09 Jul11 questions to ask a potential dog walker

As a professional in the dog service business, I'd like to share some observations I've made about dog walkers:

• The ones who are good usually don't get much notice, until they leave and have to be replaced.
• The ones who are not great usually don't get called out on it because dogs can be very tolerant of mistreatment.
• The ones who are bad will make you wonder why this is a field that is completely unregulated.

Dog walking can truly be a dream job for many people. It's a profession that has a low bar for entry, requires no specific training, provides exercise, and, for many, the opportunity to be your own boss. People can largely make their own schedule, and get to spend a lot of time outside… with dogs! However, the fact is that most people simply don't aspire to a career in dog walking. And most of the time, it isn't a job that pays well enough to hang on to ambitious people.

It's also a job where you are hiring someone who can potentially really mess up your life. Remember that aforementioned low bar for entry? While it doesn't seem like a whole lot could go wrong when your job is simply to walk a dog, let me tell you: A whole lot can go wrong, especially on the congested streets of New York City, where dogs face any number of things that can spook them, or worse. We hear stories all the time of dog walkers getting bit. But that's the least of it. One client hired the teenager next door to walk the dog; he put the harness on wrong, the dog got loose and was killed on the West Side Highway. Another had a walker who was looking at her phone while crossing the street corner, and a cab making a turn crushed her 3 pound Yorkie. Then there is the fact that you're letting a stranger into your home. One client of ours discovered that the walker was stealing her dog's end-of-life pain medication, while another heard the walker through the nanny cam screaming that he was going to yank off the dog's “f***-ing head.” (When he told the walker what he'd heard, he said, “She was pulling and I really was worried her head would come off.”)

These days, there are a lot bells and whistles that walking services offer, be they individuals or companies: On demand service, live pee/poop alert, GPS tracked walked, photo reports, etc. As a trainer, I really don't care about any of these things: If a walker is decent, there is only one thing I want from him or her: A promise to stick around. We work with a lot of dogs who are very sensitive, and it can take months for some dogs to warm up to a walker. The best walkers will work with owners and trainers to make sure that every walk is a safe and good experience. The problem, however, is that to make walkers to stay, they need more than passion: They need real money. But it's not a job where people expect to pay for quality. I have clients who live in homes that cost eight digits, but have their dogs walked by someone whose name they don't know, who goes inside to get their dog while leaving seven others tied to the banister outside, unattended. Like I said, most dogs are pretty tolerant, and most of the time, nothing will go wrong. Which means… probably, nothing is going to change. But it's unfortunate when yours is the dog who winds up under the taxi wheel.

In this week's podcast episode, I interviewed Shelley Goldberg of DivaDog. DivaDog is one of the few dog walking companies that we recommend at School For The Dogs. We recommend them for a variety of reasons, including the fact that Shelley herself has stuck around — she has been involved in the world of NYC dog walking since 1990 — and she has walkers who have been with her for decades, which means everyone is doing something right. Shelley is also committed to educating her walkers, and has them attend training classes and consult with trainers on the regular. Shelley also frankly charges more than most other companies, and I think this means she must pay her walkers better than most, which is probably why they stick around. Shelley has a rigorous interview and shadowing process for her walkers, and also interviews her clients to make sure that it's a good fit on both sides. I say: Yay to all of these things! Shelley doesn't have a website, but you can reach her by calling or texting 707-Diva-Dog.

So what do you do if you're looking to hire a walker? Well, if you aren't hiring one of Shelley's walkers (or one of ours — we are in the process of rolling out our own walking service on a limited basis– fill this out to learn more), here are some questions you should make sure to ask (and the answers you should look for.

1. What is your background in dog walking?

You want to hire someone with experience. The more the better. Don't hire a novice. Let them get their experience walking someone else's dog.

2. Can I check your references?

The answer should be “yes” and they should have so many glowing references they want to give you that you should have to cut them off.

3. Are you insured?

Dog walking companies should have insurance, but individuals should as well. Dog walking insurance is not prohibitively expensive.

4. Are you certified in Pet First Aid and CPR?

If people are taking dog walking seriously as a career — and don't you hope they are? — then this should be a certification they've made sure to obtain.

5. Are you familiar with equipment I use to walk my dog?

Most harnesses don't require an advanced degree to understand, but a misunderstanding about how to use whatever it is you use could lead to big problems.

6. How many dogs do you walk at a time?

I think that a walker shouldn't walk more than two dogs at a time, and that might be one dog too many, depending on the situation. If your walker is going to be walking a dog that isn't yours along with your dog, make sure to get specific information about the transition moments: Is the other dog going to be brought into your home while the walker gets your dog, and if so, will he be off leash in your home? Will your dog be left outside while the other dog is dropped off?

7. Have you ever had to deal with an emergency situation?

If you're hiring an experienced walker, chances are there has indeed been an emergency situation or two. Listen to how the person dealt with it, and consider how you would've felt if the dog had been yours.

8. Would you be comfortable working with our trainer if necessary?

Most dogs don't need trainer intervention when meeting a new walker, but some do. Of course, you should pay your walker for any time he or she spends with you and your trainer. That said, the walker should be enthusiastic to do so, as it will likely be a learning opportunity that will only benefit him or her as well.

9. If you are unwell and can't come in will someone else be covering for you?

If you're working with someone who is on their own, this can be a serious consideration, and he or she should have a backup person for these kinds of emergencies.

10. What is your cancellation policy?

A lot of walkers have very stringent cancellation policies, which make it possible for them to schedule their time effectively. Be aware of what the cancellation policies are, and respect them even if it means fees, just as you expect them to not jerk you around with last minute changes.

11. Where do you see yourself in five years?

The answer you want to hear: “Walking your dog!”