Hiring a dog walker in NYC
Every pet parent knows it can be a nerve-wracking process finding someone to care for our fur-family, and a lot more than overall cost goes into making the right decision.
If you live in NYC you know that there are a TON of options for dog walkers - from pack walkers and small boutique companies to huge tech companies like Rover and WAG, the pet care industry here is SATURATED with folks looking to care for your pet. If this whole process has you thoroughly confused and overwhelmed, read on as we break down these options for you and talk about the pros and cons of each type of dog walking company.
In this article we talk about the differences between:
Large scale, “on demand” dog walking (i.e. Wag! And Rover)
Pack walking companies
Small, “Boutique” dog walking companies
Independent/Solo dog walkers
1. WAG!, Rover and Other “On Demand” Dog Walking:
Pros
Instant, on-demand dog walking
Large pool of walkers to choose from
Easy set-up and App with GPS tracking
Cons
Walkers don’t necessarily have any experience
Walkers aren’t trained by company and quality of care not guaranteed
No on-the-ground support in case of emergencies and lack-luster customer service
At this point we have all heard of Wag! and Rover and their convenient, easy to use interface which allows you to order a dog walker as you would a delivery meal or car service. These companies have extremely sophisticated technology and a huge internet presence which makes the process of finding them online, setting up an account and ordering and paying for dog walks streamlined and seamless. If you are looking for instant access to pet care, these services are for you. But if you are looking for a consistent dog walker for your pooch, you may want to look elsewhere.
Wag! And Rover are part of the “gig economy” structure, and therefore all walkers are Independent Contractors and get 1099’d at the end of the year for their earned income through the company. These and similar large, on-demand companies, do not offer legitimate, guaranteed employment for their walkers. They tend to attract pet care “hobbyists” and unfortunately don’t guarantee the reliability of any of their walkers. While penalized in small ways, walkers through these apps are able to cancel walks last minute, leaving pet owners in a lurch. In addition, walkers and pet caretakers that do use this software to procure pet care gigs often complain about not being able to make a living wage given that the sites are so saturated with competition.
Because walkers through these companies are not employees, Wag and Rover also cannot guarantee that their pet caretakers have any dog walking or pet care experience. And though they do make their pet caretakers submit to background checks (which is common practice now across the board), they do not train their walkers, mandate certification in Pet CPR and animal behavior or even ensure knowledge of securing different types of leashes and harnesses. Basically anyone can sign up to the site to become a dog walker, and while customers are usually always attracted to the walkers with the most reviews (i.e. experience), that doesn’t mean those highly reviewed walkers will always be available in an on-demand situation. And on Rover where the walkers set their own rate, often less experienced/new walkers purposely underbid other experienced ones to “gain experience”. This might be good for that individual walker, but it is not necessarily good for the customer.
Finally, Rover and Wag do not have immediate ground support the way smaller, local companies do. So if something were to go wrong with a walk you booked, neither company can offer an immediate fix for you by way of an in-person manager. And if something happens to your pet during your booked pet-care visit, while they likely have some insurance to help you out financially, they can’t guarantee that their walkers/pet sitters will be there to bring your pet to the emergency vet or spend the time looking for a dog who got off leash or bolted from your home. Basically, you are hiring an individual to come to your home and you are hoping that the situation goes well and not sideways. It’s a risk that has worked out for many, which is evident by the popularity of these companies. But there have been NUMEROUS examples of this type of care going very very, VERY wrong.
2. Pack Walking Companies:
Pros
Can offer great exercise for the right, energetic pup.
Dogs can be out of the house for many hours a day.
Walkers typically work in teams to assist with pick ups and drop offs.
Can be more affordable than solo or small group walks.
Cons
So many dogs together can mean potential risks.
Not good for smaller and/or older dogs and not an option for dogs with fear aggression.
Dogs spend a lot of their time sitting while waiting for the pack to be picked up/dropped off.
Customers must be flexible as walking windows are large.
Walks on bad weather days might be an issue.
When you think about dog walkers in NYC you probably immediately envision men and women with 6-8 dogs attached to their bodies traipsing along busy city streets. Pack walking has become more and more popular due to its presence in movies, television and commercials as well as its affordability and claims to support socialization and energy exertion. Some of this is spot on, and some is just good marketing. If you have a young, energetic pup who likes other dogs and doesn’t need a lot of time to sniff or explore, then a pack walking company may be a good choice for you. However, be aware that your dog is not walking for the entire time and is most likely spending a good amount of the walk waiting for other pack mates to be picked up and dropped off. These companies will charge a great rate of around $20-$30 for two hours, but your pup is probably sitting around for a good portion of that time. That being said, when they do walk it is usually at a very fast pace and therefore a decent way to exert energy. If you think that pack walking is right for your pup, here are some important questions to ask when you are interviewing pack walkers:
How many dogs will be walking with my dog and what is your human to dog ratio? Most pack walkers work in teams so it is important to know if there is a limit to how many dogs each walker has and if they will be able to assist each other in case there is a dog fight. Remember, these are large groups of dogs and the “pack mentality” can kick in at any time. It is important that the walkers have complete control over the situation and can prevent real problems from happening. Ask about their hiring and employee training processes as well. Pack walking is a hard job so screening and training should be lengthy and strenuous.
Do you have a time limit for how long my dog will sit waiting for pick ups and drop offs? One way for companies to reassure their customers that their dogs are being walked for a good amount of time and not just sitting around, is GPS tracking. Most dog walking companies should be using pet care software at this point and the best ones out there have GPS capabilities. With all the recent stories of dogs getting free of their collars and being hurt or killed because of inexperienced walkers, it is important that all legitimate walking companies respond with a list of their safety precautions.
What Happens on bad weather days? Some pup parents want their dogs to be out for the full walk regardless of the weather, but many people want to make sure their dogs are comfortable and therefore ask for shortened walks on very cold, hot or inclement days. Not all pack walking companies can accommodate such requests due to the sheer volume of dogs they walk on a daily basis. If you think your dog will be unhappy in the rain, snow, heat or cold, make sure your walker can be flexible.
What is your arrival policy? (This is a question for ALL walkers so keep it in mind.) Most walking companies work within arrival “windows” or time blocks. Because pack walkers are dealing with so many dogs at once, their arrival windows are usually quite large, meaning they can arrive anytime throughout the afternoon. Most healthy, house trained dogs can go 4-6 hours without elimination (trainer speak for going potty!) but if your pup needs a more rigid schedule, make sure you hire a company with smaller, guaranteed arrival window.
Who are you insured through and what does your policy cover? This is another question for ALL dog walkers whether they be big companies or your next-door neighbor with a “side hustle”. EVERYONE should be insured for their protection and yours!! With more dogs comes more risk, so make sure your pack walking company has extensive coverage for all possible emergencies.
3. Small, “Boutique” Style Dog Walking Companies:
Pros
Solo and small-group walks, typically created with each dog’s size and personality in mind.
Customized, individual care for your pup.
Small, guaranteed arrival windows with a consistent walker.
Experienced, highly trained and certified dog walkers.
Stability and consistency and on-going personal relationships with your pet caretakers.
On-ground support in case of emergencies
Cons
Usually do not offer pack walking/large group walks
On-demand walks are often not an option and sometimes can only accommodate clients wanting recurring walks.
Care is a bit more expensive and cancellation policies can be strict.
Smaller, local dog walking companies are great for pet parents who want more individualized attention paid to their pups, as well as controlled, small group socialization with other dogs. Smaller dog walking companies, create customized care that is specific to each animal. If your pup works best on his/her own, you can opt for a private walk, or if you prefer more socialization, small group walks (i.e. our “Buddy Walks”) are available too. Some companies even offer “Dog Running” for those REALLY energetic dogs that need a lot of exercise (something that The Perfect Pooch NYC will be offering within the year!).
“Boutique” essentially means specialized or selective, so many of these companies will only provide specific services such as solo dog walks or private boarding. They don’t always have a big range of care options but what they do provide is done with great care and focus. With all that being said, you can expect to pay a higher rate for such services. Boutique dog walking companies typically charge anywhere from $35-$55 per 60 minute walk depending on the number of walks per week. These types of companies also usually offer smaller arrival windows, guaranteed walks (even when your primary walker is sick or on vacation) and complimentary meet and greets.
Here are some basic perks that should be provided when you choose a “Boutique” dog walking service
Small, customized arrival windows: When hiring this type of small dog walking company you can expect that their arrival windows will be small and customized to what your pup needs. This is because these smaller companies aim to always give employees consistent walking schedules, as it benefits the employee and this type of consistency also better benefits the dogs.
Uniformly trained and EXPERIENCED staff: Most small companies like ours work hard to employ the most experienced and talented pet care professionals. There are STRICT on-boarding and training processes for new employees that assure consistency between walkers (for those instances when a walker must be replaced for the day) and mandate staff to partake in continued education and certification.
High touch customer service and consistency: Small Pet Care companies really care about building and maintaining strong relationships with their clientele. That is because small companies rely on consistency—it’s what makes it possible for them to hire and maintain the most reliable staff of dog walkers. So when you hire a small, boutique pet care company you should expect tailored solutions and one-on-care.
On-Ground, Local Support: These companies are also LOCAL and have a management and/or support team in place so if an emergencies arise, you should expect immediate support and quick solutions.
If this type of company sounds good to you, make sure to do a little research when choosing the right one. There are large pet care conglomerates currently buying up these small businesses and marketing them as “family run” or “locally owned” when they are anything but. A good way to tell the difference is by looking for pictures and/or bios of the owners on their websites. Most privately owned companies will include their founders pictures and bios on their Team pages!
4. Independent Dog Walkers:
Pros
One-on-one relationship with your dog walker.
Usually less expensive than an established company of walkers.
More personal autonomy when creating a schedule.
Cons
Coverage for when your walker is sick or on vacation is more difficult and not guaranteed.
Usually don’t offer software capabilities and credit card payments.
Can’t be as flexible with add-ons as a larger company with a pool of walkers.
Independent or “solo” dog walkers are a great option if you are looking to have a one-on-one relationship with a walker who will care for your dog on a daily basis. These walkers typically have a smaller roster of clients and provide “buddy” and/or solo walks. Because most indie walkers are self employed, they don’t usually charge sales tax and are less expensive than an established walking company.
Most independent walkers are great (many of us here at The Perfect Pooch started out as indie walkers!), but they do have their limitations. For example, indie walkers can only manage so many walks per day, so finding an experienced walker that has availability can be challenging. Indie walkers also aren’t usually set up with the type of software capabilities (i.e. credit card payments, client on-boarding and GPS) that are standard with most dog walking companies and may even stick with a “cash only” payment policy. And because they are not set up as a company, they usually only carry minimum insurance, if any.
If you decide to hire a solo walker be sure they have a pool of “subs” to cover walks and that you have the opportunity to meet them beforehand. You must also make sure your walker and all subs are bonded and insured! Don’t feel weird asking for proof of coverage - any professional will be happy you asked!
When all is said and done, we recommend just going with your gut when choosing the right dog walker. You know what you and your dog need. Don’t be afraid to be picky and take your time when choosing a dog walking company. This is an important relationship that you are creating and you and your furry BFF deserve the best!
If you want to find out more about the kind of dog walking that The Perfect Pooch NYC offers, click the button below. And if you’d like to read on and learn about what goes into the high cost of dog walking in NYC, check out our blog where we break it all down for you.