When your job demands the majority of your time, it’s hard to do more than struggle into the front door and collapse into bed. Still, you have other responsibilities, too: cleaning the house, making sure bills are paid, hanging out with the kids, feeding the pooch, etc. But what happens to your furry, four-legged friend while you’re gone during the day?
The Importance of Walking the Dog
Dogs need to be walked daily. The act helps keep their bones strong and the dog entertained; after all, very little is worse than a bored dog in a home. They’ll find a way to entertain themselves, even if that means tearing apart everything on the lower shelves of your bookcase or devouring the new couch you just bought. Walking the dog also helps to keep them sociable, as they’re exposed to a number of different people and other dogs. This is important to prevent Fido from becoming too aggressive after being alone for a time. If you can’t get home to walk him, find someone who can.
Hiring a Professional
You might be surprised to learn that professional dog walkers exist. These men and women make it their mission to ensure animals get the proper care and exercise they need. It’s not just high school students, either; men and women from all walks of life are stepping into the profession. Because people are so busy with their day to day lives, demand for dog walkers is high. Pet owners prefer to spend their downtime playing and petting their dog rather than going back on the streets, and they’re willing to pay for that convenience.
Professional dog walkers make between $30,000 and $45,000 per year according to most reports. This equates to about $12 or $20 per walk, but that price largely varies by city and state. The availability of walkers and the demand for them in your area will determine prices, and some charge weekly rates rather than daily. It’s worth investigating.
Finding a Quality Dog Walker
Of course, if you’re going to entrust the care of your best friend to a stranger, you need to make sure of a few things beforehand. There are several questions you should ask a prospective walker or company before making any agreement with them, including:
1. Do they have insurance?
Accidents happen, and it’s important to know that your pet’s veterinary bills will be covered. A professional dog walker will have insurance to cover any event like this. If they don’t, move on to another.
2. Does the company perform background checks on their walkers?
Dog walking companies should perform thorough background checks on all employees. After all, you wouldn’t want a former dog fighter walking your beloved pet. In addition, most walkers will have access to your home, so it’s important to know they can be trusted.
3. Will the same walker be arriving every day?
We talked with Blue Chip Pet Care of Charlotte about questions they would ask, and this was a big one for them that they say people forget. They said, “If you’re working with a company rather than an independent contractor, it’s important to find out whether the same person will be coming to walk your dog each day, or if there will be different people. If there will be multiple walkers, make sure to sit down and speak with each of them personally. It’s important for you to know their personality and habits.”
4. How many dogs do they walk at once?
Some animals have socialization issues. If your pet is one of them, make sure the walker knows so that no fights occur between animals.
5. Ask for referrals.
Find out what previous customers have to say about the company before you decide. It’s important to know you can trust them and that they deliver a high value service, so a bit of investigation would not be amiss.
Walking your dog is important, but you’re also busy. Hiring a dog walker means your pet gets the exercise it needs even if you can’t provide it.
