Before you hire a dog walker

It seems every other day now new posts are popping up on social media offering dog walking, which is worrying given the current rise in dog thefts. So before you choose any old Joe Bloggs to walk your dog you should check out if they are actually a professional!

What is a professional dog walker

Sadly our industry currently is not regulated, which means anyone can offer paid walking services (though there is news that this will change soon, woohoo!) So what should you look for before hiring a dog walker?

Are they insured?

Things can go wrong on a walk and any good dog walker will have public liability insurance.

Have they been DBS/CRB checked?

You’re letting a complete stranger into your home when you aren’t there, you want to ensure they have no criminal record right, but are they also on the Governments ‘Update Service’? This system will show if they have or do commit any criminal act. Where as a certificate alone only covers them for the past not the present and future.

Do they have any qualifications in dog behaviour?

Though this is not a requirement it is possible it will be in the future and any great walker will either have qualifications or be undergoing some sort of education to expand their knowledge.

Understanding dog behaviour is vital for anyone who works with them. A dog walker’s job is to make sure the welfare of the dog comes first, and if they display any behaviour such as fear, aggression, nervousness then the walker should know not only how to read it, but how best to handle them in any situation so they remain calm and happy.

Also a walker should be able to read the body language of any dog, be it the one they are walking or those being walked by other people so they can predict the outcome if their dogs meet. There are too many dogs off lead that cause other dogs distress, especially if you’re walking one on lead. So it is up to the walker to be able to pick the right course of action so the dog/s in their care remain stress free.

Are they pet first aid trained and do they take a pet first aid kit out with them?

You’d be surprised how much a walker may need to use their pet first aid kit, especially if walking a group of dogs.

Accidents happen all the time, dogs when they play with one another can get all kinds of scrapes and nicks which will need to be tended too to ensure they don’t become infected. Also they can cut their paws, claws can rip and much more. Every professional dog walker will of undergone pet first aid training and that training MUST be updated every 3 years.

Transportation safety

Any dog walker using a vehicle should ensure that they transport the dogs as stated by highway code 57: 'When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly. A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars.’

Those using a car it would be best to have the dog in the boot either strapped in, or in a crate so when they open the boot the dog cannot bolt out. Walkers who use vans should have a cage system set up, look for those who use the proper welded cages for extra safety and peace of mind, as house crates will collapse in on themselves and wooden cages will likely splinter on impact which could injure the dog.

Also if you are hiring a walker for group walks, ask if they have a means to separate the dogs whilst in the vehicle. After all dogs do get excited when they see one another and may jump around playing which can be very dangerous, but also travel can be incredibly stressful for some dogs and dividing them will prevents dog fights breaking out mid drive.

Do they offer a meet & greet, as well as a first walk together

All professional dog walkers should offer you a meet & greet before taking your dog out, this is a chance for you to meet the walker, ask any questions you may have, see how your dog interacts with them and you'll be given the paper work to complete before services begin.

Also if you are concerned that the walker might not be able to handle your dog then ask if you can go on a walk together they should of allotted time for this, that way you can see first hand how your walker handles real life situations with your dog.

Dog walkers who go the extra mile

Background in training

The last thing you want is for your dog walker to undo all your hard work in training your dog right? After all a lot of owners pay an awful lot of money to train their dogs and have a walker not know how to continue that training is money wasted.

Also dog walkers should be able to train a dog in a reliable recall on a long line before attempting to let them off, just because your dog comes back for you, doesn’t mean they will for a walker they do not know or trust. It takes time to form a bond and train a dog to come when called, so make sure your walker has knowledge in this.

GPS tracker

Letting dogs off lead will always present a risk and some dogs do run off, either they’ve got spooked while out or decided to chase a small furry animal. If they were to go out of sight then how does any dog walker expect to find them without a live tracking system? This is why I use one to give the owners and myself peace of mind while out on a trail.

So when you come to hire a dog walker, make sure they have all the requirements you want before you trust them with your member of the family. I know I don’t let just anyone take Miku out that’s for sure!