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Choosing the right walker for your dog is an important decision. When a pet parent invites an individual or service into their home while working for the day, they are placing the safety and well-being of their fur baby in someone else’s hands – that’s a big deal! At RCO Pet Care, we understand pet owners’ love and concern for their fur babies. Check out the following seven questions you should ask before hiring a dog walker in Connecticut.
Does the dog walker have experience with your dog’s breed?
Dogs come in all shapes and sizes – literally. Each breed or type of dog has its unique personality, quirks, and physical abilities that must be considered when cared for. Put it this way – how you would walk a long-legged, built-for-endurance greyhound should be very different from walking for a brachiocephalic pug.
Ask the dog walker about their experience with this type of dog. Even if they have no experience with this particular breed or suspected mix, do they have experience with similar-sized dogs? Do they have experience with dogs with similar temperaments or physical needs?
While your dog walker doesn’t need to be an expert on Labrador Retrievers to take your dog for a safe, long walk, we feel it’s essential that they have experience with similar-minded and sized breeds and safety considerations such as leash reactivity.
What is their availability like? Do they have a backup?
Your job probably doesn’t care whether your dog walker is reliable, but you do, and I’d bet your dog does, too!
Be sure to discuss your expectations regarding frequency, time of day, and length of the walk. Are there certain days they aren’t available? Are they willing to take as long of a walk as you’d like? Do they see their schedule changing in the near future?
What will the dog walker do if they have an emergency? Do they have a team of pet care providers they can call on? Do they network with another dog walker in Connecticut? Will your dog be left without the chance to relieve itself unless you can get out of work? A good backup plan is a must.
What would they do if your dog got loose?
Dog walking comes with a lot of responsibility. Once a dog is removed from its home or yard, many factors are outside of the handlers’ control. Cars, other dogs, squirrels, bicyclists, thunder, and more can prove to be challenges.
Should your dog get loose, what would the dog walker’s course of action be? Pay close attention to the way they answer this question. They should think quickly on their feet and have an outline of the steps they would take to recover the pup immediately. If they can’t catch the dog right away, how will they conduct a search? At what point do they contact you?
Is the potential dog walker insured?
We believe choosing a dog walker in Connecticut with proof of insurance is the most crucial factor in deciding who to hire. Just as when choosing a pet sitter, hiring an individual with proper liability insurance will protect your home and your pet in the case of an emergency or accident.
Let’s break it down. Without the proper insurance, you could be left on the hook if your dog walker accidentally leaves a faucet running at the end of the walk, flooding your kitchen and ruining your floor. If they accidentally break the key off in your front door, guess who would pay to replace your locks? Yes, you!
More importantly, hiring a dog walker without proper insurance can leave you responsible for medical bills. If your dog was injured on a walk, a properly insured pet care provider could cover your vet bills. If your dog bit somebody under their watch, a professional dog walker’s insurance could save you a lot of money, time, and headaches.
How does your dog react to a new dog walker?
A good dog walker will give you a complimentary consultation, often called a Meet and Greet. You can introduce your dog to their new potential walker at this meeting.
Observe how your dog reacts to this stranger. Does he seem excited? Is his tail wagging loosely, or are his ears back? How does the dog walker interact with your pup? Do they seem nervous or intimidated? Do they seem happy to be there?
You know your dog better than anyone. Observing his interactions with your potential dog walker will tell you whether the match might work.
Do they have references or reviews for dog walking in Connecticut?
Getting opinions from other local Connecticut pet parents is a great way to get an overview of the quality of the dog walker you are looking to hire.
Is the dog walker willing to provide links to their web presence for you to review? This may include a Facebook page, Yelp listing, Google listing, or a website. A solid positive presence on the web can indicate a professional dog walker.
Do they not have any web presence? Ask your potential dog walker for references of other pet parents they have worked with. If they are good at what they do, they will likely have an arsenal of happy clients ready to rave about them!
What does your gut say?
Your dog means the world to you. Trust your gut on this one.
Did the meet and greet leave you feeling happy and relieved? The right dog walker will click with you and your dog, and you will feel it in your gut.
The wrong dog walker will leave you doubting your choices and trying to figure out how you can get out of work every day to walk him yourself. Pay attention to your emotions each time you interact with the walker leading up to hiring. They will tell you a lot!
Hiring a Dog Walker in Connecticut Should Be Fun!
Starting a relationship with a good dog walker will leave you feeling like you have hit the jackpot. You’ve finally found someone reliable to care for your dog when you can’t be there. You have found someone that will love them like you do. What else could be better?
With available dog walkers in Connecticut ranging from the kid next door to a professional dog walking company, you can identify high-quality professionals by asking the questions discussed above.
To learn how RCO Pet Care Care can help you with your dog walking, pet sitting, and dog training needs, check out our services, contact us, or call us at (203) 641-2428. We’re happy to help you find a reputable, professional pet care provider if you’re outside our service area. We’ve got your tail!
Jessica graduated magna cum laude with her Bachelor’s of Science in Animal Science from the University of Connecticut in 2015. Her animal-centered coursework here included courses in animal behavior, health and disease management, anatomy and physiology, basic through advanced nutrition and feeding, genetics, comparative exercise physiology, endocrinology, reproductive physiology and equine science.
Her resume also boasts hands-on work experience managing horse farms, working with animals ranging from prairie dogs and bison to South American Primates at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, as well as care, training and management of domestic animals from hamsters to cows.
Outside of RCO, Jessica is the dog mom of five (Rocco, Luna, Owl, River and Peanut), enjoys reading, walking and training her own dogs, visiting Disney World and pursuing further educational opportunities.
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