How do I know if a dogwalker is reliable and trustworthy?
In today’s blog post we will answer another very popular question asked about dog walkers, namely how to tell if a dog walker (in Guernsey or elsewhere) is trustworthy or reliable.
We think that this topic is very important, because we understand that dogs are basically family members and so it is important to make sure that you entrust your dog with a reliable and professional dog walker.
While it’s of course difficult to guarantee that a dog walker will be a good fit for you and your dog, here is a handy checklist which you can use to work out if the dog walker you’re thinking of using is a trustworthy and reliable dog walker.
Does the dog walker have a website?
While having a website is not necessary to be a good dog walker, it is often a sign that someone takes their job seriously and offers a professional dog walking service. A website is also a good place to get a better feel for the dog walker, because you can read more about them and sometimes every see pictures in their gallery.
How long has the dog walker been working or trading for?
Another thing to look out for is how long a dog walker has been operating for. Generally speaking, the longer they have been going for, the more likely it is that they can be trusted with dogs and it also means that if they have online reviews, you will be able to read a wider selection of them. We often see brand-new dog walker businesses popping up and disappearing very quickly in Guernsey and so there is definitely something to be said for dog walkers who have been trading for a long time.
What do the reviews say?
It’s definitely worth seeing if the dog walker you’re thinking of using has any reviews or testimonials online. Mooney and Friends is currently a 5 Star rated dog walker in Guernsey based on multiple Facebook and Google Reviews.
How responsive is the dog walker?
A good test of reliability is simply checking to see how long it takes the dog walker you’re thinking of using to reply if you contact them. While it’s normal for replies to take a bit longer if you contact a dog walker late in the evening or on a weekend, in general you should expect to get a reply fairly quickly. At Mooney and Friends, we aim to reply to all messages within one working day (and typically on the same day of your query) and you can test this out by visiting the contact us page.
Does the dog walker have a Facebook page?
Similar to the website point at the start, many dog walkers also have a Facebook page which can help to give you a better feel for the dog walker. Things to look out for are reviews, as well as whether the page has pictures of various dogs and sometimes you can also find that dog walkers post stories on their Facebook page which can give you a better idea of their day to day activity. On that note, feel free to check out our Facebook page for Mooney and Friends to see what we’ve been up to!
Is the dog walker insured?
A key thing to look out for is to make sure that your dog walker is fully insured. While insurance is something that most of us pay for and never hope to use, it can offer peace of mind on those rare occasions that something unforeseen happens. To put it differently: you wouldn’t (and shouldn’t) drive a car without insurance and the same is true for dog walkers: a good, reliable dog walker should always have professional dog walker insurance and that is why Mooney and Friends is fully insured.
What vehicle(s) do they use?
Unless your dog walker lives very close to you, chances are that they will need to drive to your dog to pick them up and then drive them to wherever they’re going for their walk. This means that it’s important to know what vehicle your dog(s) will be traveling in, to make sure it’s safe and fit for purpose. For example, Mooney and Friends uses environmentally friendly electric Nissan env-200 vans which have been custom fitted with Kong dog crates to ensure that dogs are safe and secure when traveling.
Has the dog walker completed a dog first aid course?
Another key thing to check is whether the dog walker you’re thinking of using has been first aid trained. All dog walkers at Mooney & Friends have completed doggy first aid training which means that they’re prepared to help if it’s ever required.
How much does the dog walker cost?
We get it - having a regular dog walker can be a big expense. Having said that, as the famous saying goes, if something sounds too good to be true then it probably is and the same is true for dog walkers. In other words, we would say that cheap is rarely best and can be a sign that a dog walker is trying to maximize their profits and/or group sizes, over an above offering a professional and reliable dog walking service. If you want to find out more about how much a dog walker costs in Guernsey then click here.
Does your dog walker offer a free introductory walk?
We strongly believe that every dog walker should spend the time to meet each new client and their dog in a 1 on 1 setting before agreeing to take them on. This is very important because it gives the dog walker the opportunity to find out more about your dog and for example means that if the dog is joining for group walks, they can be paired with suitable dogs. This is why at Mooney and Friends we offer a FREE introductory dog walk for all new dogs we take on in Guernsey.
Does your dog walker collect key details about you and your dog?
At the end of the day, we believe that being a dog walker is a big responsibility and that’s why we ask all new clients to complete and sign a form which contains key information about them and their dog & the services they’d like to sign up for and this forms (no pun intended) the basis of our relationship.
What’s your first impression of the dog walker when you meet them?
Another simple but important thing to look out for is how the dog walker comes across when you speak with them and meet them for the first time. For example, are they on time? If they do happen to be late, did they let you know in advance? Do they sound like they love and care for dogs? Have they walked any dogs of a similar breed before?
How big are the dog walker’s groups?
All dog walkers in Guernsey should abide by the States of Guernsey Guidance for Professional Dog Walkers. Part of this guidance states that dog walkers should exercise no more than 5 dogs at a time, so if the dog walker you’re thinking of using ever walks bigger groups than that then it can be a sign that they’re not abiding by the guidance. At Mooney and Friends the maximum group size for any walks with a single dog walker present is 5, but quite often our groups are even smaller than that. What’s more, we’re also very cautious about which dogs we will walk off-lead, as we have to be sure that those dogs have perfect recall skills.
What kit does the dog walker use?
The equipment used by the dog walker can also be an indicator of whether they are reliable and trustworthy. At Mooney and Friends we use reliable Halti Leads and professional Kong Dog Crates. All of our kit is regularly checked and reviewed and any equipment which is no longer fit for purpose is replaced. We also do not use extendable (retractable) leads because we consider them to be dangerous in a group walking setting.
That’s it for our blog post article about how you can tell whether a dog walker is reliable and trustworthy! While there are other things which you can look out for, the checklist above is a handy starting point for ensuring that your dog(s) end up in the care of a professional, reliable and trustworthy dog walker in Guernsey. Thanks for stopping by and please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to have a chat about the needs of your dog(s)!
