Should I sign my dog up for A group dog walk?
& How do I find a great dog walking service?
Is my dog alone too much?
It’s okay to be apart from our dogs and to leave them home alone and in fact important for them to learn this, but is there a limit to the amount of time our dogs should spend alone? We believe the ideal maximum time a dog can be left alone without toiletting or social interactions is 4-6 hours if they have been slowly accustomed to this. We are, however, aware that some dogs have to cope with 8-9 hours so it would be nice to break up their days! Where we would definitely draw a line and ask you to get in help is when days alone start getting to 10-12 hours or more in a single stretch.
Lots of dogs have difficulty adapting to the modern lifestyle they are subjected to, with a lack of mental and physical stimulation, socialisation and social support. These are the dogs who come to us with behavioural issues such as barking, toiletting indoors, destructive chewing, or emotional issues such as fear, anxiety, aggression, or over-excitement. But even if the dogs don’t display obvious issues, just because they are coping, does not mean we can’t do better.
What can you do if you work all day?
Read here why we don’t tend to recommend Daycare in Christchurch, so long as even those that claim to be better have huge dog to staff ratios, no routines, are very loud, provide hardly any rest time and create unsettled dogs with too boisterous play and high stress levels, if not even properly reactive.
So, time to get creative!
Can you come home from work at lunch time? Even if not every day, but maybe a few times a week? Maybe you even have several house hold members that could take turn to give the dog a social visit and the chance to be let out for toilet. It’s a good idea to leave some sort of mental enrichment toy behind when leaving.
Can you work from at home on occasion? You might be surprised if you ask your boss. :) Telecommuting is getting more and more common.
Can you bring your dog to work with you? Again, your boss might surprise you. It doesn’t have to be every day, but it’s a nice chance for socialisation and the social contact your dog requires. You could take along a crate to feel comfortable in situations that your dog is still learning.
Can you arrange for someone to visit? Ask a neighbour, family member, friend or colleague’s nephew to pop in and let your dog out and give them cuddles.
If you require a professional service, consider a positive Pet Care Service that pops in to look after your dog and possibly also takes them out for a quick stroll. Or look into finding a dog walker or small (3-5 dogs) group walk: Well-run Group Walks help reduce social isolation and maximise your dog’s wellbeing.
Finding the right dog walking service is about much more than just getting your dog out of the house. Things your dog should look forward to on a great walk include: sniffing opportunities in new places, mooching time, mental stimulation, some social interactions, physical exercise, cuddles, fun and so much more. Finding a qualified walker who only uses force-free methods and can provide training while out and about is absolutely key. This is not only so that you know your dog is in good hands, but it also means your dog won’t pick up any unwanted behaviours while out and about..
What should I look for when considering a dog walking service?
A great walker is one that is actively involved with your dog throughout the whole walk, ensures their calmness, practices recall, and ensures that any dog-dog play or interaction is appropriate. They should be able to actively keep an eye out for kids, bikers, joggers and other common, real-life triggers so that they can practice calmness with your dog in those situations.
If you aren’t sure if your dog is spending too much time at home alone, jump a bit further down the page where we give a run-down of our recommendations to keep your pup happy at home and when to think about bringing in a pet care service or dog walker.
We recommend the following in a great dog walking service:
A maximum of 5 dogs to keep up full control and safety ✓
Dog walker is qualified and passionate about what they do. They are pet-first-aid-trained, police-checked, trained in dog body language, training theory and practice ✓
Uses natural treats and can cater to your dog’s specific dietary needs ✓
Offers safe transport in individual areas for each dog to ensure maximum comfort & safety ✓
Takes your dog to safe places that offer great mooching opportunities and are happy to take photos or videos to share how the walk went ✓
Has an emergency plan in place if anything should go wrong on the walk ✓
Uses longlines (training leads) if necessary to allow your dog to be safely ‘off lead’ whilst still under control. This is an essential skill, especially if your dog is still perfecting their recall.
Promotes your dog’s good habits and trains them on recall and appropriate play styles while out and about ✓
A walk where dogs can be dogs and socialise off-leash while your walker ensures their safety ✓
Looks out for and picks up on possible issues with health or behaviour and addresses them ✓
Builds a personal bond with your dog and goes the extra mile for them ✓
Look for a walker who promotes appropriate off lead play.
A great walk has lots of mooching and sniffing time with freedom to explore.
Make sure the transport is safe and comfortable with individual areas.
What is important to know about my dog walker?
This is an additional article on what to look for with credit to The company of dogs.
Anyone can set up as a commercial dog walker. It is unregulated and no licence is required to be a dog walker in NZ.
Even the child next door can offer to walk your dog for pocket money but depending on their age, they are not legally responsible. Which means that if anything unfortunate should happen on the walk, the owner may find themselves liable. This could mean paying another dog’s vet bill in the event of an attack or even being prosecuted if the dog is thought to be out of control in a public space.
A good dog walker only takes along as many dogs as they can control, count easily, keep an eye on, put on a lead if needed. They should be fluent in dog body language and foster calmness from pick-up to drop-off.
The transport should be and feel safe for the dogs. Dogs that are kept crowded in one area can feel stressed which can cause fights. If there was a fight or a dog would get sick it is crucial to be able to pull over and attend to just the dog/s that need help. Therefore it is important that all dogs are individually secured in the vehicle and ideally can’t reach each other.
By recruiting a dog walker, you are not just employing someone to take your dog to toilet and have some exercise, you are providing your dog with a person who will have an influential impact on them. That influence will have an effect on how your dog behaves, so you want it to be a good. Starting with the fact that your dog walker should never intimidate your dog or be cruel to them and continuing with being a person who is a good guide for your dog, for example not allowing them to bully other dogs and turn into a hooligan, or not allowing other dogs to bully your dog and for them to turn into a victim. What happens when your dog goes out with a dog walker can have an impact on his physical and mental health and this can affect how your dog behaves for you in the future.
In order for a dog to follow cues, they need to understand what is expected of them and this comes down to training. Training should be the responsibility of the owner. A good dog walker can help to see that training is maintained.
A good dog walker is aware of the dog law, has insurance and knows and follows dog etiquette such as not letting the dogs rush a dog on lead.
Canine First Aid training for emergencies, such as tending to that cut paw or knowing what to do in the event of a heat stroke, is a qualification a professional dog walker should have.