How to find the right dog walker for you

There are a lot of great reasons to hire a dog walker.

So here are some tips on finding dog walkers, and on the questions you should ask to ensure that you’re choosing the best dog walker for your pup and your situation.

Where to look for a dog walker: There are as many dog walkers out there as there are reasons for needing one. Here are some ideas on the best places to begin your search.

Ask your dog-owning family members, friends, co-workers and neighbors if they use a dog walker they can recommend: Maybe they can even help you out? Maybe one of your neighbors has a responsible older child at home who loves to exercise and is looking to make some extra money? Your “network” can be a great place to start, depending on what your dog walking needs are.

Ask your dog trainer: Not only might they have a dog walker or two to recommend, but many trainers offer “training walks” as a service themselves. This can be great if it’s not just physical exercise your pup needs, but also some mental exercise and refreshers on their behavioral skills. If your dog is having issues with loose leash walking, some “training walks” can help make all of your walks with your pup more enjoyable, too.

Interview the dog walker before you hire them: Once you’ve found a couple of potential candidates, there are some important questions you should ask. You need to trust your dog walker not just with your dog’s health and activity, but also with their safety. And, in many cases, your dog walker will also be given access to your home. So these interviews aren’t something that you want to overlook.