A dog is no doubt, an amazing creature to have around in your home, especially as a pet. However, being a loving pet parent comes with responsibilities such as feeding your pet and ensuring that he or she remains fit and healthy. For him to be happy and remain healthy, your furry friend needs regular exercise, preferably on a daily basis. Going for walks or jogs with your dog can be enough exercise. However, not every pet owner may find time to walk or jog with their dog, especially in today’s wanting economy that keeps most of us juggling as many balls as we can. This is where professional dog walker services come in handy.
But you can’t trust just anyone to take good care of your best friend. You need a reliable, reputable and experienced dog walker if at all you’re going to be comfortable leaving your four-legged companion in the hands of a total stranger. Well, making a decision on which walking service to hire for your pet can be a challenging and daunting affair. To help you make a wise, informed decision, here are 5 tips to choosing a good dog walking service you should look at.
- Ask Around
Owning a pooch already, higher chances are that you might know one or a few people who own dogs probably in your neighborhood. Out of those, one of them could be using a dog walker already. Ask for recommendations and don’t stop there. Go ahead and expand your research to come up with a list of at least 3-5 recommended dog walkers near you. You can even ask for recommendations from your vet or other dog owners during pet shows.
- Let Them Meet Your Dog
Once you get recommended to a particular dog walking service or several, it’s time to have them meet your pooch. You want to be sure that your dog will be comfortable around the person who’ll be walking him. Expert dog walkers have a way of attracting even the shyest or most aggressive dogs into bonding and chemistry.
- Ask the Right Questions
Before hiring a dog walker, you’ll want to establish a few things. Ask questions such as where the service provider will walk your dog, how long the walks will be, and whether your dog will be walked by the same person every time. Seek to know whether or not the walker is bonded, licensed and insured too. It’s also important to ask about their walking methods and equipment used during walks to ensure that your dog will be safe around the person.
- Consider Training and Experience
You’ll also be more comfortable leaving your dog with a highly trained and experienced dog walker. Find out if the particular walker has enough experience dealing with canines. For instance, you could ask about their first aid skills, and how they respond to emergency situations.
- Take a Test Walk
Going for a test walk with your pooch and your walker will also be helpful in making the right hiring choice. See how they conduct themselves and the level of care they give to your dog during this short trip. You can easily spot pretenders by being keen during the test walk.
After comparing two or three dog walking services using the above pointers, it’s easier to tell which one is the best fit for your canine buddy. Trust your guts when making your hiring decision and avoid hiring a dog walker in whom you’re having second thoughts.
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