Benefits of hiring a Dog Walker

Owning a dog comes with a lot of responsibility, not least when it comes to making sure your pooch gets a regular walk. Dogs receive a lot of benefits from walks such as improved cardiovascular health, stronger bones and of course, socialisation with other dogs. 

Though due to a busy lifestyle, illness or even just trying to balance childcare, it might not be possible to walk your dog yourself all of the time. To ensure your pet remains happy and healthy, enlisting the services of a dog walker is essential. 

Here is a guide to hiring a dog walker to tell you everything you need to know. 

Benefits of hiring a Dog Walker

• Promotes health & happiness in dogs

• Trusted professionals take good care of your pet

• Frees up time in a busy schedule

• Ideal for those who are physically unable to walk their dog

• Flexible to suit your needs

How often should a dog be walked?

Most dogs require between 30 minutes and 2 hours worth of walks a day. The true time depends on the breed of your dog and its overall condition. For example, an energetic cocker spaniel needs lots of exercise and stimulation, and will be chomping at the bit to get on their walk! However, an English bulldog would probably rather have a snooze instead. 

An experienced dog walker will be able to advise you about how much exercise your dog needs. They may also take energetic breeds to walking locations that have more challenging terrain, allowing them to burn off much more energy in less time. 

Dog Walking versus pet sitting

You may be considering hiring a dog walker because you don’t have time to walk your dog yourself. But, it’s also good to have a think whether your dog would benefit from pet sitting, especially if you aren’t able to be with your dog during the day. Dogs need lots of attention and can display challenging behaviour if they are left alone for long periods. 

Dog sitting includes dog walking, feeding and playing. It can either be carried out at your home or at a special facility. Known as ‘doggy daycare’, dog sitting effectively acts as a nursery but for your dog! Though of course, one downside is that dog sitting is more expensive than dog walking. 

If you have plenty of time for your dog, but it just requires some additional walks, then a dog walker is the best option. However, dog sitting is there for your pet when you can’t be. 

What to look out for

Anyone can call themselves a dog walker, so it’s important they are experienced and trustworthy. There are regulators for dog walkers such as NarpsUK. Whenever you are based in the world, check what dog walking regulators exist in your country to help you choose the right professional. 

Ask the dog walker how often they would be able to fit your dog in for a walk. Your pet is going to require consistency, especially if it’s a long term requirement. Some dog walkers may also have specialist training such as animal first aid.

If your dog has not been trained and does not know how to behave on a lead or shows aggression towards other dogs, it may not be suitable for dog walking. After all, the dog walker needs to be able to keep control of the dog so that everyone remains safe. In such a case, consider investing in dog training first.