"Dogs would rather walk than do anything else...even for a dog living in a large backyard, if they don't have a chance to go out and explore the world by walking, it's just like living in a big kennel". - Cesar Millan, People Training for Dogs
Finding a good dog walker
When you think about it, hiring a dog walker is one of the most important choices you will ever make. You must trust this person not only to walk your dog, but to have open entry into your home with access to your personal belongings. With this in mind, the best way to find a trustworthy dog walker is through referrals. ● Referrals Neighbors or friends make the best referrals for a trustworthy dog walker. If this is not possible, the next best options are your veterinarian or kennel. As a last resort, try the internet, local pet store or phone book. ● The interview It is important to meet with the owners of the company and the person (or people) who will be walking your dog. Watch carefully how they interact with the dog and be aware of the questions they ask. Do they want to know about the dog’s allergies, medications, how they interact with other dogs, vet and emergency contact information, shot records, etc? Responsible, experienced professionals should want to know as much about your dog as you want to know about them.For me it’s a gut instinct, if I don’t feel that the person really likes or cares about the dog, they don’t get hired. ● Insurance Many dog walker services are licensed, bonded and insured. It is in your best interest to find a dog walking service that carries these credentials. Ask for a copy for your records. ● References Ask for and check at least three references. Key in on points like: 1)reliability - do they show up when they are supposed to? 2)responsibility - are the doors ever left unlocked after they leave? 3)accessibility – can you reach them when you need to? ● Accessibility and scheduling flexibility Emergencies come up and sometimes you may need to reach your walker for an unscheduled walk. Ask if services are available on short notice and also ask for contact names and numbers who will answer the phone if you need to reach them. You don’t want to be talking to a voice mail if your flight is cancelled and your dog will be left alone for 10 hours. Also ask about scheduling requirements. Some walkers require a monthly walking schedule and will refuse or charge extra for changes or additions. If you have a busy schedule that is subject to change, account for this variable in your selection criteria. ● Big dogs pull hard – can they handle yours? A walk along with the potential dog walker will give you the confidence that the walker can handle your dog with no danger to themselves or others. ● Back ups Realizing that your walker may not always be able to walk your dog due to an illness or vacation, ask about back ups. Make sure you and the dog meet the back ups and that they are full time, insured employees. ● Rates Here is a random sampling of private dog walker rates throughout the country: ChicagoCharlotte, NCNYC $12 for 20 minutes$13 for 30 minutes$16 for 30 minutes $15 for 40 minutes DallasLos AngelesSeattle $17 for 30 minutes$20 for 30 minutes $15 for 30 minutes Rates will vary, depending on length of the walk. If you want to reduce costs, ask about a group dog walking rate. ● Other Services Many dog walking services offer additional services such as kennel pick up and drop offs, overnight dog sitting and house sitting. I strongly recommend the kennel pick ups and drop offs as it can shorten the length of time your dog will have to stay in the kennel if you leave or arrive back from a trip outside of the kennel hours. Rates for this service range from $15-$25 per trip. If this is important to you, include it as part of your selection criteria. ● Status reports Ask them to leave a brief note on how the walk went. Examples of important information to include would be if the dog went to the bathroom, did he seem sluggish, etc.