About Dog Walking Services

If you have a busy schedule, hiring a dog walking service can be the best way to ensure that your dog is taken care of while you are away.  Before hiring a professional dog walker, learn about dog walking services and how to use them to your advantage.

Qualifications

All professional dog walkers are bonded and insured.  Licensed dog walkers have taken professional training courses that focused on legal regulations and practices required in the dog walking industry.  Being bonded and insured is what separates people who advertise dog walking services to make extra money from true professionals who love animals and treat dog walking as a career.  Professional dog walkers should have a list of current and past clients that can be contacted for recommendations and references.

How Dog Walking Services Work

Dog walking services can be provided by a company that sends pre-screened employees to clients’ homes or by self-employed individuals.  Dog walkers work on a client’s schedule.  Some clients need them a few times a week while others need them on a daily basis.  Most dog walkers charge an hourly rate that is agreed upon before they begin working for a new client.

Cost

Dog walking services can range in price dramatically depending on the dog walker’s experience level and the number of times the client’s dog needs to be walked.  Inexperienced dog walkers charge significantly less than experienced dog walkers, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t as qualified.  It just means they haven’t had time to build up their client's lists.  However, even a newer dog walker should be able to provide a few references relevant to working with dogs in addition to producing proof of being bonded and insured.