Questions to Ask Your Dog Walker
If you’re considering hiring a dog walker, you’ve probably been researching different services in your neighborhood and narrowing down your prospects. If you’re having trouble deciding which one to hire, though, asking these questions can help you make that choice. Are You Bonded & Insured? Ensuring that both you and your dog will be protected in the case of something going wrong is a key factor in choosing a dog walker. Bonding ensures that you are protected against theft, while insurance protects you in the event of negligence and accidents. This means that in the event that something is stolen from your home, or the walker gets injured on the job, you’re not liable. Who Will Walk My Dog Everyday? Will the same walker come to your home everyday? This is something you may want to ask about, particularly if your dog is bad with change – establishing a routine is beneficial to their well-being. Ask a prospective dog walking service if they’ll be sending the same walker for each appointment or if they’ll be sending whomever is available at that time. What Route Will My Dog Walk? You might want to ask if there are any established routes in your neighborhood, so as to avoid any potential issues – for instance, run-ins with aggressive, unleashed dogs or busy roadways that are hard to cross. If you know about any issues you have in your area, make sure to tell your walker about them before hiring them—they may have established, drawn-up routes that they have to adhere to. What Is Your Interview Process? Find out how a company goes about hiring their walkers. Are there background checks? This helps you feel confident about the business; if your regular walker has to take a sick day or vacation, you’ll know that the remaining employees are held to the same high standards of hiring and can rest easy knowing there’s a reliable substitute for your regular walker. Can You Handle My Dog’s Issues? This question is more tailored to dog owners who have dogs that have special needs or have behavioral issues. For instance, if your pup can’t use stairs but you live on the third floor, you’ll want to know if your walker is willing and able to go the extra mile. If your dog is aggressive or leash-reactive, you’ll need to know that the walker is capable of handling those behaviors. Asking about these key things can help you make the best choice for a dog walking service for your pooch—someone you can trust who loves pets as much as you love your dog!
What to Ask A Potential Dog Walking Service
If you’re looking for a dog walker, you know that there are a lot of companies out there to choose from. So how can you decide which one is the best fit for you and your dog? In order to make the selection process a bit easier, be sure to ask the companies you’re considering a few questions—including these. How Expensive Are Your Services? Of course, price is not the only or even the most important aspect of choosing a dog walker, but it is a big part of the selection process, since you’ll need to make sure that a particular dog-walking company fits within your budget. You should also find out if the company charges for anything extra, like training, or charges any fines, such as if you need to cancel service. Will the Same Person Always Walk My Dog? For some pets, meeting new people is stressful. Some dog walking services send whomever is on staff that day, while others will make an effort to send the same person every time in order to make your dog more comfortable. Depending on your dog’s behavior and demeanor, this could be important. Do You Have Insurance? When it comes to dog walking, there’s always a risk of something happening that could possibly be covered by the dog walker’s insurance policy. For instance, if they break something valuable at your home that needs replacing. You should also ask about what happens if they accidentally lose your keys—will they pay to change the locks so that your home can remain secure? Do You Have References? Any company worth their salt should have at least a few customers willing to vouch for their quality. Ideally, look for a reference who has the same breed of dog as your dog, and also try to get a reference from someone who is no longer a customer. This way, you can get an honest answer about what you might be able to expect. How Many Dogs Do You Walk At Once? This is an especially helpful question if your dog isn’t the most sociable pooch out there. It’s helpful to know which dogs your dog will be walked with, if any, so that you can be aware of any potential for disaster.