How much does it cost to walk a dog for 1 hour?

Knowing the cost of an hourly dog walk helps a dog owner decide whether hiring a dog walker is worthwhile. This service is especially useful when it's impossible to walk a pet or devote sufficient time to walks. Regular walking is key to a pet's happiness and health, as well as the safety of furniture and home decor. In large cities, the selection of dog walkers is especially wide, so all that's left to do is find a suitable candidate who meets all the owner's needs.

Content

1 What does the service involve?
2 Cost of walking
3 Choosing a dog walker
- 3.1 Security issues

What does the service involve?

In 2019, dog walking services were offered by private individuals, specialized agencies, canine schools, and veterinary centers. By arrangement with the owner, the walker arrives at the specified address and sets out with the pet for a walk. The average walk duration is 45 minutes, the minimum time needed for the animal to release pent-up energy and relieve itself. By agreement with the owner, the walker can extend the time, and the walker will complement the walk with active play, practice previously learned commands, return the dog home, brush the dog after the walk, trim the nails, and more. High-quality walkers often inspect the dog for parasites (like ticks) after the walk, and offer a free paw wash or food if the owner hasn't returned home by then.

Cost of walking

The price of a dog walk depends on the length of the walk, the breed (large or small), the level of aggression, and any additional options (command training, bathing). The standard price for an hour of dog walking in 2019 ranges from 100-300 rubles for private individuals and from 500 rubles for specialized companies. The price will increase depending on the individual dog's characteristics, the customer's requirements, and the walker's experience. Travel costs to the customer's address may be included in the rate or a separate item. In the latter case, you can save money by choosing a walker in your area.

A couple more ways to save money when booking a dog walker:

Book the service as a package rather than a one-time booking. Companies offer more competitive rates per tour for these types of bookings.
Partner up with friends or neighbors to share a dog walk (mostly helpful for owners of small breed dogs). Discounts are offered for booking multiple dog walks, and the cost of travel to and from the client is only a one-time payment.

Choosing a dog walker

When choosing a pet sitter, it's important to consider their qualifications, personality, and any additional support needed (behavior correction, training, etc.). Understanding the nuances of dog psychology will help you maintain your dog's good spirits. As in any other service, referrals from friends and family can help you find the right person.

Cooperation can be roughly divided into the following stages:

placing an order by phone or on the website;
clarification of the walker’s data and the characteristics of your pet;
arrival at the appointed time;
getting to know the animal in the presence of the owner and taking it for a walk (cleaning up excrement is mandatory);
return home and additional services (washing, feeding).
a photo or video report of the walk (often with the route indicated) and the condition of the “ward”.

Security issues

First, the dog's life and health are at stake. It's important to discuss the use of equipment, supervise the dog to ensure it doesn't pick up foreign objects from the ground, and, if necessary, avoid contact with other animals and people. For example, to prevent a dog from escaping, experienced dog walkers use a safety collar and a special harness to which the dog's leash is attached with a carabiner.

Secondly, it concerns the safety of the property. It's often necessary to pick up and bring the dog home when no one is there, so you have to leave the keys with the concierge or neighbors. You can also arrange with these same people for the dog walker to enter the apartment in their presence. In this case, you can further protect yourself by drawing up a corresponding agreement, which is practiced by specialized companies. document The dog walker is responsible for the property while in the apartment.

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