According to several professional dog walkers I’ve asked, many prospective dog-walking clients decline the opportunity to go on an introductory walk with their dog and a new dog walker. Frankly, I think that’s a huge mistake!
The introductory walk won’t cost more if you go along. And even if you’ve spent enough time with the new dog walker to be sure they will do a good job, why would you pass on a chance to make your dog’s first walk with a new person a success, for both the walker and the dog?
If you’re in a hurry to turn over dog-walking duties to someone on your payroll, there’s a good chance you have already made some or all of the typical mistakes—the biggest of which is assuming that a glossy website and a nationally known name assure you a great dog walker who’s experienced and knowledgeable enough to handle any situation.
In fact, the best dog walkers often work for local companies that have earned enthusiastic word-of-mouth references from your friends and neighbors. If you equate dollars spent on advertising with excellence in service, you may not get what you pay for, no matter how high the price.
Due-diligence is mandatory when hiring a professional dog walker, just as it is when hiring a professional dog trainer, dog groomer, or dog sitter. You need to know exactly what you are getting—and exactly what you are not getting: anything you haven’t asked for and/or approved of. (Equipment used without your knowledge or permission, for example.) Don’t be the client who had ‘no idea’ the dog professional used a punitive method until it was too late and the dog’s health or behavior was adversely affected.
Go on the introductory walk—for your dog’s sake and your own.
Photo by Jeanne Brennan
Take a hungry dog.
Time the walk to coincide with an hour in the day that is furthest from the meal before and the meal after. Schedule the walk for when your dog has thoroughly digested his previous meal, and when he’ll have enough time after the walk to relax and rest before his next meal. In most cases, food treats will be offered by the walker. You want the dog to want the treats!
Take an empty dog.
Make sure your dog has emptied his bladder and bowels before the walk, either by letting him out into your fenced yard and watching to make sure he completes his tasks or by walking him yourself prior to the scheduled meeting with the dog walker. In future walks, of course, pottying and cleaning up after the dog will be the walker’s responsibility. This time, though, empty the dog first so that neither he nor you will be distracted by waiting for him to eliminate.
Take a rested dog.
Don’t try to set the odds in favor of the dog’s being well behaved by wearing him out ahead of time (by playing fetch for half an hour, say, before the dog walker arrives). Present the dog as he will be every day when the walker arrives for his appointment—bored and eager for excitement, if that’s the case . . . because that’s what the dog walker will have to deal with!
Put on the collar/harness/leash yourself.
Let the dog walker watch, if that’s practical, or wait until the end of the walk when you’re back at home to let the dog walker remove the dog’s equipment and replace it for practice. Don’t start the walk with this virtual stranger putting hands on your dog. It just doesn’t make sense. During the walk, the dog and the walker will have a chance to interact as they get to know each other.
If the dog shies away or indicates nervousness or discomfort at being touched by the walker, it may be necessary for you to continue to be present during their interaction for the dog to gain confidence. Trust cannot be rushed! Schedule additional walks with you and the walker.
Attach two leashes to the collar or harness.
When you start the walk, you hold both leashes. Instruct the walker in how you hold the leash and how the dog has been trained to behave when leashed.
For example, if your dog has been taught not to pull on the leash by your stopping every time the leash goes taut and starting again only when the leash is loose, demonstrate how that works for the walker before both leashes leave your grip.
When you’re satisfied that the walker understands the methods with which your dog has been trained, hand over one leash and let the walker ‘practice’ while you hold the other leash and try to stay out of the way. Eventually—toward the end of this first walk or, if necessary, during a subsequent walk—hand over the second leash to the walker, too.
Show the walker how you reward with treats.
Allow the walker to offer treats to your dog when all three of you are standing still. Later, encourage the walker to offer treats when all three of you are walking.
Your dog should already be taking treats gently from your hand, but he may need practice to take treats as gently from the hand of someone he has just met. Encourage the walker to be safe by demonstrating how to offer treats from an open hand (much as you would offer a cube of sugar to a horse) to avoid any over-eager misuse of doggy teeth.
Again, if additional practice is needed to keep your dog walker from wearing toothmarks, take that time now, with you there.
Provide high-value treats for the walker to offer.
Discuss any allergies your dog has to specific foods or ingredients. In the future, your dog walker may bring treats of their own, but make sure they know what’s safe and what’s not for your dog.
Keep in mind that you may need to cut back on the amount of food in your dog’s regular meals if the dog walker is feeding him large amounts of treats on a daily basis. Make sure the treats—provided either by you or by the walker—are appropriate to your dog’s diet. No doggy junk food, please!
Teach the dog walker some of your cues/commands.
Make a list before the walk of the cues you use most often. ‘Sit’ is fairly standard, but you’d be amazed how many different words humans use for lying down. What do you say to tell the dog to move forward with you? What do you say to tell the dog to stop? Don’t ask the dog walker to use a ‘stay’ command with your dog at this point. That would be expecting too much of the dog.
Instead, teach the dog walker the most important cue of all—how to cue the dog to come to you immediately when you call . . . and how to praise and reward the dog when he responds. Take the time to demonstrate your ‘emergency recall.’ During the walk, let the walker practice numerous repetitions with the dog on leash by backing away from the dog, then calling. This one cue and an immediate response could save your dog’s life!
Tell the dog walker what your dog finds rewarding.
It’s not just food rewards and praise! Most dogs have a long list of actions or interactions they find rewarding. What about tugging on a toy, fetching a ball, or a brisk tummy rub? Sure, the dog walker could figure out all these rewards on their own while spending time with your dog, but why not give them insight into your dog’s behavior right from the beginning? What really makes the dog happy? You certainly know best.
Tell the dog walker what your dog finds unpleasant.
Every dog has his own list, long or short, of what he doesn’t like. Is he oddly unafraid of loud noises except that screaming children really make him nervous? Good to know, when one is walking near a playground! Is your dog usually fine with being brushed or combed but very touchy about having his ears pulled? Thank you for telling me, says the dog walker, who makes a mental note not to mess with your dog’s ears. Has the dog had a bad experience with another dog? Has he generalized that experience so that he believes all dogs who look like the bad one are a danger to him? That is information your dog walker should know.
Praise the dog walker when you like what you see!
Yes, it works with humans, too! Positively reinforce the behavior you wish to continue. You know your reinforcement worked if the behavior does continue. “That was great. That’s exactly the way I showed you. Keep up the good work!” Do this at the moment of the behavior you like, then mention it again when you ‘debrief’ after the walk. “I really liked the way you did that emergency recall by the playground. That worked so well for him.”
Establish a good rapport with your dog walker and you will have an ally in creating a safe and healthy world for your best friend. Take the time to do it right when you’re searching for the proper person. Due-diligence and careful screening, plus thoughtful introductions and considerate interactions, can help you find the dog walker who’s perfect for you and your dog.
