In some countries it is illegal to leave your dog on its own for longer than 7 hours. I have heard of people wanting to introduce similar legislation in New Zealand although I think this would be extremely hard to get accepted.
But there are some good points raised within the argument for the law, and that’s why dog walking is big business in some areas of the world and growing in popularity in New Zealand.
Should you consider hiring a dog walker?
Does your dog have ‘accidents’ inside or damage furniture while you are gone? How about misbehaving when you get home? A tired dog is a happy dog and a dog walker can be just the ticket to help relieve the extra energy and get this behaviour under control.
When you think about your dog being alone in a kennel all day just waiting for you to come home and play, you can see the benefit of having a professional dog walker exercise your dog once or more per week to break that boredom and loneliness of being alone all day, every day.
The health benefit of the extra exercise can’t be understated. A healthier dog means less vet bills and money saved as well as a longer life for your best friend. The exercise and bonding time you get when you walk your dog is very valuable so don’t replace your walk time completely by hiring a dog walker every day.
If you have a busy schedule or even a one off event, a dog walker can relieve you of the guilt of not being able to get home in time for the regular walkies.
Most dog walkers exercise more than one dog at a time unless you request otherwise so the walk becomes a fun social event with playmates to enjoy a good outing with.
Do your homework, check out a person you are thinking of hiring. Can they produce a clear criminal check? Do they have references or can they give you contact details for past clients that are willing to provide a reference for their service?
Make sure you are happy with the person you hire, chances are you will be inviting them into your property and maybe even your home when you are not there.
We have had a few customers use a local dog walker and from feedback we are happy to recommend this service. If you are thinking about a dog walker give Jan a call to discuss your needs as she offers more than simply walking your dog.
