Listening
Pre-Listening
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFmqb1KmJnM
6. John Reh is the president of Dogs Love Running! Learn how to figure out how much you should charge for dog walking, pet sitting, and other related pet services. Suppose how much the following services may cost in his company.
If you are considering starting your own dog sitting business, then it is only reasonable that you understand how to set your dog sitting rates. Rates may vary from one place to another, and although there are average rates, you get to set your own price and negotiate with your clients.
If to charge by time:
15 minutes of your services - … $
If to charge by service:
Dog walking - …$
Pet sitting - … $
Bringing the meal - … $
To give medication - … $
While-Listening
7. Now listen and check your answers.
What are John’s recommendations about how much it is necessary to charge?
After-Listening
8. Discuss in groups two questions:
How To Set Your Dog Sitting Rates
How Dog Sitting Rates Can Change Speaking
9. Imagine you have decided to set up your own business. Pet sitting seems like an easy way to earn some extra cash. If you're not careful, though, it could be more than you expected. Learn some tips for starting up. Then tell your partner about the most important ones.
Student A |
Student B |
I/We need/want . . . I think that ... In my opinion ... To my mind, ... It would be better/more reasonable... Be reasonable about it, please. But first, shouldn't we . . . ? Even so, ... Besides, ... But that's not all. Well, that's not quite all. What's more, ... |
Absolutely correct. Correct. I'll say it is. That's correct. That's right. Yes, actually. Yes, definitely. Yes, indeed. Yes, that’s right. Yes, you are right. You must be right. You're right first time.
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Something else you will want to
consider is how to deal with sick or injured pets. This is never
fun to think about, but if the owners are away for several days,
you need to be confident in your skills to care for any animal that
becomes ill or hurt during this time. Make sure that you have a
good list of emergency numbers on hand and that you know exactly
what to do.
Of course, there are many other
considerations you will need to think about before starting a pet
sitting service. This list is just the beginning. If you have a
strong love for animals and are willing to work hard, this may be
the perfect business for you.
Advantages of the Business
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Disadvantages of the Business
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… |
… |
If you love pets, then you may love
the idea of starting a pet sitting business. There are probably
many people that you know who occasionally need a pet sitting
service for when they go on vacation or have a long day at the
office. If you are considering a pet sitting service, the first
thing you need to do is to consider these ins and outs of the
business to make sure it is really something you want to commit to
doing.
One of the very first considerations
you should make is whether or not you can handle animals. You may
very well love your own pets, but how do you do with pets that
belong to other people? Are you afraid of big dogs or feel
uncomfortable dealing with snakes, lizards and other "non-standard"
pets? If so, you may want to consider another type of business, or
focusing on one type of animal, such as cats. If you answer "no"
then you are ready to think about starting your pet business.
Some of the best advantages of having your own pet sitting service are that you can work as much or as little as you like. There are many opportunities for earning good money with a pet sitting service. If you have researched this field, then you know that most pet owners spare no expense when it comes to their beloved Fluffy or Fido. This gives you ample opportunity to earn as much as you care to work. You may concentrate on caring for people’s pets that you know well, or open your pet business to the public. Setting your own hours is also a great advantage of opening your own business. Most pet owners will probably want you to check in on their pets in the morning and in the evening, but the exact hours are up to you.
Before you make flyers and get the word out about your business, there are some matters you will want to think about. There are some disadvantages of dealing with pets in this type of business. First of all, you will need to make sure that you are completely comfortable with the pets you are sitting. This is especially true for dogs. It is never a good idea to take on a job without first meeting the animal you will care for. You must also get a good idea about what the owner expects of you. If you are expected to feed and walk the dog, then you must make sure you do so. Repeat business is built on trust in this type of business.