You love your dog, and you want to spend as much time as possible with them. But, if you are like most dog owners, you are probably preoccupied with work most of the time so you need to leave your dog home alone.
That gets even more difficult when you work full-time (or double shifts!). Even if you want to spend time with your dog, you are most likely exhausted after 8+ hours of work. All you want to do is rest and maybe play a little with your dog.
However, you must not take for granted the value of exercise in a dog’s life. A dog needs a 2-hour walk daily, and weekends only do not suffice. If you cannot provide your dog with a daily walk, maybe it is time to get some help.
How can you know who to ask for help?
Dog walking is an important aspect to ensure a dog’s well-being, and you probably want to make sure that your dog is in safe hands.
Getting the right dog walker is an important decision, and you must put some thought into it. A good dog walker must be friendly, reliable, and trustworthy.
As you keep on reading, you will discover some ways to get in contact with a dog walker that possesses the above-mentioned qualities.
Read Recommendations from Fellow Dog Owners
Dog owners know how valuable a dog is. Therefore, they will understand your concern when it comes to leaving your dog under the responsibility of dog walking services.
Dog owners can share with you their past experience with dog walkers and help you decide who to take into consideration.
Usually, a dog walker must know how to communicate with your dog, react to challenging situations e.g. dogfights, and if walking a large number of dogs, to handle fights over toys or similar issues. It is a challenging task, and as such, it is important to find a walker who can make dog walking pleasant for you and your dog.
Turn to Professional Services
If you tried your dog with a recommended dog walker, and that did not work out for you, you can always try some professional dog walking services.
Usually, they ensure high-quality service. They seek to hire dog lovers who know what they are doing because they are trained for the job.
Moreover, these services offer a flexible schedule, which is what most employed people seek. Given the training these walkers have to go through, they are usually educated on safety and health measures in case anything happens.
Another benefit is that professional dog walkers are licensed and have a dog walking insurance.
Take Care of Logistics
If you do find a suitable candidate, you should make sure to know what will happen during the walk. A good way to find out the suitability of the walker is through an interview.
Questions you should consider asking are:
- What is the location/area where you plan on walking my dog?
- How long will a walk last?
- How well can you accommodate my dog’s special needs?
- How many dogs do you walk on one schedule?
- How flexible is your schedule?
Of course, the questions may vary based on your case e.g. special conditions or requirements your dog may have. Nevertheless, these are essential when establishing relationship with a dog walker for the first time.
Get To Know Your Dog Walker Better
Even if you found your dog walker through a professional dog walking company, it is important to understand that there are different training methods a dog walker may choose to apply. Therefore, it is important to get some background information on a dog walker’s experience.
Questions you could ask are:
- How long have you been dog walking?
- Where did you complete your training?
- Are you licensed?
- What kind of training methods do you use?
You may even consider going for a test walk during your free time just to see how your dog responds to the walker. If you notice that they get along well and that the walker follows through with what they shared during the interview, they might be a good fit for you and your dog.
It can be a tiring process, but it is something that must be taken care of properly in order to ensure the happiness of your dog. All the time you spend will be justified if your dog is healthy and happy with the walking they receive.
About the Author
Rilind Elezaj is a pet lover from Prishtina, Kosovo. He has a passion for sharing things that can help people and animals live better. He writes for NYC POOCH.