Finding The Right Dog Walker For Your Pet

Like all dogs, my puppy Maggie, a 66-pound flat-hair retriever, needs plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. I try to get a few walks in every day, despite her enthusiastic pulling and uncontrollable urge to pick up sticks, wrappers, and old tissues. Still, my schedule is often erratic, necessitating a dog walker. Thinking about someone (outside my pack) taking care of my dog brings back waves of apprehension from those dark days when I had to rely on a babysitter to tend to my children as I trudged off to work. Safety concerns topped my list, but I also had a sinking feeling that I didn't sign my kid up for enough activities or that I over-scheduled them. Today I ruminate on whether my dog will choke, chase a squirrel down a storm drain, or wiggle out of her iron maiden-like collar and get lost on the Bronx River pathway. Worse yet, what if I hire Cruella Deville, and she and Jasper aren't nice to my dopey puppy. (After all, Maggie does have a beautiful coat!)

Thankfully, I found a great walker, Adriana Santos, who I can trust and rely upon. Adriana says, "Trust and safety are the two most important factors when choosing the right dog walker." Adriana, originally from Brazil, came to Westchester as an Au Pair, ready to help mothers with their little children. At some point, the parents also asked her to take care of the pets – which she happily did. After all, Adriana grew up on a farm with loads of working animals and plenty of pets. She took care of 4 Goldens, 5 Dobermans, and one cat.

Today Adriana walks about 13 miles daily and scoops up at least 6 pounds of dog poop. In between, she gives plenty of belly rubs. She even helps with dogs who are delivering a litter of puppies. She tells me a dog is like a child who needs to be watched. One must be proactive and know what to expect about dog behavior and how to correct or reward such behavior. Adriana takes her job very seriously and is just finishing a dog CPR class; she reads books on dog body language and training. She suggests that if you are looking for a dog walker, tell the walker about your dog's behavior. Share if the dog pulls (like my feisty dog), likes to stroll, sniffs at every tree and bush, likes or hates other dogs, or will stop and nap during a walk.

It is vital to ask relevant questions to find a suitable dog walker. Remember, not all dog walkers are as human-social as they are dog-social. The American Kennel Club (AKC) suggests the following questions:

• What do you like most about what you do as a walker?
• How did you get into this career?
• How many dogs do you walk a day?
• How do you reward a dog for good behavior?
• How do you correct the dog?
• Where will you walk my dog?
• Do you walk multiple dogs together or one at a time?
• How long will you spend with my dog on each walk?
• Are you experienced with dogs similar to mine?
• How long have you been a dog walker? (If they're with a dog-walking service, inquire how long they've worked for the company.)
• Are you licensed, bonded, and insured?
• Can you provide client references?
• Have you participated in any pet care or first aid training?
• What's your cancellation policy, and what happens if you are sick and unable to come on a scheduled day?

Of course, there is nothing that replaces a face-to-face meeting to see how you like the walker and how your dog interacts with him/her. Because my dog is still feisty, I asked Adriana to join me on a test walk to assess how she handled Maggie. She was great and even offered me tips on getting Maggie to walk by my side. (This is still a work in progress.)

When you do settle on a walker, the AKC suggests you provide the following critical information to a dog walker.

• Your contact information, including phone numbers and email addresses.
• Veterinary information.
• Information and instructions about medication: indicate what the drug is for, and how to administer it
• Feeding instructions if he will be the one to give your dog a meal.
• Alarm code and instructions.
• Location of supplies (leashes, treats, cleaners, pee pads, etc.).

Adriana is far from Disney's Cruella, and in fact, she is a warm and loving anti-fur gal who is stern when needed. I appreciate that she sends me little notes and photos while she is on duty – assuring me that Maggie has not fallen down a storm drain and allowing me to relax and enjoy a night out.