While every dog owner wishes they could spend all day with their pup, many need to turn to a dog walking service to keep their dog healthy and active. Finding the perfect dog walker is no walk in the park. Here are our top tips to help you in your search for the right dog walking service.
Dog Walking Service or Independent Walker?
You’ll first need to decide whether a dog walking service or the neighborhood college student who walks in their free time is best for you. There are pros and cons to both options. For the purposes of this post, we’ll focus on what look for in a dog walking service.
Do They Have Walkers in Your Area?
Many local dog walking services in metropolitan areas keep their walking territories confined to a few specific neighborhoods. When searching for a service, this should be your first question. You don’t want to waste your time communicating with a service only to later find out they don’t walk where you live.
Fortunately, there are dog walking services now like Barkly Pets who have large networks of qualified and trained walkers throughout entire metropolitan areas to guarantee coverage for their customers.
What Training and Vetting Do Their Walkers Receive?
Being a dog walker is more than just holding a leash and walking around the block. The best walkers have years of experience and are trained in animal behavior. Some questions to consider:
- Do they run criminal background checks on their walkers, and are these checks run once or recurring?
- Does a staff member meet the dog walkers in-person?
- Do they require previous experience to qualify as a walker?
- Are you able to see references and reviews of the walkers?
Often, you’ll want to do some of your own vetting as well. Does the service your considering allow you to meet your dog walker before starting? One big red flag is if they charge for these initial meetings.
How Many Dogs Do They Walk at Once?
Will your dog receive individual attention during walks or will they be joined by other neighborhood dogs. This is a matter of preference. You know your dog best and will know if they are a good fit for group walks or if they need that one-on-one time.
Are They Insured and Bonded?
Your home, possessions, and the safety of your dog will be in the dog walker’s hands. It’s important to know if the dog walking service has insurance and is bonded should anything ever happen. Pet sitting insurance has become standard in the industry, but it’s always a good idea to verify.
Do They Use Technology to Support Their Service?
It’s not uncommon for services to use technology to build in layers of transparency. Much of the technology used by local services can still feel clunky and outdated. Dog walking apps have become more common recently and offer a better experience. The up-to-the-minute notifications, GPS-tracked routes, photos, and post walk reports make it feel like you’re right there walking right alongside your dog.
