If you don't have any family or friends nearby who can take care of your dog for you, then a dog walker is your best bet. Then can pop in and make sure your dog is happy, fed and watered, and make sure they get their daily walks while you're away.

Becoming a dog walker is undoubtedly a viable business venture to consider if you're passionate about dogs. Not only is dog walking in high demand, but the business also has a relatively low barrier to entry and is highly profitable, although it does come with its own risks.

“Being a full-time strictly dog walker [in this area], you're probably walking between six and eight dogs a day,” she says.

Walking the dog: TL;DR “Three times a day would be a very ballpark number,” she says—adding that, usually, one of those walks should be at least 30 minutes long. However, as Olguin and others will tell you, many factors can change how often a particular dog should walk, and for how long.