Letting someone else take care of your dog, even for a short period, can be tough. With the right preparation, however, you can rest easy knowing that your dog will have a great time.
How to get your dog ready for the dog walker
So, you’ve decided to hire a dog walker to keep your canine companion happy while you’re at work. This is a great idea, especially if you have a young, energetic dog that needs a lot of exercise.
Of course, if you want to get the best experience for your dog, you should take some steps to prepare them. These steps are also useful when you are hiring a dog sitter or sending your dog to doggy daycare.
Why is preparing your dog for a dog walker is so important?
While some dogs are very open, sociable, and adaptable, many are nervous around new people and can struggle to thrive in new situations.
You may feel that you know your dog very well, but unless you have left them in the care of a friend or family member before, it is not possible to know how well they will cope with being left alone with a completely new person. It must be admitted that some dogs can’t even stand to be left home alone when their parents are not there, hence the need to prepare your dog well to support your absence.
Socializing young dogs is particularly important to their development and ability to mix with new people and dogs safely. But some dogs struggle with this as a result of past experiences. Taking steps to prepare a nervous or reactive dog is important to:
- Reduce stress
- Minimize reactionary behavior
- Make it easier for your dog walker to keep control
Simple preparatory steps could make it much easier for your dog to be calm and happy when with the dog walker.
How to prepare your dog for a professional dog walker
Even a nervous dog with issues like anxiety can be gently eased into spending time away from its owners.
If you have an anxious dog that is unsure about other dogs, an experienced dog walker could help them to soothe these issues as long as you take steps to make them comfortable with the walker (and choose a dog walker with the right experience like the reputable Brooklyn dog walking companies have).
These types of dog walking services take the time to train their dog walkers so that they can give each dog special attention and make the time spent with them as pleasant as possible.
These are three essential actions to Prepare Your Dog for a professional Dog Walker:
1.Plan an introduction
Starting small is important, especially if you have a large, powerful dog, like a husky or a reactive dog that has issues with new people.
Be upfront with your dog walker so they can determine whether they can handle your dog and start with a supervised meeting.
This can take the form of a short meeting in a dog park or even an introduction in your home if your dog is most comfortable there.
Assess how your dog reacts to them, and provide key information about your dog and any issues the potential walker may need to know, such as if your dog has any medical conditions.
2.Do a practice run
Scheduling either a walk with you and your dog or a short walk with the dog and the walker alone can be a good way to gauge if your dog is comfortable and happy in the situation.
If there are any issues, you can discuss them with the dog walker and determine whether they are a good fit for your dog.
3.Provide treats
Many dogs are food motivated, and if you provide the dog walker with some of their favorite treats to give to them during the introduction and practice run it could go a long way towards helping them become friends. While this is not a foolproof method, it can be very helpful.
Once your dog feels comfortable with the dog walker, it will be able to build trust. Trust is key to ensuring your dog is manageable and has a good time with the walker.
Final Thoughts
These tips can help ensure that your dog feels comfortable and safe with the sitter, so you can enjoy peace of mind that your canine companion isn’t stressed while you’re gone.
