You’re running late for work, you barely grab a bite for breakfast and you realize, you need to walk your dog today. Need help? It seems that now is the best time for you to hire a dog walker; but before hiring one, let us answer these questions first, how much does a dog walker cost? And what is the best dog walking price?
In the United States, the first dog walking service believed to have started in 1960 in New York City. Since then, freelance dog walkers and dog walking companies have continued to offer the said service and more. However, the amount they charge for dog walking are not the same all throughout. It varies and depends on the services included, the experience and/or skills of the walker, the duration of the walk and other extra services that may need additional fees.
Dog walkers can be classified into non-professional dog walkers and professional dog walkers.
Non-Professional Dog Walkers
As for dog walkers who are not employed in any pet care or dog walking company, the cost to expect is a little lower. The dog walking price will usually start at $15 for a walk that will last 30 minutes and $20 for a one hour walk. Although harder to find, there are actually dog walkers who offer to walk dogs for 20 minutes for a price as low as $5. Moreover, additional dogs are often charged $5 each.
Professional Dog Walkers
Professional dog walkers, for this article, will refer to those dog walkers with training/certification in dog walking or dog care. Oftentimes, these professional dog walkers are employees of companies that are centered on pet care; however, there are also independent professional dog walkers available in the community. Dog walking with professionals will often cost $20-$25 for 20 minute walks, $25 to $30 for a walk that is 30 minutes long and $35 to $40 for 60 minutes if the dog walker works for a pet care or dog walking company. As mentioned above, each additional dog is often charged as $5.
Additional Fees
When hiring dog walkers, additional fees may arise. Extra treats and toys as well as extra services such as bathing, pet sitting, and extra hours or early/late walks will also be charged. Most additional charges are $5.
List of Popular Dog Walkers
- Portland Mutt Strut Dog Walking and Animal Care
- NYC Dog Walking Professionals
- PetSitUSA
- FETCH! Pet Care
- Top Tails Dog Walking and Pet Sitting
- Dog Days & Cat Naps
Find NonProfessional/Freelancer Dog Walkers
Although social media is a powerful avenue if you are in search of someone who will walk your dog, asking for recommendations from residents of your community is a more trustworthy approach since first hard information is more reliable. But if you really want to look for a dog walker online, a website such as care.com is a good place to search. A more modern method in searching for dog walkers around your area is using a mobile application called Wag! which can be downloaded from iTunes Applications Store or Android Google Play Store. Nevertheless, always keep in mind to choose your dog walker carefully.
Best Dog Walking Price You Could Get
Now, you may be wondering which price ranges are the best to avail. Undeniably, the non-professional dog walking is more enticing as it is cheaper; however, what are the implications of having your pet/s walked by a non-professional dog walker? Below are some of the considerations you will have to think about when going for a cheaper, non-professional dog walking service.
Advantages:
- bargaining for the price can be done
- easier to leave personalized instructions to the dog walker
Disadvantages:
- more prone to animal abuse or mistreatment
- dog walker might not be able to make quick and proper decisions in emergency cases because of lack of training
- dog walker might possess lesser knowledge of uncommon dog behaviors and what these behaviors mean
On the other hand, hiring a professional dog walker means paying for higher price rates,
but what are the implications of pursuing professional dog walkers?
Advantages:
- dog walker has professional training background in dog walking
- dog walker has more knowledge in terms of dog behaviors
- dog walker is able to determine more quickly dos and don’ts in dangerous situations
- dog walker and company is reliable and trustworthy
- dog walking packages may be available
Disadvantages:
- prices and services are fixed
- additional fees may pop up
In summary, dog walking companies who employ professional dog walkers charge more,
$25-$30 for 30 minutes and $35 to $40 for 1 hour, whereas amateur dog walkers charge $5 to $10 dollars lesser. However, the price ranges have their own implications, advantages, and disadvantages.
Most of us will always go for what is cheaper, however, this decision is not always the
best if it puts our pets in danger. Then again, pet owners have different views on this issue. Some pet owners are not afraid of exposing their dogs to some risky situations while others do not want a single housefly hurting their pets. The decision lies in you, as a pet owner. So the next time you ask the question “how much does a dog walker cost?” you will have to consider not just how much the dog walking price is but also what does the price imply? include and/or exclude? Is their charge for dog walking worth it or is it not?