I am a dog walker based in Leeds (caring for people's pets is literally my job!) but when it comes to choosing care for my own pets I am just a little paranoid and slightly over the top... But that's because my pets are my children and letting someone else take care of them is a really big thing for me. You'd be surprised at how many customers we have had over the years that have come to us after bad experiences with their current pet care provider and you'd be even more surprised to learn of how many of those pet care providers I've seen acting in a way that I wouldn't even dream of, directly towards the animals in their care. So, how do you know who to trust? I've come up with 5 questions below that I think are the most important things to ask when it comes to choosing a dog walker. These questions come from my own experience as both a dog walker and a dog mum and I think alone and combined, they'd give you a pretty good idea about who it is you're considering to be your dog walker. I hope this helps! - Auntie Rach x
1.What kind of walk would best suit your dog?
You might want to sit down because we're about to blow your mind... Dogs are NOT pack animals. Yes, you read that right, you've been lied to your whole life! Dogs are sociable animals, yes, but they're not pack animals. In fact, the very same scientist that came up with the pack/dominance theory actually spent the rest of his career trying to disprove it. Every dog has it's own individual personality, likes and dislikes. Some dogs might enjoy group walks but others can actually find group settings really quite uncomfortable. What kind of walk would your dog like the most in the world? It's your dog walker's job to take the time to understand your dog's needs and get to know them to ensure your dog is given a walk that he/she will really enjoy. After all, that's what it's all about!
2.Does your dog walker have favourable knowledge of animal behaviour?
Owning a dog and working with dogs are two very different things. Dogs are complex animals and your dog walker must have a good understanding of dog behaviour in order to ensure that your dog is happy, safe and comfortable at all times. Dogs and their walkers come into contact with different and "scary" situations all the time; interacting with other people and other dogs on walks, mixing your dog with others, travelling in their walker's vehicle, having your dog walker inside your home, exploring new environments... you get the picture. It is incredibly important that your dog walker can read your dog's body language to know exactly how your dog is feeling and what your dog is thinking. Being able to understand dog behaviour ensures that your dog is never forced into a situation that they feel uncomfortable in and if a situation does arise that upsets your dog, their walker notices immediately and acts accordingly. Whether it's something big or something seemingly small, it all adds up to the overall experience.
3.How will my dog walker handle "unwanted" behaviour from my dog?
Imagine your dog doesn't cope in a stressful situation and starts to exhibit an undesired behaviour; maybe he humps another dog due to being overstimulated or barks at a dog that has first reacted to them, how will your dog walker react? If you ask this question and your dog walker mentions the word "dominance", run for the hills! Positive reinforcement is absolutely always the answer. Dogs are animals, after all, and they're going to do things we'd rather they didn't sometimes, it's a fact of life. But your dog walker should absolutely never break the trust that they have with your dog by shouting at them or using any kind of force to obtain their desired results, including "lead popping" for a dog that is pulling or reacting. Your dog walker should work with you and your dog and never be the reason for your dog to feel vulnerable or afraid, they should be someone that your dog can look to in a stressful situation to feel protected and cared for.
4.Does your dog walker have a procedure for emergencies?
I know, I know, it's an awful thought but it's definitely a conversation worth having. Your dog walker should take down the details of your preferred veterinary practice at your initial meeting but they should also have their own procedures in place, just in case. This should include a procedure for both accident and injury to the dogs in their care and themselves. If nothing else, it's a great peace of mind to know that your dog's safety is always and the forefront of your dog walker's mind.
5.Does your dog walker have your dog's best interests at heart?
Going over the questions and answers that you've already explored, do you feel satisfied that your dog walker is caring for your dog to highest of their ability? Take into consideration why your dog walker is doing this job in the first place, what their code of ethics are for their company and what they are offering you and your dog. This combined with the specifics that you personally require from your walker will ensure you make an informed decision on who looks after your furry child when you can't.
So, yeah, that's pretty much it! Alongside these questions, though, I'd always recommend to 100% trust your instincts. Trust the vibe that someone gives you, trust how they talk about and treat the dogs around them and trust that your dog would tell you if something doesn't quite feel right.
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