A Certification to Pick Up Dog Poop?
You might find yourself asking the question, “Do I really need to get certified to pick up dog poop?” The short answer to that is absolutely not. Most anyone with some basic tools, a love for dogs, and a nose that can withstand some unpleasant aromas is a shoo-in. Millions of pet owners are taking on this dreaded chore for their own dogs daily — and without any specialized certification.
Now let’s say you wanted to start a business doing this. At this point, you’re going to need to consider how you’re going to operate safely, efficiently, and effectively. Here are some things to consider:
How are you going to keep yourself (and employees) safe in the field? Do you know the proper precautions to take to mitigate an attack from an aggressive dog — or any dog — once you’ve stepped foot into ITS territory (aka a customer’s yard)? Do your employees? If you are attacked or bitten, then what? Do you know how to properly treat a dog bite wound in the field? What about the legal steps you may need to take after a bite or an attack occurs?
Since you won’t be cleaning up after only one dog but several dogs throughout many locations, what precautions will you take or what systems will you implement to prevent the possibility of spreading diseases from one yard to the next? No business owner wants that call from an upset customer notifying them about the parasitic, viral, or bacterial infection their dog’s experiencing. And justifiably wanting answers. You’ll be the first to blame considering the nature of your work — especially if they notice no processes or procedures too mitigate it.
How are you going to ensure thorough cleanups on a variety of terrain and landscapes? It may not be that difficult, but you could spend an additional 10 to 15 minutes at each stop if not utilizing certain systems, techniques, and tools. Time is of the essence in this line of work. Dense routes equals money. Optimizing efficiency and working smarter not harder is essential long-term.
What will you do with the dog waste once you’ve cleaned a yard? Where and how will you dispose of it? And, again, are you disposing of it properly in a way that’s safe, sanitary, and legal? A lot of people may think — dog poop — it’s just a blight and a nuisance. Actually dog poop can be pathogenic causing disease and illness to humans. You’ll want your customers to know you’ve implemented systems to mitigate this.
These are just some of the things anyone looking to become a professional in this industry should consider.
While you can always go it alone, isn’t it smarter to learn from those who’ve already done it? So you can hit the ground running avoiding those costly trial and error mistakes. The systems, processes, and procedures other industry professionals have successfully incorporated into their businesses and continue to do so. That’s how an industry evolves.
Most business owners with employees in this industry know how difficult, time consuming, and costly it can be to hire and train new employees — especially if consistantly experiencing high turnover. We’re here to help. Some lessons within the Pet Waste Removal Technician Certification can be customized to fit certain attributes of your company. Doing so enables an excellent resource or supplement to the training your comapany provides. Those certification courses are employee-focused and specifically aligned with your company. This could prove even more valuable for franchisors and its franchisees and employees.
The National Organization of Professional Pooper Scoopers was created with that goal in mind. To be a resource and help others currently in the industry as well as those looking to get started. The pooper scooper and pet waste management industry is still relatively young and unknown by dog owners and consumers alike. Let’s change that! If you’re thinking about getting started, there’s never been a better time given the available resources and technology quickly arising as the need and demand for our service continues to grow.
