Dog Walking Competition

Last weekend when Debbie and I got back from the quilt show we found this note on the house door:

Artem is about a year older than Kennedy and I think mowing the grass is probably a stretch for him but dog walking is definitely do-able for him.  Well, he stopped by later that afternoon and wanted to know when he could walk them.  I told him maybe tomorrow, I will call you.  He informed me he was available that Sunday from 1-3. Great.  Well, I forgot to call him and so he just came over.  I let him take the dogs but then soon realized I only had a $10 and a $20 bill in my wallet.  Ouch.  That's an expensive dog walk.  Well, he stopped by again on Monday and I told him that the money from Sunday would have to cover both days - seems reasonable.  He said no problem.  Then Tuesday we stopped by and just wanted to walk them for fun, no charge.  What a good businessman - he was realing me in!

The dogs love going on walks and it's good for them.  Wednesday Artem started getting smart and has been wearing his roller blades so it's easier for him...I think they end up pulling him around.

Artem's business must have caught on because then this message appeared on the door from another neighborgirl:

Now I have one or two people every single day knocking on the door to walk the dogs.  He must've felt like we were straying from his business because he asked Shane if he could be "our permanent dog walker."   We have become involved in a 10-year-old dog-walking business competition.

I'm torn...it's a great job for a kid and he's doing the right thing to earn money.  There aren't many opportunities when you're a city kid and can't drive.  Nothing like picking rocks, spraying thistles or roguing weeds in this neighborhood.  :)  So I want to help him with his employment needs but the doorbell seems like it rings off the hook.  I'm going to have to get tough and set up a schedule with him.  To be continued...