Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Cohen.
Hi Justin, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Back in 2016, I had just left the film industry and a soul-sucking, low-paying job I had held for nearly 4 years. I had saved up what little money I could for months prior, knowing that this job and this industry weren’t right for me. As I was trying to figure out my next steps, I saw a flyer for Wag!, which at the time was a new start-up dog walking app advertising itself as “the uber of dog walking.”
As a lifelong animal lover, I was intrigued and signed up to be a walker. I figured this would be a good way to pay the bills as I figured out what I wanted to pursue long-term. I ended up meeting some of the corporate team at Wag! (including my future wife and future dog son Norman) and realized there was an opportunity here to really become one of the most in-demand dog walkers and pet sitters in Los Angeles. Within a year, I was the #1 walker on the app in LA and in just two years, I had over 2,000 5 star reviews. I was grinding, working 12 hour days Monday-Friday. Amongst all the soul-searching, I realized I didn’t need to be looking for my next step – I’d already found it.
In 2018, I officially launched Justin Walks Dogs and gradually built up a client base. Wag! was an incredible learning experience, but it was time to start my own business and make this a full-time career. I went from my first few clients to a packed roster of pups (and some cats too!) throughout West Hollywood, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Larchmont, Hancock Park, and the Hollywood Hills. It’s been an incredible near-decade of dog walking and pet sitting, and I still feel lucky to spend all day outdoors with different dogs and get paid to do it.
This past year, I’ve also been building an online presence over on Instagram @justinwalksdogs. Even though I prefer to spend all day with dogs vs humans, I’m also a people person and love chatting with others who are trying to start dog walking or pet sitting businesses of their own. I recently launched a program where I offer mentoring sessions for those looking to either start or grow their own dog business, and I’ve been loving the chats I’ve had with people from all over the country.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s been a road with ups and downs. The struggles when just starting out were mostly related to working so many hours, and the pay not exactly reflecting the hard work and effort since Wag! took such a large cut of what I made. Once I started my own business and got a steady roster of clients, the road became smoother until covid shut the world down in March 2020. A few clients were very generous and kept paying me during the lockdown months, so between that and unemployment I just got by. Those were stressful times, but once the world opened back up business skyrocketed and it’s been on an upwards trajectory ever since then. There are still occasional struggles and tough decisions to be made along the way that come with owning your own business, but those have been the biggest obstacles thus far.
As you know, we’re big fans of Justin Walks Dogs. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Justin Walks Dogs specializes in providing professional dog walks, hikes, and pet sitting in the Los Angeles area. I’m an animal lover with a decade of experience in the pet industry who wants to help out when you’re busy at work, out of town, or just need a helping hand. I’m often told my reliability, easy communication, and friendly personality is what sets me apart from others. I really love dogs and therefore all the dogs I walk or sit become my pals and part of my everyday life, which I believe is very apparent to their owners. It’s not “just a job” to me. I’m proud of that, and I’m proud I’ve been able to share some of what I’m doing on a daily basis with strangers on the internet who have then been interested in learning how to run a dog walking business themselves. In addition to dogs, I love entrepreneurship and business so I enjoy sharing what I’ve learned with others, and the fact that it’s become another revenue stream for Justin Walks Dogs is something I’m definitely proud of.
For dog walks and pet sitting, I currently service West Hollywood, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Hollywood Hills, Laurel Canyon, Nichols Canyon, Hancock Park, Larchmont, East Hollywood, Virgil Village, and surrounding neighborhoods. For mentoring sessions on how to start/grow your own dog walking businesses, you can find me on Instagram @justinwalksdogs and book me there from anywhere in the world!
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I always love connecting with fellow walkers and sitters, or others in the pet industry, either via email at [email protected] or you can DM me @justinwalksdogs on Instagram. You can support me by booking a walk in Los Angeles, booking a mentoring session online, or sharing my website/IG with others who need a dog walker in Los Angeles or would like to learn how to become a dog walker themselves.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.justinwalksdogs.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justinwalksdogs
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/justin-walks-dogs-los-angeles
