How to Hire the Best Dog Walker

Hiring a reliable dog walker is an essential decision for pet owners who seek the best care for their furry companions. In this guide, we’ll explore the steps to ensure that you find the perfect dog walker, one who will provide the utmost care and attention to your four-legged family member. Throughout this blog, we’ll emphasize the importance of hiring a reliable dog walker to provide the best care for your pet. Careful consideration of “hiring a reliable dog walker” is pivotal in ensuring your dog’s happiness and health.

Having a dog walker could improve your relationship with your dog

Imagine this, you get home after an exhausting and stressful day of work. Your dog is elated to see you and prepared to give you SO MANY kisses and cuddles. There is no mess from boredom related destruction, no trash ripped into or furniture chewed on out of frustration due to anxiety. No accidents are on the carpet because you made sure that your precious baby could have a potty break in your absence. Now you just get to enjoy a calm and happy pup without any of the stress, mess or guilt associated with being away from home for too long.

Regular walks = A Happier Dog: Here’s How

Lower Risk of Health Problems

Regular dog walks have a positive effect on your dog’s health. Firstly, exercise is very important for helping to maintain a healthy weight. Moreover, it can also help lower the risk of heart disease and arthritis as they get older. Walking helps dogs maintain strong muscles and flexible joints.

Provide More fun for Your Fur-baby

Dogs love attention. Additionally, a nice stimulating walk in the neighborhood or hiking new and exciting trails with their favorite dog walker leads to less boredom. Furthermore, more exercise and fun activities in your dog’s day can have the added benefit of lowering the risk of behavioral problems that can occur when your dog is bored.

Help to provide more socialization

Now that we’ve covered some of the benefits that a dog walker can provide. Let’s talk about how to chose the best dog walker for your dog.

1. Recommendations and referrals

First, seek Recommendations and Referrals: Begin by asking friends, family, neighbors, or your veterinarian for referrals. Personal recommendations, for instance, are a fantastic way to discover a trustworthy dog walker.

A good dog walker should have plenty of client success stories that indicate their consistency to provide excellent service!

2. Experience and background

Second, Assess Experience and Background: Look for a dog walker with experience in walking dogs similar to yours, whether they are large, reactive, senior, or puppies. Inquire about their training and handling skills by checking references.

You will want to get to know about your dog walker’s experience. Does your potential dog walker have experience walking dogs like yours? Example: large dogs, reactive dogs, senior dogs, puppies? Are you looking for someone that has experience training dogs, or help working on behavior issues? How long have they been walking dogs? How will your dog walker handle an emergency? Also, If something goes wrong will you have to work with a customer service representative at some unknown call center or will you be able to talk to your walker or their manager directly?

3. What about technology?

Dog walking and Pet Sitting apps have taken the country by storm! But they aren’t just for App based companies such as Wag or Rover anymore. Dog walking software allows you to book walks, view and pay your invoice and see a detailed report of your pup’s dog walking appointment.

You probably wonder how your dog is faring at home during the day while you’re at work, but understandably you may not have the luxury of being able to sneak away and let your pup out for a potty break at lunch. This is where a dog walker’s app-based technology really shines as real-time updates can be provided and viewed at your convenience – see if your dog went number one and number two, how long they walked, where they walked, if they ate and more!

Outward Bound Hound clients love the Time to Pet app!

Download on Android Download on Apple

4. Insurance

Next, make sure your dog walker is insured and bonded. Many of the app-based dog walking services’ insurance policies do not cover the dog walker’s personal property or health meaning not only are they liable for their own personal property (i.e. cell phone damage), but they will not receive workman’s compensation in the event of an accident. You want to make sure all parties – and pups! – are covered if anything should happen which most professional dog walking companies will provide proof. Inquire About Handling Emergencies:

5. Approval of Your Pup

And last, but certainly not least, make sure that you feel the walker is a good fit for you both! Schedule at least one meet and greet before you officially hire a dog walker to ensure that you feel comfortable letting them take care of your dog – and of course to make sure your dog will feel comfortable going on walks with them!

Following these 5 tips will assure that you when hiring a reliable dog walker that you are your fur- kid BOTH love!

What Pet Parents Are Saying About Outward Bound Hounds:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
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 Somin Kwon 
 
 
 
  
We've been working with Outward Bound Hounds for more than a year now, and they've been reliable, communicative, and great handlers for our reactive dog. She has prey/truck/dog reactivity which can be challenging on walks, but they are able to manage her skillfully with positive reinforcement.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Lynn Dicker 
 
 
 
  
Outward Bounds is great! They take such amazing care of my dog. They are prompt and attentive. The best part is the daily report with photos. My dog loves all the Outward Bound walkers and gets so excited when they arrive. Scheduling is incredibly easy. I highly recommend Regina and her team.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Jaime Schaechter 
 
 
 
  
I highly recommend Outward Bound Hounds! They have been walking my dog Leo twice a week for the past year . They are reliable, caring, and clearly have a genuine love for animals. My dog gets so excited every time they arrive, which says everything! I always feel at ease knowing my pup is in such good hands while I'm at work.  They are communicative, punctual, and go above and beyond to make sure my dog is happy, exercised, and cared for. It’s such a relief finding someone trustworthy who treats your pet like family. They write a little note and take pictures every time they come for a walk on their app.  Highly recommend to anyone looking for an amazing team of dog walkers!
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 M Ks 
 
 
 
  
Regina and team have been part of our team since we moved her more than 5 years ago. Our dogs absolutely love Regina and we have one with some challenges that she really understands and supports well as she bring on new staff. We are so grateful for care we trust!!
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Heidi Berkowitz 
 
 
 
  
We've trusted OBH with our dog, Rigsby, for over three years, and I can't say enough wonderful things about the care they've provided. Knowing that Rigsby is loved, exercised, and looked after by people who genuinely care has given us so much peace of mind. The team is reliable, professional, and incredibly attentive. We've used OBH consistently for their dog walking and dog sitting services, and Rigsby is always excited to see them; OBH has become part of Rigsby's family! We always appreciate the daily updates and photos the team provides on Rigsby's walks and adventures. Over the years, they've become such an important part of his life, and we're so grateful for the love and attention they've given him. I highly recommend OBH to any pet parent looking for trustworthy, compassionate, and dependable dog walkers and pet sitters.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Rachel Berenzweig 
 
 
 
  
We have used Outward Bound Hounds for many years and are consistently impressed with the reliability, love and detail the team provides to our doggies and to our family. We recommend OBH highly for personalized and loving care for your pets.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Katherine Richman Voglmayr 
 
 
 
  
I truly cannot recommend Regina and her team at Outward Bound Hounds more highly! From daily dog walks, to weekend pet sitting and extended stays, we have trusted Regina and her growing team with our dog for nearly 10 years. I truly cannot imagine a better team to care for her. Our dog is not just a pet- she is a beloved member of our family, and knowing she is in their hands gives us complete peace of mind. Over the years, they have consistently been reliable, professional, trustworthy, and incredibly caring. No matter the situation, we always know our dog will be loved, well cared for, and treated as if she were their own. They also take wonderful care of our home whenever they are staying there. We always return to a house that is secure, tidy, and exactly as we left it. Having someone you can trust with both your beloved pet and your home is invaluable, and they have earned that trust time and time again. Their communication is excellent, they are dependable in every situation, and they genuinely care about the animals they look after. It is rare to find people who are this responsible, compassionate, and dedicated. The greatest compliment I can give is that I never worry when our dog is with them. That kind of confidence and peace of mind is priceless. If you are looking for pet care providers who will treat your pets like family and your home with the utmost respect, I cannot recommend Outward Bound Hounds enough. After almost a decade of exceptional care, they remain one of the best decisions we’ve ever made for our dog.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Mary Thomas 
 
 
 
  
Outward Bound Hounds is wonderful! I highly recommend them to anyone looking for someone to walk your dog. They’re very reliable, trustworthy, friendly, and love our pup-and she loves them! She is so excited to see them each time they arrive!
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Jennifer Nash 
 
 
 
  
We absolutely love Outward Bound Hounds, especially their Adventure Walk service! Our dog, Riley, gets so excited on Adventure Walk days, and the difference in his energy and happiness afterward is incredible. These outings provide the perfect combination of exercise, enrichment, and exploration. One of the reasons we choose the Adventure Walk over a standard walk is when our housecleaners are coming and we need Riley out of the house for an extended period of time. It's the perfect solution—he gets a fun adventure at a local park while we get the house cleaned, and everyone is happy. The team is dependable, communicative, and truly treats Riley like one of their own. The updates and photos are always a highlight of our day. It's such a relief knowing he's getting quality care and having a great time while we're busy. I can't recommend Outward Bound Hounds enough. If you're looking for a dog walking service that goes above and beyond and gives your dog a truly enriching experience, this is it!
  
 
  
 
 
 
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 Jennifer Palmiere 
 
 
 
  
We are thrilled with Outward Bound Hounds!  Very professional and caring.  Our two dogs love Denisse and Diana.  We get great photos and a detailed account after every walk.  Regina is super responsive and very accommodating.  Just wish we had found them sooner.  Would recommend Outward Bound Hounds wholeheartedly!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Google rating score: 5.0 of 5, based on 26 reviews 
 
   
 
 

Hiring the best dog walker significantly impacts your dog’s well-being and your peace of mind. To assist you in selecting the right dog walker, consider these key steps: