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How do you politely ask clients to book you?

I've been walking the same dog for nearly a month. It's on-demand walking that is set at weekly repeats. I decided to message the owner last week, asking her if she could book me directly/set me as her preferred walker. She said yes. However, a week has gone by and she hasn't done so.

I don't want to be annoying, but this puts me in an awkward position now. On-demand takes 40%. Since I'm walking her dog five days a week, I feel like I should be set as the preferred walker. She asked me how to do it, so I sent her the link with the directions. I'm trying to think how I could ask her again without sounding annoying.

A few weeks ago, I asked another woman whose dog I was walking a few days a week whether she'd like to set me as her preferred walker, which she enthusiastically did. She actually said she didn't even know that was an option. Does Rover not advertise the option to set a preferred walker?

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Kellyn C.

I just tell people that I want to make their dog a priority so booking directly through my profile allows me to easily set aside time for their dog and communicate with them more effectively, and add that it works out better financially for us both. If they seem to struggle with the process, you are able to send a booking request to the dog owner after you have done any service for them. Once you have said all of that and offered to initiate the first booking, how can they say no? And if they do, it won't be worth it at the end of the day. I had one owner who did primarily on-demand requests with me as 'preferred' and occasional direct bookings, and I love his dog so so much, but I built up a full schedule with regular clients and had to stop walking for him. I grabbed a walk with him three weeks ago just because I love that dog, and he had a note in his lockbox about leaving the key during walks and a reminder to lock the door and more notes around his house! The dog's leash manners had also deteriorated, and he is a strong pup. I have also noticed that his on-demand requests used to get grabbed quickly but now they sit there for quite some time. It is super competitive in Portland so walks typically get picked up in less than two minutes, but no one wants to keep taking on-demand walks with the same dog that aren't going to turn into regular walks. I couldn't help but feel some satisfaction at the proof that it's always better to commit to a good and reliable walker.

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Medina M.

There's been some confusion lately on my end. With my recurring walk through Rover Now, I initiated a direct booking with the client starting the following week and she accepted. I think now I have to cancel the recurring on demand walks with this client.

I had another client whose dog I've been walking for the past 2 weeks, also found through on demand walking. I gave Rover a one-week notice to cancel the upcoming walks through Rover Now, because I wanted to send the owner a direct booking request.

I did so, but then didn't hear back. It was stuck on 'pending owner response' and then on the bottom of the request it said that the owner canceled the booking. I emailed Rover about it because this made no sense to me.

Rover told me that with recurring walks, it's best to do automated bookings through Rover Now. Well, no, this doesn't make sense. If I have a regular client, I'd rather do direct booking, as Rover Now takes 40%. Also, Rover told me that since Rover Now doesn't offer a direct booking feature, the support team is able to reconnect me and a client together for various circumstances and set up walks between us.

I really don't understand this. Why does Rover need to get involved in setting up direct bookings with clients that I find through Rover Now who want to turn me into their regular walker? I see the rebook option on my app, so why do I need Rover's assistance with this, when I can just message the client directly and ask them to send me a booking request, or I can just click on rebook and do it myself?

I don't understand why I was able to set up a direct booking with one client I found through on demand, but not with the other? Rover didn't clarify, but it seems as if the second client didn't even receive my direct booking request.

Is there some sort of problem with switching over from Rover Now to direct booking with some clients who request daily, recurring walks?

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Also, is it more cost effective for the owner to rebook a specific client, rather than through Rover Now? I know Rover charges owners a service fee but I don't know if there's a price difference between the 2 options.

Medina M.

Also, I've seen on forums that some walkers just book drop in visits with regular clients and then just take their dog out for a walk. Would this be a better option with direct booking?

Medina M.

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Walt G.

Book a Stay
Woodbridge, VA

Does Rover not advertise the option to set a preferred walker? You already know the answer it is no they don't promote this option. Many sitters I know who work in the on-demand citites ask the clients to book drop-ins with them vs walks to get away from the on-demand program and seure a better draw from the booking. Best of luck.

If you are on Facebook come join this NYC walker group https://www.facebook.com/groups/15630...

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How do you politely ask clients to book you?

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