Looking for a walker or daycare for your dog? Read this first.

Trusting your dog to another person to walk or care for is a big deal. They are responsible for your dogs safety and well-being, and the consequences of getting things wrong can include injury, learning/practicing unwanted behaviours, legal implications for you if your dog does something while in their care, and in some cases, death. On the other hand, these outings can also be so positive in enriching your dogs life & supporting your own efforts when run well.

However, dog care is also an unregulated industry with minimal barriers to entry. With the increasing popularity of the pet industry and rising costs of living encouraging people to earn some extra cash, we are seeing more and more people jumping in with very little experience but excellent marketing skills. This has already led to some dangerous situations putting both the dogs & other members of the public at risk. As the dog owners, the onus falls on you to ask the questions and ensure whoever you’re trusting your dog to actually has the experience, handling skills and policies in place to keep your dog safe.

Here’s a few questions you should be asking. There are no “one size fits all” right answers, but they should be able to provide you with thoughtful answers that set everyone up for success and put your mind at ease.

❓ What is your experience with dogs outside of your own? Walking your personal family dog is not the same as an unfamiliar one.

❓ What education have you undertaken with dogs? Formal qualifications aren’t the be all and end all - making genuine effort to learn and understand dogs through a variety of sources is.

❓ What steps do you take on walks or in the daycare facility to keep my dog safe? This could include dog:handler ratios (knowing their personal limits which will vary), restrictions on challenges accepted (eg aggression), the use of leashes, training over time, awareness of hazards, plans in place to manage these hazards, structured walking vs free time, appropriate locations, pet first aid certification, safe transportation etc.

❗️ Also read social media and see what the vibe is there. Red flags could include stories about dogs being “crazy” or out of control, images of dogs off lead in known on leash areas, large packs of dogs being let loose in public dog parks to play with the public, videos of inappropriate canine interactions (eg bullying behaviour) etc.

Anywhere there are animals there are going to be things outside of our control, and accidents do happen even to the best handler. But the right carer for your dog will be doing everything in their power to minimise those risks and accidents, keep everyone safe and going home happy.

As the owner it’s up to you to do your homework to make sure that’s the case with any care provider you entrust your dogs safety to. If that means getting up an hour earlier to run the dog because the decent dog walkers in your area have a wait list, that’s better than losing your beloved dog due to someone else’s negligence.

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I am not currently accepting new walking dogs as I focus on training and behaviour services, but am happy to offer recommendations for your area if I know someone suitable.