spell it out. This tells Google where to show your listing.

6. Post weekly updates. Google Business Profile has a "Posts" feature. Use it. Share a photo from a walk, a client testimonial, a seasonal tip. It signals to Google that your business is active and engaged.

The map pack is where most local searches end. A properly optimized GBP puts you in front of dog owners at the exact moment they're looking for help. Don't skip this step, and don't half-do it. This is your foundation.

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Step 2: Get Your Website Ranking for Local Keywords

Your Google Business Profile gets you into the map pack. Your website gets you into the regular search results below it. Having both means you can dominate the entire first page for searches like "dog walker in Perth."

Start with the basics:

Your website needs a clear homepage that tells visitors three things within five seconds: what you do, where you do it, and how to hire you. "Professional dog walking services across Perth" with a phone number and booking button front and centre.

Then build suburb-specific service pages. This is where most dog walkers miss out. Instead of one generic page, create individual pages for each area you serve:

• Dog Walker in Fremantle
• Dog Walker in Joondalup
• Dog Walking Services in Subiaco
• Dog Walker in Scarborough

Each page should include unique content about that area — mention the local parks you walk in, the routes you take, any specific rules for dogs in that suburb. This isn't about tricking Google. It's about genuinely serving people searching in those specific locations.

Technical essentials:

• Make sure your site loads in under three seconds. Perth dog owners searching on their phones won't wait around.
• Use HTTPS (secure site).
• Make it mobile-friendly. Over 60% of local searches happen on phones.
• Include your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) consistently on every page.

If you want a deeper dive into building a website that actually ranks, check out our guide on SEO for dog walkers in Perth. We break down the exact structure and on-page elements that work.

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Step 3: Build a Review Generation System

Reviews are the trust currency of local business. A dog walker with 47 five-star Google reviews will win over a competitor with 3 reviews every single time — even if the competitor charges less.

Here's the thing most dog walkers get wrong: they wait for reviews to happen organically. They don't. You need a system.

When to ask:

The best time to ask for a review is immediately after a positive interaction. The client picks up their dog, the dog is happy, the client says "Thanks so much, Biscuit loves his walks with you." That's your moment.

How to ask:

Keep it simple and direct. Here's a template that works:

"Hey [name], so glad [dog's name] had a great walk today! If you have 30 seconds, a Google review would really help my business. Here's the direct link: [your review link]."

Send this via text message. Not email. Text messages have a 98% open rate. Emails sit unread.

How to get your review link:

In your Google Business Profile, go to "Ask for reviews" and copy the short link. Save it in your phone's notes for quick access.

How many reviews do you need?

Look at the top-ranking dog walkers in your area. If they have 30 reviews, aim for 40. Consistency matters more than volume — three reviews per month looks more natural to Google than 20 in one week.

Respond to every review. Thank the positive ones specifically. Address negative ones professionally and calmly. Potential clients read your responses just as carefully as they read the reviews themselves.

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Step 4: Create Content That Attracts Customers

Blogging might sound like something for lifestyle influencers, not dog walkers. But content is how you attract customers who aren't quite ready to book yet — and how you build the kind of authority that Google rewards with higher rankings.

What to write about:

Think about every question a Perth dog owner might type into Google:

• "Best off-leash dog parks in Perth"
• "How often should I walk my dog in summer?"
• "Is it too hot to walk dogs in Perth in January?"
• "How much does a dog walker cost in Perth?"
• "Dog-friendly beaches near Fremantle"

Each of these is a blog post. Each blog post is a doorway to your website. Someone reads your helpful guide about Perth's best dog parks, sees you're a local dog walker, and books a consultation.

Keep it practical and local. Generic dog care advice exists everywhere. What makes your content valuable is the Perth angle. Mention specific parks, suburbs, temperature ranges, local council rules. That's what Google wants to rank for local searches, and it's what Perth dog owners find genuinely useful.

Include calls to action. Every blog post should naturally guide readers toward your services. Not aggressively — just a sentence like: "If you need help keeping your dog active during Perth's hot summers, check out our walking packages."

For a detailed breakdown of content strategies that work for dog walkers, our local SEO guide for dog walkers in Perth covers this in depth.

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Step 5: Optimize for AI Search (GEO)

This is the newest frontier, and almost no dog walkers in Perth are paying attention to it yet. That's your advantage.

AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google's AI Overviews, and Gemini are changing how people search. Instead of scrolling through ten blue links, a growing number of users ask AI directly: "Who's the best dog walker in Perth's northern suburbs?"

The AI pulls its answer from websites, reviews, directories, and structured data. If your business shows up consistently across these sources with clear, detailed, well-structured information, you're more likely to get recommended.

What you can do right now:

• Make sure your website content is clearly structured with headings, lists, and direct answers to common questions.
• Get listed on relevant directories: TrueLocal, Yellow Pages, Yelp, Bark, and pet-specific platforms.
• Keep your information consistent everywhere — same business name, same phone number, same services.
• Build topical authority by publishing the kind of content we described in Step 4.

Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is still emerging, but businesses that start now will have a massive head start. We wrote a full breakdown of GEO for dog walkers in Perth if you want to go deeper.

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Step 6: Track Your Results

You can't improve what you don't measure. And you don't need expensive analytics tools to track what matters.

The metrics that count for dog walkers:

• Phone calls: Use a tracked phone number or simply ask every new caller how they found you.
• Form submissions and booking requests: If your website has a contact form, track how many inquiries come through each month.
• Google Business Profile insights: GBP shows you how many people viewed your listing, clicked to call, requested directions, and visited your website. Check this monthly.
• Keyword rankings: Are you moving up for "dog walker in Perth" and your suburb-specific terms? Free tools like Google Search Console show you exactly which searches bring people to your site.
• Review count and rating: Track these monthly. Set a target.

Set a baseline. Before you change anything, write down where you stand today: how many calls you get per week, how many website visits, your current Google ranking. Then check again in 30, 60, and 90 days.

Marketing works, but it works over time. If you're implementing these steps consistently, you should see measurable improvement within 8–12 weeks. If you're not, something needs adjusting.

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When to Hire a Professional

Everything in this guide is something you can do yourself. But should you?

If you're walking dogs six hours a day, managing bookings, handling clients, and trying to run your business, adding "SEO specialist" and "content writer" to your job description might not be realistic. There's an opportunity cost to doing everything yourself — every hour spent fumbling with website settings is an hour you're not walking dogs and earning revenue.

Here's a rough guide:

• DIY makes sense if you're just starting out, have more time than money, and enjoy learning new skills.
• Hiring help makes sense if you're already busy, want faster results, or simply don't want to deal with the technical side.

At Searchmaxxed, we work with local service businesses across Perth — including dog walkers — to handle everything from Google Business Profile optimization to website SEO, content creation, and GEO. Our packages run from $500 to $2,000 per month depending on scope, and every dollar is focused on getting you more calls and bookings.

Want to see what a tailored marketing plan would look like for your dog walking business? Get in touch with us for a free consultation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How can dog walkers get more customers online? Optimize your Google Business Profile, build a website with local keywords, collect Google reviews consistently, and publish helpful content targeting Perth dog owners.

What's the fastest way to get more calls as a dog walker? Fully optimize your Google Business Profile and ask your five happiest clients for Google reviews this week. Results often show within 30 days.

How much should I spend on marketing as a dog walker? Start with $0 using the free strategies above. When ready to invest, allocate 5–10% of revenue. Professional help typically costs $500–$2,000 per month.

Is Google Ads or SEO better for dog walkers? SEO delivers better long-term value. Google Ads can work for quick wins but costs add up fast. We recommend SEO first, then adding ads once organic foundations are solid.

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Ready to Fill Your Dog Walking Schedule?

Getting more customers as a dog walker in Perth comes down to being visible where dog owners are already searching. Follow these six steps consistently, and you'll be ahead of 90% of your competitors within a few months.

If you'd rather skip the learning curve and let professionals handle it, we're here. Talk to Searchmaxxed about growing your dog walking business today.