How to find the best dog walking company in San Francisco

Do I Need a Dog Walker? How to Find & Choose The Right One For You.

Whether your dog is an active puppy who demands a few kilometers of daily jogging or a couch potato, all dogs require exercise and mental stimulation.

According to the American Kennel Club “What if you work long hours, have an irregular schedule, or are physically incapable of providing your dog with the necessary exercise? You may want to consider hiring a dog walker if you are a conscientious pet owner.” As with hiring a babysitter, selecting the correct dog walker is a significant matter; he is accountable for your dog’s well-being and safety throughout their time together. Additionally, you are essentially opening your home to a stranger. “Trust and safety are the two most critical aspects to consider when selecting the appropriate dog walker,” says Nancy Bernard, a San Francisco-based certified dog trainer and behaviorist.

Preparation for Hiring a Dog Walker

• Be specific about the requirements. A passion for animals does not automatically qualify someone as a competent dog walker. As Bethany Stevens, owner of On the Move Pet Care in Rochester, New York, puts it, “…to be a professional dog walker, you need expertise working with animals of different shapes, sizes, and personalities…” You’ll want someone who is knowledgeable with dog behavior. According to Russell Hartstein, “Dog behavior is how dogs communicate and exhibit emotions such as love, fear, and stress, and if a dog handler does not recognize the dog’s unique and subtle cues, the dog and anybody else in the vicinity may be in danger.”
• Recognize your dog and her needs. Certain breeds of dogs like sniffing (and peeing on) practically every blade of grass. Others spot a squirrel and flee. While some are courteous on a leash, others may get hostile. Your ageing Dachshund may saunter a few blocks and then slumber, whereas your neighbor’s Border Collie may require a nice run. Prior to selecting the best dog walker, it is necessary to understand your dog’s habits.
• Determine how frequently you will require the dog walker’s services. Daily, twice daily? Is it only when you’re required to work late? Your prospective dog walker must understand when his services will be necessary.
• Establish a budget. The amount of money you’re willing to spend may dictate who is available to you. You may choose to conduct some study to determine the pricing range in your neighborhood.

How to Select the Perfect Dog Walker

Utilize your network

A fantastic place to begin is with recommendations. Consult with friends and other dog owners to see if they have any recommendations. Additionally, some websites can assist you in locating a dog walker in your region. Consider visiting Sitting for a Cause, Rover, Wag, and Pet Sitters International.

During interviews, ask the appropriate questions

Once you’ve identified a few possible dog walkers, have an interview with each and ask some critical and specific questions. The critical question is, “What do you enjoy most about your work as a walker?” This often results in responses to the most frequently asked questions. Because not all dog walkers are as kind as they are dog-friendly, abbreviated responses may reflect their personality rather than their performance. On the other hand, you need to feel secure — so communicate your expectations upfront.

Additional questions to consider include the following:

• Where are you going to walk my dog?
• Do you walk numerous dogs in a group or individually?
• How long will you spend on each walk with my dog?
• Are you familiar with dogs like mine?
• How long have you been walking dogs? (If they work for a dog walking service, enquire about their tenure with the organization.)
• Do you have a license, a bond, and insurance?
• Are you willing to provide client references?
• Have you taken any pet care courses, such as pet first aid?
• What is your cancellation policy, and what happens if you are unable to attend a scheduled day due to illness?

Arrange for meet-and-greets

After you’ve narrowed down your list of prospective dog walkers, it’s time for them to meet your dog; it’s critical to observe how the two communicate. Candy Pilar Godoy, a New York City blogger and owner of the website Boogie the Pug, says one of the best ways to determine whether you’ve found a trustworthy dog walker is to observe how your dog reacts to the person when they first meet. “Is your dog happy/excited or is he cowering?” Godoy inquires. As humans, we can gain a great deal of knowledge from a dog’s signs. You may even want to do a test walk together to determine whether the dog and people are a good match.

Benefits of hiring a Dog Walker

To be fair, we may be a little biased. However, the truth is that hiring a dog walker can have incredible benefits for both your pet and you. To help us research what benefits one can take advantage of by hiring a dog walker, we requested the help of a San Francisco-based dog walking company called 360 Dog Walker. The reason we asked them was that this company has been around for a long time and has five-star reviews from most of their customers. The owner Nancy Bernard is a certified dog walker and has trained with the world’s best dog trainers & walkers. The following are the top five reasons we believe hiring a dog walker is critical:

1. Health – Just like humans, pets require consistent and regular exercise to live long, healthy, and happy lives. The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention estimates that approximately 54% of dogs and cats in the United States are overweight. Numerous pets will develop certain health concerns throughout their lives that can simply be avoided or mitigated with proper exercise. Three or more 20+ minute walks every day is one of the absolute greatest strategies to keep your pet healthy.
2. Socialization and Stimulation – Walking provides your dog with necessary exercise while also stimulating his or her senses. While out for a stroll, your dog gets to see, smell, feel, and hear a variety of new and exciting things. This stimulation frequently includes interactions with other people or animals, which can be an excellent approach to assist your pup’s socialization. As humans, we frequently take these brief interactions and stimuli for granted, and it’s easy to forget that they’re frequently the highlights of our pet’s day.
3. Behavior — A weary dog is a good dog, simply put. Regular walking helps your pet burn off excess energy, which results in calmer behavior at home. With frequent, lengthy walks, your dog will be less likely to bark, chew, bite, or use the restroom indoors, among other undesirable behaviors.
4. Peace of Mind – Hiring a dog walker provides you with the assurance that your dog will be well cared for while you are away. With a daily dog walker, you won’t have to worry about staying late for work or if your dog doesn’t “finish” when you take them out in the morning. The idea that your dog will spend meaningful time outdoors during the day also helps alleviate any guilt or stress associated with your pooch being locked up alone for the most of the day, typically for eight or more hours. You may be confident that you are doing everything possible to ensure your pup’s health and happiness.
5. Time – We all lead hectic lives, and each minute is valuable. Consistently long walks can be tough to fit into our calendars at times. We frequently rise extra early, return home for lunch, and delay making dinner for our family in order to ensure our pets receive the care they require. With a regular dog walker. Your dog will still receive the exercise and attention they require, while you will gain valuable time back. Everybody benefits!

There are numerous additional reasons to engage a professional dog walker, but the benefits should be obvious by now. With our cheap alternatives, high-quality service, and experienced dog walkers, Wild Things Pet Services makes hiring a professional dog walker simple.