Emmett watches out the window
“Dogs are miracles with paws.”
– Susan Kennedy
Earlier this week, I started a two-month contract at a client site, which is why things have been a little off around here! Thanks, everyone, for stopping by and being patient while I work out my new schedule!
In the meantime… Any tips for interviewing a dog walker? For the first time in four years (four!) the boys will be by themselves during the day. I want to arrange for a dog walker to come by and give them snuggles, a bathroom break/walk, water, etc. mid-day, but I’ve never done this before! Any tips? Questions I should be sure to ask??
Beautiful photo!
Maybe you should go for a walk with him/her and your dogs?
Oooooh! Great tip, Shauna!! That’s actually a brilliant idea that I never would have thought of!
Hi Maggie
There are some really good questions for owners to ask on PetSitUSA http://www.petsitusa.com/checklist.htm and the Association of PetSitting Excellence http://www.petsittingexcellence.com/blog/blog/get-to-know-your-pet-sitting-service-before-you-hire/
First, I would follow Shauna’s advice to walk with them. I have done that with some of my clients.
But, I have another one specific to dog walking. And, it actually came up while speaking with a dog trainer I know today! Ask your dog walker their philosophy on training and the proper way of walking a dog. Some dog walkers believe in the Cesar Milan method and others believe that positive reinforcement is better (that would be my preference). You want to know that if your dogs don’t walk well on a leash that the dog walker isn’t going to use methods you don’t agree with while walking your dog Or caring for your pet. I think that’s why Shauna’s suggestion of walking with the dog walker is such a good one.
Thanks for sharing those resources – I will definitely read through them in detail before our first meeting on Saturday! I love the training tip, too. Emmett and Lucas can be pretty good on leash, but… they can also be pretty bad! It all depends on what other dogs are out, smells, small animals they see, or which way the wind’s blowing! Like you, I’m all about positive reinforcement, so I will be sure to ask about training/management methods. Thanks for all the info; I really appreciate it!!