Hi everyone,

I know quite a few of you on here use proffesional dog walkers if you are not around during the day to walk your dog. What do you expect to pay for this service? I'm thinking about hiring someone when I get my dog in the summer but have no idea as to how much it would cost.

Thanks,
Jen

Hi Jen

I looked into this a while ago, although my circumstances have changed since then. It varies tremendously (particularly by region) - although the most costly option is to go with one of the national companies, mainly because they offer the full package and have very strict quality standards (in theory at least). Your two other options would be to go with a local person, who ran a registered, insured pet walking/sitting business, or to find a friendly neighbour/local person with whom you could come to some arrangement. The thing to bear in mind is the more "informal" the arrangement, the more you have to depend on the individual's competence and reliability - plus you'd need to make sure that you were insured for your dog misbehaving while not in your care.

As far as prices go, if I were you I'd ring round a few people (look in yellow pages), suss out whether they could give your dog the care and love you want, and how much they charge. If you mention that you'd like to agree a long-term arrangement with them, you might get a discount.

I found someone in Gateshead (area I work - v deprived hence low cost of living) that charged £10 per day for a full pet sit. They came highly recommended and I liked them a lot. If you just wanted someone to walk your dog, and maybe spend an hour or so a day with them, this would obviously cost less.

I think the thing to bear in mind is to make absolutely sure that anyone who walks your dog shares the same views on training as you do, and doesn't walk too many dogs at one time.

Hope this is helpful

Jo

Jo,

Thanks thats a lot of help :) I'm just off to have a look in the yellow pages now.

Jen

You could also try asking your local vets - they should be able to recommend one or two people.

Good luck!

Jo

In Greater London [e.g.] the cost is usually £8 per walk which is meant to include pick up and a full hour for the walk in an interesting park. The vets are indeed the best place to find people - ask the vet if the dogwalker uses the vet him/herself which allows you to get their opinion of the person. I found an exuberant lady who has 7 DOGS herself [they don't all come on the walk thankfully] and she takes my dog at a discount for a chunk of the day with other nice dogs - I don't think one hour is enough when you are at work for 9 hours but I am really keen to ensure my dog has company. The walker has never been sick and has a back up plan. When you meet them you can usually tell if you will like them - especially the way your dog reacts to them. Don't take on a sourpuss!.

I also looked in newsagents' windows but people advertising there tend to charge a lot more for some reason - in London you always get higher prices but some people are really outrageous especially those who put up notices for easy money but have no experience with dogs. They are harder to vet. You should make sure you get someone local who isn't going to find it a grind to get to your house rather than someone who starts adding on fares and petrol etc.

Also try petsitter websites [national register of petsitters] and you might find a sitter for £10 or so.
Finally, think of any relatives who will help out.

good luck
cissy[cizzy at home]

I am not a professional but i have been walking other peoples dogs for 5 years now. Most of my clients heard about me by word of mouth. I let my clients choose how much they pay, anything in the region of 2 to 5 pounds for a walk. For example, i walk one dog for 20 minutes and get £2, another i walk for 45 mins and get £4.50 and i used to walk one for an hour and get £5. It works well that way as they don't feel they are being cheated of a lot of money. I pick them up myself and often have taken them out when no one was home, so they trust me completely. I know i cannot compare to a professional company who have insurance, but am a cheaper and just as reliable alternative. Try asking around or looking in shop windows for adverts, there are a lot of good people out there.

I have a 6 month old american cocker and she is walked every day with another dog. The lady who walks her charges £7 per huor and I believe that is the going rate for walking. she is picked up very day and delivered bak home. All of this takes abotu 2 hours from start to finish. So really it works out to £3.50 per hour.... not bad going really.