For most pet owners, their fur babies are full-on members of the family.  Whenever you’re forced to leave their care in somebody else’s hands, it’s important that you find someone who best fits your needs.  Here are some tips to keep in mind to help you find the perfect dog walker.

Know your dog

You know your dog’s personality better than anybody else.  As the owner, you have the best gage of what type of walker you’re in the market for.  If your dog is on the more energetic side, it’d be smart to make sure you get a walker to take them out for extended periods of time so they get their exercise fix.  

Some dogs are naturally anxious and nervous around people. If you fall into that category, be sure to find a walker with experience dealing with the situation.  Dogs feed off our energy, so having a dog walker trained to instill calmness in your dog will be a huge factor, especially in the introductory phases of their relationship.

If you happen to own a mastiff that weighs over 100 pounds, it’s a good idea to make sure your walker is physically fit and strong enough to control your animal while you’re out.  The key to a safe, mutually enjoyable walk is having the dog relaxed and completely under your control.  Nobody wins if the dog is dragging the walker across the neighborhood and yanking shoulders from sockets.

Ask the right questions

It’s a job interview after all.  You want to make sure that your selection is responsible, committed, and friendly.  Make sure you ask the questions that are most unique to your own situation.

According to James Tysseling of Canine Retreat by AKC, you should find out what they like most about being a dog walker right off the bat.  He explains, “This typically leads to answers to the most frequent questions we hear asked.  Not all dog walkers are as human-social as they are dog-social..so abbreviated answers may simply be their personality and not representative of their performance.  On the flip side, you need to be comfortable—so be sure to share your expectations upfront.”  

Some other questions to keep in mind:

• Where do you plan on walking my dog?

• Are you experienced with my dog’s breed?

• Are you licensed, bonded, and insured?

Keep the line of communication open

It’s natural for owners to want updates on how their furry family members are doing.  Have your walker leave you a short message detailing their time together on that particular day.  If you know your dog has certain habits on walks, ask your walker if he or she has noticed the behavior as well.  This will give you a gauge of how much your walker is actually paying attention to your pet while walking.

Let your walker know about any odd behaviors as well.  For example, if your dog doesn’t socialize well with other dogs, it’s helpful to let your walker know ahead of time so they could avoid that situation.

There’s a lot that goes into choosing the right dog walker for you.  You want your dog to comfortable around their walker just like they are around you.  Keep these tips in mind to help find the perfect match!