No matter how much we love our dogs and want to enjoy time with them, situations arise when we just don't have enough time. And yet, they still need to be taken out and exercised and paid attention to. This is especially important for dogs that may be overweight. While you will certainly take every opportunity to walk and play with your pets, you may want to consider a dog walker to make sure your good dog gets regular outings.
It can be quite tricky finding a suitable dog walker for your dog. There are many dog walkers listed on the net and, in the most, they all look quite good and considerate. However, there are a few things that you must check and do before you hand over your dog to a dog walker.
Check Online - Do a few Google searches to find walkers in your area, Google Places is very helpful for this. Once you have identified a few local dog walkers check deeper for reviews of their services. Local forums can be very insightful. Also, does they dog walker have a website? Does the website have testimonials? Are there photos of dogs with their owners looking happy? Are there photos of the dog walker? Any biography?
Ask At Your Local Vet - Vets soon find out about good or bad dog walkers. Pop around to your local vat and ask for a recommendation.
Call - Once you have identified a short list of walkers call them on the phone. How enthusiastic do the sound? Do they have their own dogs? What other services do they provide? Which parks or locations do the like to walk in? How many dogs do they walk at the same time? How long (distance and time) are the walks? Are they registered with any dog walking agencies or associations? How much do they charge? Is there a discount for more than one dog from the same home?
Meet Them - Once you have identified a dog walker go and meet them to see how they present themselves. Do they sound knowledgeable? Are the confident? Can they name the breed of your dog? Take your own dog along to see how they get on together. Ask for references? Ideally you want to speak to 2 or 3 people who currently use that dog walker.
Attitude - Ask the dog walker about the issues that you are interested in? Are they happy to give medication to your dog if required? Do they use biodegradable pooh bags?
Police Check - Ask for proof of police checks. There are different levels of police check depending on the area you live in. Make sure the police checks are up-to-date.
Insurance - Ask if they have insurance. If they do, ask for a copy of the policy and check what it covers. Accidents? Medical?
What Other Services Do They Provide? - If a walker offers other services, such as a dog taxi or dog training services, it shows that the dog walker is serious about what they do and can help out when unforeseen events present themselves. Do they have kennels? Also conversely, remember that if the dog walker is too busy providing other services they may not be able to focus enough attention on your dog.
Trial Run - Before you start with a dog walker tell them you will begin with a trail period of a few weeks. Only after that decide to make things more permanent or not. During the trial period try and meet the dog walker on a regular basis to see how they are coping with your dog. You may want to ask for a short report on their progress.
The vast majority of dog walkers are kind, safe and love dogs, but if you follow the above steps you should be able to identify the best dog walker for your dog.
About the author: Ian runs ScotDogs, providing dog walking and dog taxi services in Broughton, Edinburgh, Scotland. http://www.scotdogs.co.uk/
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