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Wag, the ‘Uber for Dog-Walking,’ Is Drawing Uber-Like Scrutiny

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Re: Wag, the ‘Uber for Dog-Walking,’ Is Drawing Uber-Like Scrutiny

#11

Post by LeifCarrotson »

jedberg wrote: post #2

Here's why I'd never invest in the Uber for dog walkers: Once someone finds a walker they like, they'll just do a deal with them. Dog walking isn't like needing a ride. Usually when you need a ride, you need it now, and you don't care who provides it. With dog walking, it's usually at a scheduled time each day, and you care a lot about who is providing the service. Dog walking is not a good candidate for the Uber mod…

Rover.com is doing pretty well [1] with a similar service. In my area at least, these dog sitters (and, I assume, these dog walkers) are young, and take it on temporarily as an alternate source of income. They may not stick around for long, and you'll soon be looking for another. Also, their schedules may change frequently - your preferred walker/sitter may not be available on the date of your vacation or other cause for needing the service. And for the price, both the sitter and the walker may find keeping track of billing and payment through the app to be simpler.

[1]: https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2016/10/r...

Re: Wag, the ‘Uber for Dog-Walking,’ Is Drawing Uber-Like Scrutiny

#12

Post by jaclaz »

Random idea, but here (Italy) it is common enough for hunters to have dogs fitted with a GPS locator when they go in the woods hunting, those are often costly, but there are simpler/cheaper versions intended for use where there is good coverage of cellular networks.

I wonder why - since this service is so innovating/high tech - they don't simply provide their pet walkers with a number of such devices, I believe they cost (at end-user level) in the 50-80 Euro range, maybe 100 for more professional versions.

Re: Wag, the ‘Uber for Dog-Walking,’ Is Drawing Uber-Like Scrutiny

#13

Post by eli »

iskander wrote: post #5
jedberg wrote: post #2

Here's why I'd never invest in the Uber for dog walkers: Once someone finds a walker they like, they'll just do a deal with them. Dog walking isn't like needing a ride. Usually when you need a ride, you need it now, and you don't care who provides it. With dog walking, it's usually at a scheduled time each day, and you care a lot about who is providing the service. Dog walking is not a good candidate for the Uber mod…

Dog boarding, on the other hand, is pretty irregular. So rather than Uber I think the correct analogy should be AirBnB.

Yes and I think you just described Rover.com

Re: Wag, the ‘Uber for Dog-Walking,’ Is Drawing Uber-Like Scrutiny

#14

Post by bko »

jedberg wrote: post #2

Here's why I'd never invest in the Uber for dog walkers: Once someone finds a walker they like, they'll just do a deal with them. Dog walking isn't like needing a ride. Usually when you need a ride, you need it now, and you don't care who provides it. With dog walking, it's usually at a scheduled time each day, and you care a lot about who is providing the service. Dog walking is not a good candidate for the Uber mod…

Not necessarily. If you have a dog walker he may not always be available.

I have been with pet owners and they would leave a bar early because of their dog. They may be using that as an excuse but I think there may be a market for flexibility. Especially when it comes to spontaneous work happy hours.

Re: Wag, the ‘Uber for Dog-Walking,’ Is Drawing Uber-Like Scrutiny

#15

Post by DonHopkins »

iskander wrote: post #3

I use Rover quite a bit. I have some "usual suspects" for dog walking / dog sitting but they're not always available.

Richard Nixon trusted Checkers with the wrong dog walkers, and look where it got him.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_(film)

Re: Wag, the ‘Uber for Dog-Walking,’ Is Drawing Uber-Like Scrutiny

#16

Post by ghaff »

pryelluw wrote: post #4
jedberg wrote: post #2

Here's why I'd never invest in the Uber for dog walkers: Once someone finds a walker they like, they'll just do a deal with them. Dog walking isn't like needing a ride. Usually when you need a ride, you need it now, and you don't care who provides it. With dog walking, it's usually at a scheduled time each day, and you care a lot about who is providing the service. Dog walking is not a good candidate for the Uber mod…

Same with cleaners, car wash, landscaping, etc. These are all services that people put more scrutiny into.

Landscaping, maybe. Cleaners and car washing are pretty commodity though. I agree with the broader point that there are a lot of tasks you don't want done by a random person who signed up with an app but those aren't the best examples.

Re: Wag, the ‘Uber for Dog-Walking,’ Is Drawing Uber-Like Scrutiny

#17

Post by sumeno »

jedberg wrote: post #2

Here's why I'd never invest in the Uber for dog walkers: Once someone finds a walker they like, they'll just do a deal with them. Dog walking isn't like needing a ride. Usually when you need a ride, you need it now, and you don't care who provides it. With dog walking, it's usually at a scheduled time each day, and you care a lot about who is providing the service. Dog walking is not a good candidate for the Uber mod…

Agreed, especially when an incident with a dog can be a death sentence for the dog even if the human was at fault. If someone is going to be walking my dog I need to know who they are and know that they know how to handle dogs and know that my dog isn't going to act aggressive towards them.

Re: Wag, the ‘Uber for Dog-Walking,’ Is Drawing Uber-Like Scrutiny

#18

Post by sbilstein »

It's been a mixed bag with Wag. The app quality is not great, buggy and major usability issues...but also the walk report card warms my heart.

I was worried about trusting my dog to strangers but it wasn't too bad with Wag. Overall most of the people were decent but I'd occasionally get some really bad walkers who wouldn't fill out the report card, or walk the dog for 90 minutes instead of 30. My partner and I decided doggie daycare was the better bet. About $35 a day to have our dog just hanging out with other pups is worth it...especially when the quality of walker is so variable with services like Wag.

Re: Wag, the ‘Uber for Dog-Walking,’ Is Drawing Uber-Like Scrutiny

#19

Post by minimaxir »

ProAm wrote: post #10

I wouldn't trust most Lyft/Uber drivers with my dog. That is a entirely different level of trust.

In fairness, becoming a Wag Walker has more vetting (pun present on original page and likely intended) and requires taking exams.

https://wagwalking.com/dog-walker

Re: Wag, the ‘Uber for Dog-Walking,’ Is Drawing Uber-Like Scrutiny

#20

Post by toomuchtodo »

minimaxir wrote: post #19
ProAm wrote: post #10

I wouldn't trust most Lyft/Uber drivers with my dog. That is a entirely different level of trust.

In fairness, becoming a Wag Walker has more vetting (pun present on original page and likely intended) and requires taking exams. https://wagwalking.com/dog-walker

I'm unsure if I should laugh or cry that more vetting goes into a dog walker than an Uber driver.
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