Leaving a dog home alone is a problem that many owners might encounter. Most of us have busy schedules, and, unfortunately, due to this, our dogs might lack our presence and our attention.
Professional dog walkers might be a great solution for people who work long hours. According to Zippia [1], there have been more than 16,000 professional dog walkers in the United States in 2022.
So, it shouldn’t be a problem for you to find a professional dog walker, if you decide on this. But, is this really a good idea?
This might sound like a decent solution for your dog when you are away, but there are some factors you should consider.
Let’s take a look at all the pros and cons of hiring a professional dog walker.
Pro: Your Dog Will Have Company While You Are Away
Leaving home for work is such a basic thing for all of us. But, it can get to be a pretty unpleasant experience for dog owners, especially the ones who have a dog that is prone to separation anxiety.
Being away from home for 8 hours cannot be that bad, right? Well, for some dogs it will be. They might not even get used to you being away for a part of the day, no matter how much time passes.
So, for dogs like this, hiring a professional dog walker might be an excellent solution. This way, your dog will have human company while you are away.
A walk once or twice a day while you are away from home might do miracles for your anxious dog.
Con: Can You Really Trust This Person?
Hiring a professional dog walker might sound like a decent solution, but, this also means letting a stranger into your home, and having him taking care of your precious pet.
So, things might not be so easy. Unfortunately, some dog walkers might not have the best intentions. Take a look at the video below that makes us wonder whether we can trust dog walkers.
Seeing people who claim to be animal lovers treating animals badly is so disappointing. But, I think it is better for all dog owners to observe the possibility of hiring a professional dog walk from all angles.
After all, a dog walker you decide for will be a person that spends a fair deal of time with your furry companion.
Pro: A Dog Gets Exercise
Your dog not only misses your company while you are away; he also misses fun activities he does with you, and mental and physical exercise.
A professional dog walker is a person that can take your dog for a walk for a couple of times a day – as many as you arrange with him.
So, this is a great way for your dog to exercise even when you are not by his side. Your dog will be happy to have an opportunity to go outside, to run and to sniff around.
We all know how important it is how often we walk our dogs, but, unfortunately, busy schedules often don’t allow us to spend time walking our pets as much as we would like.
So, a dog walker is an excellent option for your dog to still go for walks even when you are away.
Con: Might Not Be The Best Solution For Hyper Dogs
A walk a couple of times a day would be a great solution for many dogs to spend their energy. But, this will not work for all dogs.
There are high energy dogs that require different types of exercise, several times a day. For example, a Pitbull will need 2 hours of exercise on a daily basis.
This does not mean, of course, that walking is not a good form of exercise. Of course it is! Simply, some dogs will need more than just a walk. They will need more intense physical activity, and brain stimulation to stay healthy and content.
Therefore, a professional dog walker might not be the best option for hyper dogs who need plenty of diverse exercise on a daily basis.
Pro: Your Dog Might Get A Great Additional Friend
One positive thing here is that there are so many wonderful professional dog walkers. And I honestly believe that bad and immoral walkers are actually a minority.
So, there is a high chance that your dog will like the dog walker, and will enjoy spending time with him. After all, this is a kind of job people do out of love – I think a person that dislikes dogs would not even think of a job like this.
Therefore, hiring a trustworthy dog walker might bring a new friend to your dog’s life.
Con: The Company Comes With Price
I have to mention the price of this kind of service. Let’s face it – the price is the number one factor we all consider in all of our decisions.
According to TimeToPet [2], a price for a 30-minute long walk with a professional dog walker can cost you $20 to $30 in the United States.
So, if you plan to hire a dog walker to spend time with your dog for 2 to 3 times a day, for 5 days a walk – then the price might be the factor against the professional dog walker.
The truth is – this is not a cheap service, which is understandable, considering how much responsibility it requires.
Pro: Your Dog Will Spend Time With Other Dogs
I am sure you have seen a dog walker walking with a bunch of dogs at least once. I love to see something like this!
You truly have to be super capable and creative to manage handling so many different dogs.
Take a look at the video below that shows a professional dog walker preparing for a walk with seven dogs!
Your dog might seem sad not to spend all of his time with you, and he might benefit from spending time with the dog walker. But, your dog might also benefit from spending time with other dogs!
This might be a nice way for your dog to socialize with other dogs, and even to learn how to tolerate other dogs better.
Con: Your Dog Spending Time With Other Dogs Might Not Be A Good Idea
However, this might not be the best option for all dogs. If your dog lacks socialization, or simply does not like the company of other dogs, walking with other dogs will not suit him.
Furthermore, some dogs are labeled as aggressive dog breeds, and many dog owners would not like their dogs to spend time near dogs with bad reputation. No dog owner especially wouldn’t like to deal with a situation of another dog attacking their dog during a walk.
Some dogs might benefit from spending time with other dogs, while, in some other dogs, this might cause unwanted behaviors.
Conclusion
Therefore, should you hire a professional dog walker?
I would say yes, if your dog is socialized, and not too demanding in terms of physical exercise.
This service might be pricey, but, the truth is – you will be letting another person fully responsible for your dog’s well being, at least for a half of an hour or a couple of hours a day. When you think about it, the price is justified.
So, my opinion is that the pros outweigh the cons in the issue of hiring a dog walker.
One thing I would like to point out is that all dog owners should do their research thoroughly, and only then hire a professional dog walker.
The best would be to go by recommendations by your veterinarian, or by your acquaintances.
Hiring a professional dog walker can be very beneficial for your dog’s health, socialization, and behavior. Just make sure you find a trustworthy person, the one that will really care for your dog.
References:
[1] Dog walker demographic and statistics in the US. DOI, Retrieved February 28, 2023.
[2] Dog Walking Rate Calculator. DOI, Retrieved February 28, 2023.