Is having a dog walker the right choice for you & your dog?
(This won’t be the first time I say this, but…) The answer isn’t so black & white.
Dog walkers can be the personification of a “sigh of relief” on the days we are in over our heads. We have busy schedules, work long hours, or maybe we are concerned about our dog’s activity levels… the reasons are endless. They are there in the times we cannot be. This is all because our dog needs them, right?
Sure, your average Fido down the block may benefit from Miss Sally coming over to give him a casual stroll & sniff around the neighborhood. Let's also consider the over- anxious, over-stimulated, reactive dog– they may be better off without her services.
Time & time again, we trainers are working with dogs that need a whole lot of structure and consistency in order to meet or maintain their training goals. More often than not, these families hire a dog walker with every intent of it helping their dog.
Many of us assume that more walks = more exercise = yay for our dog
Here's the thing,
Your dog can be fulfilled in so many ways that do not include an extra walk.
I don’t think anyone out there hires a dog walker with ill- intent… but it truly could be hindering your dog’s progress.
Why?
Let's go back to that training buzz- word… “consistency”. Our dog must practice the same structure– same expectations– same boundaries over and over and over again in order to achieve reliability. This isn’t dropping your kid off with Grandma who's much more lenient with the rules than you… this is an animal with very specific needs. Your dog that is able to go up to other dogs or people with the dog walker, will become reactive when they see dogs and people when you walk them. The dog that is given free will to walk wherever, pee everywhere, or pull anywhere to sniff– they WILL take that lead when you walk them.
Dogs are opportunists that will usually choose what feels best to them in the moment– not because they’re bad or naughty– they just don’t know better. Many times, we don’t really know what's going on between the dog walker & our dog. In fact, some dog walkers may not uphold the training standards needed to see progress in your training goals. Just like us, they’re just trying to do the best they can in all the ways they know how– but this doesn't mean it always yields the necessary outcome.
So Now What?
If any of your goals relate to threshold boundaries, walking skills, or mild reactivity– it's time to talk to your dog walker. Communication is key here, so have a chat and see how everyone can be on the same page. To no fault of their own, this can come with expectations that are too high for them. If your adult dog is being crated for over 9-10 hours in the day, and you feel they need a walker, here are some things that you could ask of them:
Ensure the dog waits for permission before coming out of the crate
Have the dog wait at the door until released
Do not allow ANY greetings from other dogs or people
5 minutes of “place” before or after the walk
If your dog is a big puller on the leash, here are options for them that don’t include a trip around the block.
Walk inside the home/ backyard
Leashed playtime inside the home like fetch or tug
Only walk to the closest grassy area (High-rise apartment dwellers, that's for you)
Small, simple list of commands to practice (Place, stay, come, inside heel)
It's definitely a NO if…
If you don’t trust that your dog walker would uphold reasonable requests. Once again, to no fault of their own, they may not be able to follow through and that's okay– it just isn’t the right fit for your goals.
If your dog is a bite or safety risk to any capacity, it is best that they’re only handled by you or a professional.
You just feel bad they’re home alone– but their reactivity is increasing, or we see their behavior in general start to get worse.
A dog walker is causing financial strain.
Instead of a dog walker, you can…
Focus on what you CAN provide for your dog during your time together. A 15-minute training- based walk in front of your home, or in your backyard or living room will do SO much more for them than a 30 minute, one- direction, one- paced walk. Getting your dog to calmly hold “place” is healthier brain work than chasing that squirrel. This is, of course, is an essential mindset with or without a dog walker. The beauty of training is that it can present itself in the little things: calmly exiting the crate, giving eye contact before releasing them outside, chewing on their bones instead of table- surfing, waiting for their food, or even opting for “place” instead of over-invasive couch time.
Have some fun researching your dog’s breed. What are they bred to do? Are they high-drive? Are they a “working” dog? What do they naturally excel in, and how can we capitalize on that to create the best training & exercise plan for them. Quality over quantity, my friends.
At the end of the day, if your dog is in a comfortable spot behaviorally, and you’ve observed that additional walks from another person doesn’t shift their overall mindset, or cause concern on your end– then this can be a great extra outing for them!
If the dog- walker debate still has you feeling overwhelmed, talk to a trainer to see what they recommend. A trainer can even suggest alternate activities, or even services they offer in order to supplement a walk. I, along with many other trainers (even other dog walkers), offer “walk & train” sessions where we explicitly uphold and maintain training needs while taking your dog for a walk.
Happy Training !
xo, Hannah
Mind Your Canine LLC
