Finding The Right Dog Walker

Trusting a stranger with the well-being of your dog can be hugely stressful.  Someone is out there in this world walking your dog through the crowded city streets, and you are helpless to what occurs during that time...or are you?  Not to fear - we’ve got a list of questions you should be asking all potential dog walkers in order to find the perfect fit for you and your Fluffball!

First, you should try and have the candidate come interact with both you and the dog prior to hire.  A meet and greet, essentially. Don’t be afraid to ask the tough questions - a professional will be ready and eager to answer them! Let’s jump right into it:

• Are you pet first aid certified? What are your emergency protocols?

• Are you city licensed, insured, bonded?

• Will you be walking my dog or one of your employees? Will I be informed of changes?

• How many dogs do you walk together at once?

• What type of training methods are used? (remember, you want someone who uses positive reinforcement)

• How long are the walks?

• What happens in the event of bad weather?

• Do you offer other services in addition to walks?

• What is your cancellation policy?

• How did you get into this career? What experience do you have?

• Can you provide me with a list of references?

Finally, don’t be afraid to ask to tag along for the first walk to see how the walker interacts and handles your pup - just be sure you are judging fairly.  There is really little to be fearful of once you hire a responsible, professional dog walker.  Your dog is only benefiting from the physical activity and interaction with another human.  Now, relax and get back to work!

Bostonians - you lucked out! Freedom Tail is a professional service ready to answer all of your questions AND provide your first walk free!

Preparing To Bring Your New Dog Home→

Congratulations!  You’ve waited long enough.  It’s almost time to bring your newest, furriest family member home.  

There’s a lot of preparation to be done prior to picking up the little one from the shelter.  Safety should always be your top priority, and small dangers are often overlooked. Ensure that all electrical wires are out of reach, and that any hanging drapes or cords are tied up.  Your active pup can easily become tangled, and in some cases, seriously injured.  Move all cleaning products and human food to out-of-reach locations, or put locks on all lower standing cabinets.  Trust me - this puppy is smart.

While you should anticipate some minor household item damage with a new fur baby, you can take steps to minimize this.  Roll up any high-end or oriental rugs and keep them in storage until your pup is fully trained.  If you do have wall-to-wall carpeting, invest in some cheap mats to place in play areas and near doors until potty training is complete.  And, of course, move all valuables and anything fragile out of puppy reach.

Now, for the fun part.  You want to keep your puppy challenged and entertained.  Include a variety of toys that are cognitively stimulating when shopping for the playthings, such as a treat puzzle.  This will be psychologically beneficial for the dog, and, also, hopefully deter them from inflicting damage on your personal items, i.e. your favorite pair of shoes.  

Your life is going to change pretty dramatically after adopting a new dog.  It’s also important that you don’t become too overwhelmed with all of the additional responsibility and lack of free time.  Now is the time to plan out as much as possible and schedule out your necessary parenting duties, such as morning walks, feeding, finding a pet sitter, and setting up and attending vet appointments.  Organization is going to be the key to managing all of the daily and ongoing needs for your newest (and, let’s be honest, cutest) family member.

Now that you’re prepared, all you have to left to do is give your pup tons of love!  Good luck!

***Hey, Bostonians! Not only does Freedom Tail Pet Services offer daily dog walkings (which include feedings) and pet sitting, but they also provide twice daily puppy visits for only $20/day!  Make sure your pup is in the best hands (second to yours, of course!).