About 10 years ago, when my black lab/ German Shephard X pooch, Damien, was young, I was on maternity leave and able to take him for walks to the dog park every day. In fact, it was my favourite time of the day, just being able to get outside was good for him, me, and the baby! It was actually a saving grace just to have a reason to leave the house.

However, as we know, mat leave is temporary. A fleeting moment in time. Before I knew it, I was back to work full-time, my son was in daycare, and poor Damien was left to his own devices at home by himself. 

I was fortunate enough to live within walking distance to my work, so I could come home at lunch and let him out quickly before rushing back to work.

It was not long before I realized that this was not going to work long-term. I couldn’t always get away at lunchtime and I just did not have enough time at the end of the day to take Damien for a decent walk. 

He was a great dog, companion, friend, and deserved more than weekend outings. There was no question about it, I felt guilty about his lack of daily exercise. I needed to do something about it.

Fortunately, a friend of mine used a dog walker for her little pooch a few days a week and was able to refer me to her. 

I felt confident deciding to hire Janice as our dog walker because my friend spoke very highly of her and I had personally seen her in our neighbourhood with happy dogs all around.

Janice and Damien got along so well, it was awesome. He was getting out a few days a week for some much-needed long, energy-burning walks, and I had a little bit of weight lifted from my shoulders knowing he was getting adequately exercised by someone he and I trusted.

I used Janice’s services for years until we moved out of that neighbourhood. I will always be grateful for the joy that she brought into Damien’s life.

Why hire a dog walker?

My #1 reason for hiring a dog walker was TIME. I just did not have enough of it each day to be able to walk my dog as much as he deserved. However, time is just one of many reasons why you should hire a dog walker.

Time

Sometimes there are just not enough hours in a day and some things have to give. Having a reliable dog walker to count on can help free up a bit of your precious time, all the while having a happy, healthy dog.

Stress Relief

It’s incredibly stressful knowing that you have to run home at lunch or after work and take out your pooch, all the while thinking about what you’re making for dinner, who’s picking up the kids from school, etc. 

Being able to remove one thing from your piled-up plate can help relieve just a tiny bit of your daily stress.

Happy Dog

Your dog is able to get out and socialize with other dogs on a regular basis. This burns out energy and you’re left with a happy, tired dog when you come in at night.

Daily Exercise

We all need to get outside and burn off energy every day, including your pooch! Daily exercise goes a long way to leading to a happy, well-behaved poocher.

Socialization

Just like humans, dogs benefit from being around others as well. Being at home alone all day is lonely, getting out to sniff and play on a regular basis is hugely beneficial for positive behavior development.

Bathroom breaks

Need I say more? 

Guilt-free

Working that extra hour will no longer have you worrying about finding enough time to walk your pooch when you get home. You will have peace of mind knowing that your furry bestie has already had a good walk and will just be happy to see you when you walk in the door.

Improved behaviour

Daily exercise and socialization often lead to improved behaviour in dogs. A tired dog is a happy dog who may not have enough energy to find your favourite shoes to chew on!

Mental stimulation

Getting outside and sniffing, tracking, and playing is amazing mental stimulation for dogs. Being able to experience different people and pets on a regular basis helps keep your pooch from getting bored, which can lead to destructive behaviour.

Happy Human

From my experience, knowing that your pooch is getting worn out each day and returning home tired and happy definitely leads to a happy human (you!) Having less stress and less guilt in your life means you can enjoy more of it. And your pooch is thankful as well!

How dog walking benefits Your Pooch

While I have touched on a few of the benefits of regular walks, I wanted to reiterate the importance of regular exercise for your pooch.

Weight

Regular exercise helps burn off any excess calories your poocher may have consumed and keep them at their optimal weight.

Joint Health

Dog’s joints get stiff if sedentary for too long, keeping joints in motion improves their function.

Digestive Health

Regular walking helps regulate the digestive tract. This can help prevent constipation.

Urinary Health

When urine sits in the bladder for too long, it can cause bladder infections. Regular emptying of the bladder helps prevent bladder infections from happening. 

How to Find A Dog Walker

I highly recommend getting a referral from a friend or family member if possible. That way they are already vetted and you can be fairly confident that they will do a good job.

If you don’t know anyone who uses a dog walker, I recommend hitting up a local Facebook group and asking if anyone has any recommendations. This way you are still getting a referral but from a virtual friend instead. 

You can always ask the almighty Google as well. Dog walking services such as Rover and Wag will pop up, which are good resources that you might want to try out if they operate in your area.

The type of relationship you want from your dog walker will ultimately help you decide to go for an individual dog walker or a dog walking company. 

Jessica from notesfromadogwalker.com explains the difference very well:

Solo dog walkers are like shopping at a small, locally-owned store: highly personal relationships, flexible service, but with individual quirks and varying availability.

Dog walking companies are more like shopping at a large store: increased convenience, more accountability, but with more rules and less personalized service.

There really is no right or wrong answer here, go with who works best with you and your pooch. Keep in mind that even with a large company, there is very little oversight. Most of the time it is going to be a dog walker and your pooch. There won’t be a boss looking over the shoulder of an employee making sure they are doing a good job.

At the end of the day, you have to trust your dog walker whether they work for themselves or for a service.

What to look for in a dog walker

When you have chosen a couple of dog walkers to interview, here is what to expect:

A Meet and Greet

This is a meeting between you, your pooch, and a potential dog walker. The goal is to see if both you and your dog are compatible with the dog walker. There should be no charge for this initial meeting, as it is basically like an interview. 

I always bring my dog along to meet and greets because he walks with all of the dogs and I want to make sure everyone gets along as best as possible.

Interaction

Watch the interaction between your pooch and dog walker during the meet and greet. Your dog should run up to the dog walker with excitement unless it is a very shy dog. 

The dog walker should also be excited as their job is all about dogs, so they should have a huge smile on their face and genuinely want to play with your dog.

Shy or Anxious Pooch

If your dog is shy and takes a bit to warm up to a new person, watch and see how the dog walker handles this situation. 

Does she force interaction or hang back and let your pooch lead the way?

Always be watching your pooch and the cues he/she is giving you.

Ask to go on a walk with the dog walker and your pooch

This can just be a short walk at your meet and greet visit to give you an idea of how they will handle your pooch on their walks alone. Get the potential dog walker to put on your dog’s collar and leash to see how they walk with your pooch. 

‘Fess up

If your dog has any medical or behaviour issues, tell the dog walker so that you both can work out a plan to mitigate these potential pitfalls. 

Likewise, you want to make sure that the dog walker has the skills to handle your pooch.

For example, not all dog walkers are able to handle aggressive dogs, so it would be good to disclose that behaviour so the dog walker can do the responsible thing and decline. This saves time for both of you.

Pooch Proof

Find out how you will know that your pooch has gotten out that day. Work out a system with your dog walker to notify you when they have taken out your pooch. This may be a little note on your counter, a text, or a phone call.

Accountability is key and since you aren’t there to actually see the dog walker take out your pooch, it’s important to have some sort of notification system in place.

Questions to Ask A Potential Dog Walker

Do you have liability insurance?

If my dog gets hurt, who pays the vet bill?

Do you have a contract outlining services?

What are your rates?

Do you have a cancellation policy?

What form of payment do you accept?

Do you have References?

What time will you be coming each day?

At the end of the day, you have to trust your gut. Who did you and your pooch get along with the most? It’s a daunting feeling to leave the keys to your house with basically a complete stranger and trust the well-being of your furry bestie with them. 

The good news is that the majority of dog walkers are good people. Of course, there are some bad apples in the bunch but they are few and far between. You’re going to have to take a leap of faith and trust your gut.

Honestly, one of the best decisions I ever made was getting a dog walker when I just did not have enough time to exercise my pooch. It led to a happier dog and a happier me and I trust it will do the same for you.

If you have experience with dog walkers please leave a comment. I want to hear about the good, the bad, and the ugly!