At More Than Human, we know that trust is crucial when it comes to handing your beloved pup over to the care of someone else for walkies or daycare, which is why we strive to go the extra mile to ensure your four-legged friend is in the best hands.
There’s no shortage of dog walkers around, so taking the time to find the right one to fit your dog’s needs is important. We’ve outlined 10 key questions to ask when you’re looking to hire a dog walker.
🐾 How many dogs do you walk at one time?
We all know at least one dog walker who will walk anywhere between 5 – 10 dogs at a time. In some countries (hopefully in England soon too) there are laws which limit the amount of dogs a person can walk at once, and for good reason.
Pack walking can be detrimental to the well-being of the dogs and can put the walker in a compromising position if there is an accident, injury, or incident. Injuries are more common in pack walks and fights or bullying are far more likely. There’s also a higher risk of transmission of diseases and pests such as fleas.
At More Than Human, we have a strict rule of walking no more than 3 dogs at a time so that the walk is safe and enjoyable for the dogs and ourselves. We want to enjoy walking your dogs, and for them to enjoy it too!
🐾 Do you take my dogs individual needs into account?
Before we walk your furry friend, we will arrange an introduction with them and you to discuss their needs and unique situation, such as age, medical information, behaviour, and so on.
Once we’ve done this, we can then discern whether your dog would benefit from solo walks or whether he/she can be walked with 2 other similar dogs. This is similar in terms of age, personality and physical ability.
We will never walk your dog without ensuring it is the right situation for them so that they get the best experience from the walk.
🐾 How do you care for my dogs welfare?
“Welfare first, walks second” – this is our mantra here at More Than Human and we never deviate from it.
Our golden rule is we never walk dogs in heat that exceeds 22° for the obvious reason that not only would this be very unpleasant for your furry friend, but it would also put them at severe risk of paw burns and heatstroke, the latter of which can be fatal.
Similarly, we will never leave your pup unattended in a vehicle – particularly during hot weather. Welfare first, walks second – always.
🐾 What qualifications do you have?
Both Gemma and Clarice are continually undergoing studies to build their knowledge in animal care and behaviour, but Gemma is particularly experienced in this department.
She is currently completing an MSc in Human-Animal Interaction and Wellbeing as well as having built extensive experience with volunteer work.
After working at a Saddle Club in Vietnam, where she single-handedly cared for 19 horses – often in extreme heat – she also adopted a rescue named Nelly, who otherwise would likely have been sold to the dog meat trade.
Nelly has very complex PTSD, which has made walks challenging at times but has further helped us gain experience in tending to the needs of dogs with certain struggles.
🐾 Are you first aid trained and insured?
More Than Human is fully insured and both Gemma and Clarice are trained in pet first aid so that, in the unlikely event of illness or injury taking place during a walk, your dog will be quickly and correctly cared for before a mandatory trip to the vet.
🐾 Do you have experience with rescue dogs?
As bonafide dog lovers, our favourite breed is rescued, hands-down. This means we often work with dogs that have experienced unsafe, unstable, or abusive backgrounds, making them more complex than the average pup.
We will work patiently and diligently with your dog to ensure he/she feels comfortable and safe at all times.
🐾 Do you send pupdates?
As pet owners ourselves, we like to know how our pets are doing while under the care of someone else, so during walks/daycare/overnight stays, you will receive pictures/videos of your pup so that you know he/she is living his/her best life while under our care.
🐾 Do you have a flexible schedule?
Many dog walkers have strict, tight schedules which can make it difficult for pet owners to have their dog walked at a time that suits them. We do have a strict cancellation policy but will endeavour to reschedule when given the appropriate notice.
We pride ourselves on offering a flexible service so that we can be there for you, as well as your dog. This means working weekends, bank holidays, Christmas – you name it! We don’t just work between the hours of 9-5 because we know that isn’t always conducive to our clients.
🐾 Are you able to care for other species?
While dogs may be at the centre of our hearts, we offer care for all manner of pets, including:
- Cats
- Horses
- Fowl
- Alpacas
- Small pets, such as rabbits and guinea pigs
- Reptiles
- And more.
🐾 Can you support with lead training?
Clarice is undergoing training to improve the quality of walks between you and your dog. If you find yourself dreading walkies because your dog is prone to pulling, she can work with you both* to nip any bad habits in the bud and make walks more pleasant.
*Lead training requires active participation from the owner and any other person who walks your dog in order for it to be effective. Lead training isn’t an overnight process; it takes time and consistency, but it will be far more rewarding and successful if the owner also participates in the practices when walking their pup. We do not use any aversive training methods and only use positive reinforcement.
For more information, check us out here & get in contact.
