One early morning in 2022, I found myself watching a dog walker on TikTok and thinking: I want her job.

It felt ridiculous. I was finishing up my MBA and navigating the next chapter of my career with a focus on prestige and financial success.

But soon after relocating from Kentucky to California in October 2021, I burned out. I had transitioned into a remote healthcare marketing role, living on the West Coast but still working East Coast hours and completing my second year of business school from afar. While everyone around me seemed to be heading to the beach and enjoying the sunshine, I spent my days inside, glued to a computer screen.

The dog walker I followed online seemed to have everything I was craving: fresh air, movement, flexibility and a job that didn't revolve around emails and Zoom meetings.

During a long drive, I joked with my husband, "I think I'm going to quit my job and walk dogs." The joke quickly became a plan.

My season as a professional dog walker

Within the span of just a few…