You should hire a dog walker if you have to be at work for more than six hours a day and have a dog.
It's not easy for dogs to live in the city. The lives of city dogs are quite different from those of rural or suburban dogs, who often have a yard to wander during the day, or (if they're really fortunate) acres of open ground, to run and play on while their owners are at work.
But even in the city, a dog may have a great quality of life. While city life has its drawbacks, it also offers benefits, such as access to a variety of interesting sights, sounds, and scents that dogs living in the suburbs or the countryside never encounter.
Dogs living in the city have a lot more possibilities to interact with other dogs, both on the street and in dog parks and dog runs.
However, due to their owners' busy schedules, many pets are left home alone for extended stretches at a time. This implies that your dog will be sitting about for long periods of time, which is particularly bad if you live in a cramped place like a studio or apartment.
This is why a lot of city dog owners end up paying for a dog walker. The difference is night and day if someone else walks your dog and lets it out at least once a day.
It's a nice way to give your dog a break from being alone for so long and let them enjoy the outdoors while working off some of the breakfast fat they just had. Many dogs see their daily dog walker as a best friend.
A growing number of dog walkers are available in cities as the demand for this service rises. There is a proliferation of dog walking and pet sitting businesses, leaving dog owners in most major cities with an abundance of options.
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Of course, not all dog walking services are created equal. A reliable dog walker may be found if you follow these guidelines.
Be sure of your needs before you begin searching. In order to get the service you desire, you must specify what that service is.
Peace of mind and additional security are benefits you may experience with a large, well-established dog walking service; nevertheless, you may find their services a little impersonal if they are too large; for example, not all services promise that you will have the same walker each day.
It's important to inquire about this if you want that your dog's walker and he develop a warm and trustworthy connection. Your dog should be assigned to the same dog walker each time, and you should be given plenty of notice if there are any changes to the staff.
The potential drawback is that they can be a little less adaptable with regards to timetables. However, a local independent dog walker that works alone is far more likely to develop a strong bond with your dog, and you are also more likely to develop a warm and pleasant connection with them.
One drawback of solo hiking is that there is seldom someone to cover for you if you become ill or want to take a vacation.
Put together a plan that's less than ideal, yet doable. Generally speaking, the busiest time of day for dog walkers is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., when the majority of dog owners would want to have their dog walked.
Given the high demand, it's doubtful that you'll find a provider that can guarantee a time that works well for you throughout the day. Be flexible, giving yourself a window of about an hour on each side of your ideal time.
You should also be aware that the sheer nature of the business of dog walking makes it very hard to adhere to a plan 100% exactly every day, even when you agree on a time. Dog walkers have a lot of ground to cover between canine clients and plenty of obstacles to contend with along the way.
Your dog walker may sometimes be late or come early, but try not to take it personally. Dog walking services that guarantee they will arrive exactly when they say they will should be avoided at all costs.
Should dogs be walked in groups or on their own? Here, people's opinions are divided almost exactly down the middle. Pack walkers with as many as twelve dogs at once are a familiar sight in major cities like New York, but is this really what you want for your dog?
The primary benefit of this service is its lower cost; pack walk fees may be as low as 50 percent of those for solo or small group walks of comparable duration.
Negatives of group dog walking include less individual attention for your pet and longer walks spent tied up on the sidewalk while other dogs wait for their walkers to return to their apartments.
While it's true that many dogs like the social component of these walks, the vast majority of dog owners would rather their pets be walked in smaller groups or even alone. Even though it doesn't happen often, huge packs of dogs are a source of concern for many people.
You can have the walker's undivided attention on a private walk, but keep in mind that most dogs benefit from social interaction, so you may want to choose a service that takes dogs out in pairs or small groups of no more than three.
A lot of dog walkers will tell you that if your dog has "problems" on the street with you, walking him or her with another dog may help tremendously.
However, some dogs just cannot tolerate being around other dogs, no matter how kind you are. After everything is said and done, no one can make that decision for you except yourself; you know your dog best.
Meet with potential candidates face to face Making the right choice in a dog walker is crucial, not only because you'll be handing your beloved pet's care to a complete stranger, but also because the service will require giving that person daily access to your home.
This is why it's important to shop about, speak with the company owner, and then meet with the walker who will be caring for your dog if you decide to use that particular service.
With a reliable service, you may arrange to meet the walker at no additional expense to yourself. A timetable should never be agreed upon over the phone; it is always preferable to meet face-to-face with the individual with whom you will be working.
The majority of reputable dog walking services will welcome the opportunity to make a bid in order to win your business.
However, if the store owner refuses to provide you with the walker's complete contact information, you shouldn't take it personally; they aren't attempting to scam you. As is customary in the industry, the customer is required to coordinate any upgrades and modifications to the service directly with the proprietor.
This keeps the proprietor "in the loop" and informed of all developments. However, if you have the walker's contact information, it's polite to let the owner know about your conversations. This will help avoid any future confusion.
Prepare your questions in advance. Make sure you have all of your questions planned out and written down before conducting an interview.
Feel free to inquire as much as you need to in order to relax. Don't be shy about asking the owner or walker a lot of questions about the company's history, guiding principles, methods, policies, and more.
Good dog walkers will also inquire as to your specific preferences, as well as those of you and your dog. Take certain that you are asked pertinent questions concerning your dog's personality and health. A positive sign if they are taking notes!
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Your dog's medical history, favourite treats, command phrases, things to look out for, vet's information, etc. should all be on file with a reliable dog walking service. If they don't appear to care about any of these details, it's usually best to go elsewhere.
Make sure all costs and fees are discussed openly. Check their availability (do they work nights and weekends?) and their cancellation policy, as well as their rates and how often they expect to be paid. Many dog walking services charge more for early morning, evening, and weekend walks (most services request that you give 24 hours notice to avoid being charged).
It would be unfortunate to have a disagreement with a trustworthy dog walking service over something that might have been clarified beforehand.
Demand a trial run with the walker. Meeting your dog walker ahead of time is ideal, but being able to see them "in action" with your dog will put your mind at ease. A plethora of dog walker options exist; they're not all equivalent. It's obvious that the dog walker and the dog have a special bond from just watching them interact.
Usually, dogs have excellent discernment when it comes to people, and if the walker is a dog lover, it will show in how your pet interacts with them. You should observe them strolling down the street together to be sure they have good leash control and are walking safely. Avoid the dog walker who holds the leash with three fingers and lets your dog run in circles.
Your dog's health and safety are your top priorities. You should also see how they react when your dog approaches another dog on the street; a competent walker would inquire as to the other dog's friendliness and give you space to approach your dog gently if they both want to smell each other. In addition, people should clean up after their dog and not let it spray unsuitable objects, such as automobiles, doors, and particularly lampposts, which might be energised.
Map out a suitable path for walking the dog right away. Tell your walker where you want your dog to go and where he or she should not go. Let your dog walker know if you want them to take your dog to a neighbouring dog park or run throughout the day.
The best way to socialise your dog is to take it to a dog run and let it play with other dogs, but only you can decide whether this is the best option. If you prefer a more structured stroll down the street, you may want to let your companion know that you are not interested in joining them when they bring their pack of dogs to the park and spend the next hour sitting on a bench watching the dogs play.
Verify that they are covered by insurance and bonded, and get references. A reliable dog walking service should be able to provide you with references from satisfied customers. Collect some references and give them a ring! Over time, you'll notice a significant improvement in your mood.
Inquire about their insurance and bonding, and if they have either, request to see certificates. Your dog's veterinary treatment and the expenses associated with any injuries your dog may cause to others while in their care should be covered by their insurance policy. Dog walkers' insurance isn't often needed, but it's good to have anyhow.
The fact that they've gone through the bother of becoming insured is also promising, showing that they mean business.
Install a webcam to ease your mind before letting someone inside your flat. Having a tiny web camera put up to make sure that nothing untoward occurs at home while the owner is at work is a contentious subject with many dog walking services, but more and more home service companies are coming to embrace it.
It's also fun to keep tabs on your dog's daily activities. It's courteous to let your walker know ahead of time if you plan to install a camera.
Give them the camera as a gift and explain that you need it to keep an eye on the dog when you're at work; just don't stress the part about checking up on them. Most dog walkers won't have any problems with this, and if yours does, you may want to look elsewhere.
Relax! It's not simple to locate a reliable dog walker. The first few weeks of a dog's life are often the most stressful for new owners, who often stress themselves out worrying about the dog's well-being.
However, if you have followed the aforementioned procedures and taken the time to pick the walker you are happy with, you will find that your concern decreases after a few of weeks and you can get down to the task at hand, taking it for granted that your dog is in excellent hands.
You'll feel lot better about your dog walking service if you make an effort to get acquainted with them. Never forget that if they are true dog lovers, they will develop feelings for your pet that will rival your own.
This is something to keep in mind if you ever decide to end a long-term relationship with a dog walker: be sure to let them say goodbye to your dog before you part ways, and don't be shocked if they want to take pictures or perhaps get a little emotional on their final walk with your pet.
Where should I look first? Getting a dog walker may be done in a number of ways:
- Use a search engine to look it up online.
- Look on online classifieds like "Craigslist" to see what's available in your area.
- To find local services, you might ask at pet shops and veterinarian clinics for business cards.
- Visit local pet shops and read their bulletin boards.
- Inquire in the neighbourhood dog park or dog run Inquire of other dog owners or pedestrians
If you live in an apartment building with a doorman, you may get recommendations for reliable dog walkers and other local services by inquiring there.
Finding a reliable dog walker isn't something to be taken lightly, but you shouldn't worry yourself out over it, either.
Keep in mind that no matter how you feel about your dog's walker, your dog's opinion is the one that matters the most.
You'll know that your dog was being cared for by a professional dog walking service the moment you step through the door, having received the benefits of exercise, relief, and most all, safety and happiness.
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