Professional Dog Walkers

While the phenomenon is yet to sweep across Australia, in the United States professional dog walking is a fast growing industry with organisations such as the National Association of Professional Dog Walkers (NAPDW) being established to support and educate dog walkers and pet owners. Members (the dog walkers) agree to a Code of Ethics, provide insurance and preferably have studied one of the many courses now being offered in order to become a professional dog walker.

Regular dog walking, exercise, re-enforcement training and socialisation have many benefits – it promotes a healthy social temperament, decreases separation anxiety, lowers stress and can even prevent behaviour problems. Utilising such a service can also reduce elimination problems.

If you are considering employing a professional dog walker to care for your animals during the long hours you are away from home, consider then that their responsibility is not an easy one. Firstly, a dog walker must understand the various kinds of dog training techniques available and be able to provide re-enforcement training as specified by the pet owner. This ensures that the dog walking session or backyard playtime is stimulating, fun, rewarding and challenging for the animal.

Secondly, a dog walker will have to consider the care and treatment of those pets with diabetes, epilepsy and other special care cases that may involve providing an injection or support throughout an episode. Furthermore, they will be insured and aware of council dog laws in your area. Lastly, they are dog lovers and will provide the reliability and integrity that comes with running their own business. They may charge, but the long-term benefits of a well-exercised and healthy animal should outweigh this concern.

It is not necessary for the dog walker to remove the animal from your premises. The dog walker can just turn up, take your dog outside in the backyard and play with them for 30 minutes for toileting, training, a game of fetch, lots of tummy scratches and a brush.

A professional dog walker may ask to see proof of registration and request that your pet is properly tagged. They may also ask for proof of vaccinations and if your dog is spayed or neutered. Dog walkers will generally not agree to take an undesexed animal off your property, but they will agree to backyard playtime as an alternative.

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