Should You Hire a Dog Walker?
A lot of people hire a professional dog walker because they don't have the time to do it themselves. This is definitely better than not giving your dog exercise at all but is it the right choice to make? When you walk your dog, you strengthen your bond with them. You get to reinforce your leadership role in their eyes so they will continue to see you as the head of the pack. They will also begin to associate you with taking them on walks, which they greatly enjoy, and see you even more positively.
Many people hire dog walking companies because they don't like how their dog pulls on the leash. This is understandable, it can be really annoying when you want to go on a nice walk and your dog seems content with choking themself! However, this just means that you need to work with them and teach them the proper way to walk.
The easiest way to get your dog to stop pulling is to put them on their leash. When they pull, stop walking. Do this as many times as it takes, and your dog will eventually realize that they can't go anywhere if they are pulling. It will not take long for them to pick up on this. It might make for a couple annoying walks because you won't be able to get anywhere, but it will be worth it and it will save you from need to hire a dog walking service!
The problem with hiring dog walking companies is the fact that they usually do not try to train your pup. They are walking many other dogs at the same time and tend to just let them pull. If you are able to hire one that aims to show your dog how to properly walk on a leash, then that is a different story. You can use them to train your dog and then enjoy the benefits from that point on.
Keep in mind that by training our dogs, we build our relationship with them!
It is really convenient to have someone train your dog, but you will miss out on a valuable opportunity to build your relationship with them. With that said, you should not have any trouble finding someone that is looking for dog walking work. Many people try to get these jobs because they love to be around dogs all day, and who wouldn't? Many of them are also pet sitters.
You might feel like you need a pet sitter because you are gone all day and are worried that your dog will feel lonely. However, that is not actually the case. Dogs need time to be alone and independent. It really isn't good for them to constantly need to be around people. If you find that they are doing destructive things like digging, barking, or chewing, then you simply need to give them the attention they need when you can. Walking them should be included in this.
So Should You Hire a Dog Walker?
It is really your decision if you hire a dog walker. If you don't mind missing out on the relationship building and feel like you really don't have time to exercise them, then you should hire one. It is better that your dog gets the exercise and attention they need from someone rather than no one. They will be happy and healthy under the watch and care of a professional dog walker.
If you think you might want to strengthen the bond between you and your dog then you should try to do the walking yourself! It will be worth the small amount of time you take out of each day. You will see a noticeable change in your pet.
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