One of the unique characteristics of dogs is how much they love a good walk. For dog owners who work full time or are otherwise living a busy life, those essential walks can be difficult to fit into their schedules. This is why dog walkers now provide a standard service available in nearly every city and region. The important thing to remember is that while dog walking services provide common services like an actual walk for a dog, each dog walking service is unique in the details of its available services. So for example, some dogs may walk with other dogs from the neighborhood, and some may have a private walk, some walks may be longer and some shorter, and so on. If you're thinking of hiring a professional dog walking service, read on for information that can help you make the best choice.
Dog walking includes walking the pet and cleaning up after them. It also includes going to the house and securing the premises again after the walk, but dog walking is not pet sitting per se. If pet sitting is involved, it will depend on arrangements between the dog walker and their customer.
A computer search (including zip code) will reveal the largest number of available services nearby. Contact familiar veterinarian offices which can recommend a known dog walker or consult friends and neighbors for direct feedback on local businesses.
No. Pet sitting is more involved and includes feeding, medication, socializing, trips to the vet, inspecting the living area for problems that have occurred in the absence of the owner, and more. Dog walking is a basically a walk for the dog for exercise.
Professional dog walkers have insurance and licensing for their business. This can bring peace of mind for some dog owners. Although the neighborhood teen may not have licensing, they may still make a fine dog walker. World renowned Cesar Milan started out that way.
Dogs that have medical or behavioral issues should probably be walked separately from other dogs. A good dog walker will tell you if the specific issue is one they can manage. Open discussion between owner and walker can often clear the way for a dog to enjoy their walk with a dog walker.
Walks can vary from 15 minutes to much longer. Generally speaking, the average dog walking service walks each dog for about half an hour. Much of this depends upon the area for the walk, the time of day, even the time of year, and other considerations.
Anywhere from $5 to $50 per walk shows the largest probable range. The reason this varies so much is because of regional economics, the length of walks, the number of dogs, and whether the dog walker is professional or just a student making a few extra bucks. The fee also needs to reflect the amount of training the dog walker has, their transportation costs, and other details.
The details of dog walking again depend on the individual service. Some services provide their own equipment (which affects the fee) while others simply use the dog owner's equipment. Dogs often prefer their own leash, for instance.
There is no official record for how many have been walked at once, but in many cities (in particular) ordinances have been passed that set limits of no more than 5 or 6 dogs for simultaneous walking. Dog walking services generally provide private walks as well as group walks.
A good place to start would be Pet Sitters International or National Association of Professional Pet Sitters. Either organization can provide information on training, licensing, and more. Contacting local municipalities will provide helpful knowledge of local ordinances as well.