Owned
and operated by Jen Fond since 2003, Team WGO? is a hardworking, honest,
friendly, reliable, professional and well trained group of dog walkers and dog lovers. We look forward to our walks and playtime
almost as much as your dog does.
Q & A with Jen Fond, President
Q. Looking back over the last ten years, what are you most proud of?
A. Always staying true to my core values as a dog walker and business owner which include operating with honesty and integrity. I like that we're local and green. With the exception of hikes, we bike and walk to all of our appointments. Also being able to look back and say with 100% certainty that every mistake has been a profound learning experience. And growing. Every year we've been in business we've grown. It's been slow and it's been steady but 9 years later, we're still here, better than ever. That's pretty cool.
Q. If you time traveled to talk to 12-year-old you, what would 12-year-old you think of your chosen profession?
A. Well, 12 year old me had an anti-social cocker spaniel who probably could have benefited from fresh air, long walks and socialization. Oh, the irony. But honestly, 12 year old me would have thought walking dogs for a living was rad and would have asked if she could listen to Angels baseball on her walkman while on the job. And if you said no, she would have done it anyway - she was 12. And she would have spent all of her dogwalking money on Ray-Bans.
Q. What is your favorite part of the job?
A. The dogs, my team and my clients for certain. But being the highlight of a dog's day is really special and never grows old. And seeing our clients get a little jealous when they're randomly home and their dog goes bonkers upon our arrival.
Q. When hiring your staff, what qualities do you look for?
A. That certain "je ne sais paws". Ha. Well to indirectly answer the question, I love hiring in the winter. This year (2012), winter was mild, but generally if somebody is interested in joining the team in January, it shows that they are unaffected by the harsh elements - and that's really important. I always say that if you work through a winter, you've earned your right to walk dogs in the South End in the spring and summer. I've never hired somebody with professional dog walking experience, but I look for people for whom dogs have played an integral and powerful role in their life and family. People who take pride in their work ethic and who I can sense will take pride in working for WGO? It sounds cheesy but that's really important to me.
Q. What makes a good dog walker?
A. Obviously people who are natural with dogs but also caring people with patience and who can think on their feet. And people who are ok with messing up (and hearing about it later) because it's going to happen. There are so many moving parts to learning how to walk dogs that little gaffes here and there are inevitable in the beginning. A good dog walker listens and takes the mistakes and feedback in stride. Also, funny people make good dog walkers because they leave great notes and everybody knows clients look forward to the notes like the dogs look forward to their walks.
Q. With all the pet sitting, dinner walks, early walks and hikes, as well as the normal day-to-day, it seems like it would be hard to turn off... Is that the case?
A. Yes and no. Running a small business means sometimes walking a dog at midnight because a client is stranded in an airport or meeting a new client in an hour because they just impulsively bought a puppy and need walks starting tomorrow. Promoting Steph to manager last year has really helped with the day-to-day and scheduling stuff.
Q. How do you like to relax?
A. Depends on the day: sometimes it's a yoga class, sometimes it's a long bike ride and sometimes it's watching or listening to my beloved Angels and Trojans. And I always love a day on the beach.
Q. What are the top five things people say to you when they see you walking dogs?
A. That depends on if you're talking about randoms on the street or friends and family. Regardless, here they are:
Q. What's your favorite part about living in the South End (other than being so close to work)?
A. The architecture, the smell of spring, going for a short walk and losing track of time bumping into clients and their dogs. And, believe it or not, I know the names of every single one of my clients.
Q. What characteristics do you look for in choosing a dog for yourself?
A. Is cocker spaniel a characteristic? I love everything about that breed: their silliness; their playfulness; their loyalty, and, of course, how adorable they are. But seriously, a small-but-mighty sporty dog with a joie de vivre.
Q. What's your favorite thing to cook?
A. I like to cook simply with fresh, seasonal and local ingredients. To eat? My mom's turkey enchiladas, a rare cheeseburger and almost anything from the ocean.
Q. Do you ever miss California?
A. Yes, particularly last winter. And L.A. beaches rule. Sorry, New England.
A. Always staying true to my core values as a dog walker and business owner which include operating with honesty and integrity. I like that we're local and green. With the exception of hikes, we bike and walk to all of our appointments. Also being able to look back and say with 100% certainty that every mistake has been a profound learning experience. And growing. Every year we've been in business we've grown. It's been slow and it's been steady but 9 years later, we're still here, better than ever. That's pretty cool.
Q. If you time traveled to talk to 12-year-old you, what would 12-year-old you think of your chosen profession?
A. Well, 12 year old me had an anti-social cocker spaniel who probably could have benefited from fresh air, long walks and socialization. Oh, the irony. But honestly, 12 year old me would have thought walking dogs for a living was rad and would have asked if she could listen to Angels baseball on her walkman while on the job. And if you said no, she would have done it anyway - she was 12. And she would have spent all of her dogwalking money on Ray-Bans.
Q. What is your favorite part of the job?
A. The dogs, my team and my clients for certain. But being the highlight of a dog's day is really special and never grows old. And seeing our clients get a little jealous when they're randomly home and their dog goes bonkers upon our arrival.
Q. When hiring your staff, what qualities do you look for?
A. That certain "je ne sais paws". Ha. Well to indirectly answer the question, I love hiring in the winter. This year (2012), winter was mild, but generally if somebody is interested in joining the team in January, it shows that they are unaffected by the harsh elements - and that's really important. I always say that if you work through a winter, you've earned your right to walk dogs in the South End in the spring and summer. I've never hired somebody with professional dog walking experience, but I look for people for whom dogs have played an integral and powerful role in their life and family. People who take pride in their work ethic and who I can sense will take pride in working for WGO? It sounds cheesy but that's really important to me.
Q. What makes a good dog walker?
A. Obviously people who are natural with dogs but also caring people with patience and who can think on their feet. And people who are ok with messing up (and hearing about it later) because it's going to happen. There are so many moving parts to learning how to walk dogs that little gaffes here and there are inevitable in the beginning. A good dog walker listens and takes the mistakes and feedback in stride. Also, funny people make good dog walkers because they leave great notes and everybody knows clients look forward to the notes like the dogs look forward to their walks.
Q. With all the pet sitting, dinner walks, early walks and hikes, as well as the normal day-to-day, it seems like it would be hard to turn off... Is that the case?
A. Yes and no. Running a small business means sometimes walking a dog at midnight because a client is stranded in an airport or meeting a new client in an hour because they just impulsively bought a puppy and need walks starting tomorrow. Promoting Steph to manager last year has really helped with the day-to-day and scheduling stuff.
Q. How do you like to relax?
A. Depends on the day: sometimes it's a yoga class, sometimes it's a long bike ride and sometimes it's watching or listening to my beloved Angels and Trojans. And I always love a day on the beach.
Q. What are the top five things people say to you when they see you walking dogs?
A. That depends on if you're talking about randoms on the street or friends and family. Regardless, here they are:
- Is that dog walking you or are you walking that dog?
- You got your hands full!
- How many dogs do you walk at a time?
- Do you ever walk dogs that don't get along?
- Wannagoout? Yeah! I Wannagoout?!
Q. What's your favorite part about living in the South End (other than being so close to work)?
A. The architecture, the smell of spring, going for a short walk and losing track of time bumping into clients and their dogs. And, believe it or not, I know the names of every single one of my clients.
Q. What characteristics do you look for in choosing a dog for yourself?
A. Is cocker spaniel a characteristic? I love everything about that breed: their silliness; their playfulness; their loyalty, and, of course, how adorable they are. But seriously, a small-but-mighty sporty dog with a joie de vivre.
Q. What's your favorite thing to cook?
A. I like to cook simply with fresh, seasonal and local ingredients. To eat? My mom's turkey enchiladas, a rare cheeseburger and almost anything from the ocean.
Q. Do you ever miss California?
A. Yes, particularly last winter. And L.A. beaches rule. Sorry, New England.