Dogs are part of the family, and very important to their owners, but if they are tied up with work outside of the home the owner may not have the time to walk their dog on a daily basis. So they turn to a service to fulfill their pets need for exercise, and companionship during the day when they are no available. But, how does one find a dog walker they can trust? After all we are talking about a member of the family, and finding an individual who is trustworthy and caring is extremely important. So what does one do to find a trustworthy dog walker who will properly care for the family pet? What does one even look for in a dog walker?
When looking for an individual to care for the family dog the first thing to do is to ask relatives and friends if they know of anyone who is trustworthy. The Veterinarian that cares of the dog is also a good source, as they may know other individuals with the same need. If these methods do not work then placing an advertisement in the paper with expectations of the potential dog walker listed. Set up an interview with each individual, and give them time to interact with the dog. If the dog does not like the potential dog walker; or trust them, it is a good indication that the two will not be a good match.
* Questions to ask during the interview:
1. Are they bonded and insured, in the case of any loss or the dog is mishandled?
2. Ask for at least three references, and call the people listed to make sure if the dog walker is trustworthy.
3. Will they also feed, and water the dog after the exercise?
4. If the dog has special needs as in the case of an older dog, will they also take care of those needs?
5. Will they walk the dog with other pets, or will they be caring only for one pet at a time?
6. If the family pet is a puppy and in need of training and discipline; how will the dog walker take care of those needs?
7. Will they clean up excrement after the dog, or are they going to leave it on the floor?
8. How long and how many times of day are they going to care for the dog?
* After the dog walker is hired how does one assess their capabilities?
1. Ask a neighbor who is home during the day to observe the dog walkers trustworthiness. Are they actually coming to the house as instructed, and how much time are they taking up with the family pet?
2. Go with the dog walker on occasion to watch them interact with the dog.
3. Observe the pet are they happy, or do they appear depressed, or anxious when around people? If the dogs temperament has negatively changed then that is a good sign of neglect.
4. Remember the dog walker not only has access to the family pet, but the family’s home as well so if objects are broken or missing then it is a good sign that the dog walker is not as trustworthy as they first appeared.
