May 2017

How to hire a
dog walker
by Dan Mackey
PET MONTH
Daily walks in the neighborhood
are important for the physical and
psychological health of your family’s “fur
child.” Most of us are busy working long
hours these days, and Fido can’t always
fly with us when we travel.
That’s why professional pet sitting and
dog walking businesses are filling this
need in Parkland, Coral Springs, and
other South Florida communities.
The question is, how do
you hire a dog walker?
What should you ask when
interviewing someone to walk
your dog?
The following ten questions to ask were
adapted from and expanded upon a list
by AdoptaPet.com.
1. Do they have a business license,
liability insurance, honesty bonding,
and how much coverage is
provided?
2. Do they have employees or hire
independent contractors? This is
important for liability reasons. If
they are actual employees they will
be trained to company standards
and you’ll know it is a legitimate
company that values their walkers/
sitters.
3. Has a criminal background
check been done on all sitters?
Remember, you must trust them
with your pet(s) and your home.
4. Do they belong to a professional
pet sitting association? The largest
are the National Association of
Professional Pet Sitters and Pet
Sitters International.
5. How do they keep track of their
clients’ schedules? Make sure their
time is well organized for your pets.
6. Will you have the same walker/
sitter for every walk/visit and do
they have a back up in case your
primary is ill or on vacation? If not,
you must have enough prior notice
and be able to interview them prior
to any service.
7. Are their prices published and
what methods of payment do they
accept? It’s best that they accept
credit cards for automatic billing at
the end of the month or service.
Tips are best given in cash.
8. How many dogs do they walk at
once? Limiting the number of dogs
assures their safety and wellbeing.
In large cities, walkers take
numerous dogs together on walks
because clients live close by. Here
in the suburbs, private walks are
the norm.
9. What is the company’s mission,
values, and ethics? Check their
website and social media ratings.
Ask your vet, groomer, pet store,
etc., about their reputation.
10. Do they have references? They
should have plenty of them.
Prepare questions to ask
references. Current clients should
describe them with such key
words as: dependable, punctual,
enthusiastic, flexible, trustworthy,
and knowledgeable.
I owned a pet sitting/dog walking
franchise for three years and still walk
dogs for extra money. We used our smart
phones to video or photograph every dog
walk and pet visit. That reassured the
client that we showed up on time; we did
what we were hired to do; and, we made
their pet happy.
Dan Mackey is a freelance writer in
Coconut Creek.
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the PARKLANDER 119