If you’re thinking about hiring a dog walker, time to stop and think. Don’t go for the first person on the advertising board, do a little research and ask the right questions.
Being a dog owner is one of the best ways to enrich your life, from forming a special bond to getting outside and exercising.
It also takes a lot of responsibility – particularly if you don’t have the luxury of being at home all day.
If you’re conscious that you’re not taking your dog out often enough, it may be time to hire a dog walker. These cost-effective services will make sure your dog maintains its fitness levels and they can also help to socialise your dog with other dogs and people.
Of course, your dog is family, so you want to make sure it’s in safe hands. We’d always recommend interviewing dog walkers before you commit to one. If you’re not sure what to cover, here are the most important things to ask a dog walker.
What to ask a potential dog walker:
If possible, try to arrange an interview with your potential contact in person, preferably with your dog at hand. This will give you a better idea of their manner and help you to establish trust.
It’s not just you that needs to trust them, your pooch needs to be confident that this human will take care of them, and therefore, they will listen to them. Confidence is a start, but it’s not everything.
Before you make a decision, make sure you cover the following dog walker questions:
How many years’ experience do you have?
This may sound obvious, but it’s advisable to go with somebody who has been walking dogs for a number of years.
They will have more experience with a larger range of dog breeds, plus they’ll be better equipped for any potential emergencies.
The only exception to that rule is if the dog walker has other or previous experience with dogs. So retired Vets, dog trainers, dog boarders, show dogs…
Experience isn’t everything but it will help you feel a little more confident when leaving your fur baby in someone else’s hand.
Are you trained in animal first aid?
Again, this is an indicator of your dog walker’s experience.
It may seem like one of the more extreme questions to ask a dog walker, but you never know when an emergency might crop up – for example, your dog may eat a potentially poisonous plant.
It’s reassuring to know that your dog walker can comfort your dog before seeking veterinary advice or knows what to do in an emergency.
How many dogs do you walk at once?
You’ll very rarely get the luxury of a one-on-one walk with a dog walker! Of course, this is by no means a bad thing, as it can be a great way of socialising dogs.
However, you want to know that your dog walker is in control, particularly if he/she is working with dogs of different breeds and sizes.
If they walk with more than four dogs, it’s perhaps best to choose somebody else so that your dog receives ample attention.
Where do you walk?
Perhaps your dog walker has an urban route, or prefers long ambles across parks.
You need to make sure that their routine fits in with your dog’s – in particular, not walking for longer than your dog can handle, or exposing it to unfamiliar hazards.
For example, if you know your dog runs after bikes, or run away from horses, a well known cycle or equestrian path would not be suitable.
Try to find a fit with somebody local who goes to the same or similar places that you do so your dog can get into a comfortable routine.
How big an area do you cover?
If your potential dog walker covers a large area, this may mean your dog spends a significant amount of time in a van.
If yours is an anxious dog, it may be best to stick to a dog walker who covers smaller geographic areas.
That way they will not be exposed to uncomfortable environments (for example car travel) or other dogs for too long.
Do you have insurance?
For whatever reason, accidents can happen. You need to make sure your dog is in safe hands and protect yourself from any potential large vet bills if something does go wrong.
Of course, to safeguard against any accidents it is also advisable that you get your own dog insurance.
Still, it’s always good to look for indications of public liability, or even specific dog walking insurance, when hiring a dog walker. It will save you a lot of money and any potentially awkward conversations in the long run.
Ask about their Pricing and Cancelation policy
Speaking of awkward conversations, it’s also best to ask about pricing and cancellation policies.
Every dog walker will have a different pricing strategy, which may for example be based on X number of walks per month/week. They may expect payment weekly or monthly, making canceling more difficult if you pre-book for a whole month (for example).
Ask them how flexible they are with pricing and payment. What happens if you need to cancel last minute, or are planning on going away on holiday? Or what if you simply find that your situation changes and you no longer require their services – how much notice do they need?
These are all important information to know clearly ahead of time.
Do you let dogs off the lead?
Again, this comes down to your personal style of dog walking. You need to make sure that there is a mutual trust between your dog and the walker before you agree to letting them off the lead.
This also throws up questions about insurance, so there’s a lot to consider around what to ask a potential dog walker.
The best response you could get from this would be to ensure they build up their trust first. If you like, ask if you can come on a first walk with the dog walker.
This will allow you to see them in action and watch how they behave when letting dogs off the lead/interacting with other dogs.
It may be that you don’t want your dog to go off-lead, in which case the dog walker should respect your wishes.
Are you able to wash my dog?
Perhaps one of the less important questions to ask a dog walker, but nonetheless a factor if you care about the cleanliness of your house!
If your dog walker is going to be venturing out into muddy environments, you want to be assured they can at least give your dog a light cleaning down before letting them back in the house.
Other factors – security
Once you’ve got a rough idea of how long your dog will walk for and how the walker keeps it safe, you need to think about your own safety.
For the ultimate reassurance before you hire, consider:
- How will you get access to my dog? Will I need to give you access to my property?
- Do you have any evidence of criminal checks?
- Do you have any experience with children?
- Do you walk with other walkers?
Ultimately, it comes down to the ‘fit’ between you and your potential dog walker.
You wouldn’t entrust your loved ones with somebody whom you don’t like, so the same goes for your pup. Unlike childcare, there’s no standards or government body ensuring that dog walkers meet guidelines of care. So use recommendation, google the person, and ask local social dog walker groups and dog groups for advice.
At the end of the day, this person will be in your home, entrusted with your pet. It’s ok to do your research and take your time picking the right walker.
Once you trust that this person is the best choice for your dog, make sure you’ve covered all the financial issues like cancellations and insurance, as well as general healthcare and security.
Can you start a trial period?
Last but by no means least, don’t be afraid to change if you’re not happy with your dog walker.
Discuss with them the possibility of a ‘trial’ to make sure your dog is happy. Obviously you can’t keep an eye on your dog while they’re out with a walker, but you can keep an eye on any changes to behaviour.
Make sure you tell your dog walker anything specific about your dog’s health, for example medications, dietary requirements, or give them your preferred treats or toys to help them bond.
With a good dog walker, you can keep your pup happy and healthy, no matter where you are. Having a job should be no barrier to keeping a dog!
