How to find the right Dog Walker  

How to find the right dog walker for your dog.  Where to look and importantly, what to ask when you contact someone. 

I’ve been a professional dog walker since June 2011.  I’ve seen all different kinds of dog walking services during that time and spoken to many, many lovely dog owners who are utterly confused about how it all works and how to select the right dog walker for their four legged family member. 

Not all dog walking services look the same and getting it right can help owners avoid any negative fall out down the line.  I’m going to say this right away, something I say to every new client when they start using my services, if you start using a dog walker (or doggy day care) and notice any changes in your dogs behaviour, they should be positive changes. 

A sudden nervousness/reluctance to get in the car, over the top inappropriate behaviour around other dogs (when the dog was previously calm), recall going to pot or fearful/reactive displays that are out of character, should all be red flags. 

Where to look for the right dog walker 

Go online and look at websites, this will give you a feel for the person behind the business, their experience and studies and crucially, how they intend to handle your dog.  You are looking for ‘force free dog walker’ or ‘reward based dog walker’ or ‘positive reinforcement dog walker’.  Contact a force free dog trainer and ask for a recommendation – they are likely to be tuned in to local Easingwold dog walker network and will likely be more than happy to help.  And then theres the pet shop, local vets and groomers –  these guys hear the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to dog walkers.   

Social Media is great for photos and getting an idea where dog walkers walk their dogs and seeing a bit more of their personality.  That said, if you ask on a FB group, be mindful of just taking the recommendations at face value.  Who are these people commenting?  Happy clients?  Fellow pet professionals, dog trainers and dog behaviourists?  I’m not on FB, but as I set up a new dog walking business in Easingwold, wouldn’t it be tempting to rope in all my family and friends to sing my praises every time a “can anyone recommend an Easingwold Dog Walker?” post pops up.  That’s just not my vibe though.   

What to ask when you contact a dog walker 

  • What are their credentials? What is their experience? Have they done any training?  

Walking other peoples dogs is not the same thing as caring for your own.  “I’ve had dogs all my life” should not suffice when you ask someone what makes them fit to look after your dog.  There are no official dog walking qualifications but there are loads of resources, books, online info, online courses and dog related seminars and workshops available (some of these CPD accredited).  Shadowing an experienced (and reputable) dog walker or joining classes as a spectator with a great trainer is also a great way to develop doggy knowledge. 

  • What handling methods do they use?  

You want to hear reward based/positive reinforcement not pack leader vibes. 

  • What do they know about canine behaviour and body language?  

Dog walkers must be able to recognise appropriate and inappropriate play, signs that a dog may be stressed, over whelmed, happy, relaxed …if they don’t know what to look for they won’t know how to assess your dog to see if they are suited to the kind of walks they are taking them on nor will they know when to step in before a situation escalates. 

  • Are they canine first aid trained? 

Online and classroom based training courses are available and inexpensive.  In order to stay up to date training should be refreshed. 

  • How will your dog be transported?  

If the dog walker uses a van it should be fitted with crates to separate the dogs, they should be big enough that the dogs can comfortably stand and turn around – the vehicle should also be well ventilated.  If they use a car they should use a harness and dog seat belt if the dogs are carried on the back seat, the boot should have a dog guard and divider to separate dogs from multiple homes.  This is in case of an accident to stop the dogs flying around and into one another – this could cause injury or a fight to break out.  

  • Who will be walking your dog? The business owner or one of their team? 

All the above questions should be applied to every person who will trusted to care for your dog.  What happens if a staff members leaves?  How do they recruit, vet their staff and ensure they are adequately trained?  Will you get to meet any new staff members before they are entrusted with your dog? 

  • How many dogs will your dog be walked with?  Where will they be collected from and will it be the same dogs on most walks? 

If the dog walker covers a large patch think about how long your dog will be in transit and how comfortable they will be.  Think about how your dog will cope with lots of new introductions (to other dogs) if it’s a larger company or one that has a lot of ad hoc clients. 

  • Where will your dog be walked?  

The options are usually footpaths and bridleways through fields and woodland/playing fields/hired enclosures – the Pros and Cons I will explain.  

Different types of dog walking services 

Puppy Care – pre vaccinations puppy care should be visits to your home.  Ask the dog walker how they will use this time – if they tell you its just for toileting, feeding and cuddles – keep looking!  Post vaccinations some dog walkers will allow puppies to join full group walks, others will offer mini walks as a step between visits and group walks. If you go for the first option, ask them to explain how walks are adjusted for puppies so they don’t over do it or feel overwhelmed.   

Solo Dog Walks – your dog will be walked on their own without other dogs 

PROS  if your dog doesn’t like being in a vehicle they can be walked from home 

if your dog is fearful of other dogs/bikes/people carrying umbrellas etc walks can be more carefully set up and managed to keep triggers at a safe distance and your dog below threshold 

if your dog does react the dog walker can adjust the walk to provide the opportunity for them to decompress (taking a detour and a long sniffy stop/cutting the walk short to go home and enjoy some enrichment games) 

CONS more expensive than group walks  

*although paying a behaviourist to help if things get worse/go wrong will cost more 

limited availability – you may need to be flexible around timings or consider two shorter walks 

NOTE – If your dog requires solo walks because they are fearful or likely to react its really important you ask their prospective dog walker what experience they have with dogs that need extra care and how they plan to walk your dog.  There is nothing worse than seeing someone out of their depth, pitching up at popular walking spots at prime walking time, wrestling dogs from their van into the field while they bark and lunge and practise unwanted behaviours and suffer the emotional and physical impact of being put in a situation they cannot cope with.   

Buddy Walks – your dog will be walked with one or two other dogs 

PROS great if your dog likes some canine company but is selective  

walks from home if they don’t like being in a vehicle 

great for building confidence especially in young dogs 

CONS usually more expensive than larger group walks 

availability may be more limited  

Group Walks – your dog will be collected from your home and driven somewhere for a walk with other dogs from different households. Average group size is usually 6 but could vary from 4 to 10 plus dogs. 

Playing Fields Walks 

PROS few potential hazards – no livestock or tractors limited wildlife 

generally friendly places where people are happy for their dogs to meet other dogs 

CONS often these types of walks rely on a ball launcher to entertain the dogs for an hour – over use can lead to adrenaline pumped dogs which in turn can lead to dogs becoming over tired, strung out and unable to switch off 

slamming on the brakes from full speed and twisting to retrieve a ball can cause injury and long term damage to a dogs joints 

  can be over stimulating for some dogs if there are lots of dogs in the environment  

Countryside Walks 

PROS more variety – different sniffs, stimulation and enrichment in different environments 

chance to practise canine parkour which can increase confidence, engagement and give their brains a work out 

generally quieter with fewer doggie distractions around  

CONS recall and responsiveness must be excellent – more likely to encounter tractors, wildlife, dogs must stay off farmers crops.. 

relies on the dog walker knowing the environment, countryside code and being very sensible  

relies on the dog walker being able to assess the suitability of the dogs they walk and say no if they are not appropriately trained or socialised 

Hired Enclosure Walks  (private fields anything from 3rd acre to a couple of acres is usual) 

PROS fully enclosed – no risk of escape or intrusion from outside  

provides opportunity for dogs with high prey drive or unreliable recall to enjoy off lead time 

CONS limited space can create pressure when there is nowhere for dogs to escape unwanted attention  

access to every dog in the enclosure allows them to ‘say hello’ to every dog around which can lead to issues with recall around other dogs in a public space 

bumper play sessions with large groups mean dogs will be in transit for a long time while more dogs are collected and dropped off  

You know your dog best 

You know your dog best.  Some dogs are robust, well trained and well socialised and absolutely thrive joining group dog walks.  Some dogs need to be walked alone.  And then theres everything in between – puppies still learning about the world, elderly dogs that like others but only need a bimble, over friendly dogs that need to learn how to remain calm.  You know your best.  You know their background, their previous experiences and you also know what you feel comfortable with in terms of their care.  My advice is do your research, take your time and make sure you feel 100 percent sure you have found the right dog walker before you proceed. 

I’ve tried to give a balanced view, based on my experience of what different dog walking services look like.  I personally don’t offer large group dog walks, but there are Easingwold Dog Walkers who do and I’m happy to recommend if you’re reading this thinking that’s what I need.  You can find out more about the services available at Good Karma Canines here