Does Bailey bark at every passing dog? Does Hunter steal everybody else’s balls at the beach? Is Bruno off in his own little world whenever you call? Has your walker said that Pixie needs much more attention than other dogs in the group?
Dogs like these often respond best to one-on-one walks. A trained and experienced private dog walker can tailor the walk to suit the specific needs of your dog.
But how do you choose the right walker, and what qualifications do you look for? Although there are no city, state, or federal education or licensing requirements for private dog walkers, many walkers have taken dog-walking courses and some are certified trainers, meaning they have completed comprehensive professional coursework.
A reputable walker will have a business license and insurance. You can begin your search for a qualified walker by asking your local SPCA, pet stores, veterinarians, friends with dogs, or by searching online referral sources such as DogTec.
Your dog will need some basic training before you bring in a professional walker. Either taking a class with your dog or hiring a private trainer to learn the following commands will improve your own time with your dog immensely, and your dog walker will also put them to good use.
- “Watch Me.” Gets the dog to look away from something that might trigger a reaction and look at you instead.
- “Find It.” A distraction technique in which the dog find treats on the ground.
- “Drop.” A command to have the dog drop whatever is in his mouth.
- “Leave It.” A command to tell the dog not to pick up an object.
- Loose-leash walking. Keeps the dog close to you for better focus and control.
- “Turn and Go.” A management technique to avert unpleasant situations.
When walking a leash-reactive dog, one that barks and lunges at other dogs when on leash, a skilled walker will be very aware of potential triggers in the environment. The “Watch Me” technique is a great way to shift the dog’s focus. Fido notices dog, walker tells Fido “Watch Me,” and Fido looks up at walker for a treat.
The “Find It” game can come in handy when “Watch Me” is not enough. It is an emergency measure when you need Fido to be distracted from something else. By dropping lots of treats on the ground, Fido’s head will be down, focused on gobbling up the goodies.
“Drop” and “Leave It” are great skills to practice during private walks. Here it’s all about the trade off: Fido drops the item in his mouth to receive a fantastic reward, leaving the interesting item on the ground in order to receive something even better. Dogs with a history of poop eating, being drawn to dead animals, or stealing balls from other dogs are prime candidates for this type of training.
Loose-Leash Walking is about keeping Fido in “The Zone” – the area within arm’s length – without him pulling on the leash. By giving Fido a treat whenever he remains in this area, he will continue to gravitate to “The Zone.” This technique is useful for dogs who are reactive, pull on leash, or are fearful.
“Turn & Go” is for situations that require a quick positive exit. The walker will use a happy, peppy voice to enlist the dog to follow. The technique looks like this: Walker says “Follow Me” while turning and walking in the opposite direction. Naturally Fido will come along to receive her prize. The goal here is to elicit a speedy response.
Other dogs who might benefit from private walks include:
- Senior dogs who need short walks and require some extra time and care to get them up and outside
- Puppies who are too young to go to the park but still need socialization
- Dogs with medical or post-surgical issues
- Dogs whose people want them to have some special one-to-one attention
Dogs, like humans, each have their particular idiosyncrasies that benefit from specialized attention. And, again like humans, dogs need both physical and mental exercise. In private sessions, the intensity of that exercise can be tailored to your dog’s specific energy level.
As most owners are away from home for eight or more hours a day, it makes good sense to tap into the skills of a qualified private walker.
Joan Mapou is an experienced SF SPCA Certified Trainer, private dog walker, and in-home pet sitter. She has had her own pet care business in San Francisco, Joan4Pets, since 2000. More info is available at joan4pets.com
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