Dog walkers and pet sitters can specialize in dogs who are shy, fearful, or anxious, or are dedicated to care for reactive dogs. Some dog walkers even focus on walking dogs with behavior challenges like a strong prey drive.
I used to be one of these dog walkers!
Here are tips for finding the best dog walker or pet sitter for you and your exceptional dog.
My dog doesn’t like strangers. How do I find an experienced pet sitter that can help care for my anxious dog?
Please be prepared to commit some time to finding the right pet sitter and working with them to incorporate their presence into your dog’s life.
I recommend finding a professional with years of experience caring for dogs with fear and anxiety, someone with a lot of patience and understanding, and who is willing and able to commit to being your dog walker for years to come.
Professional Pet Sitting organizations are great places to look for a long-term care commitment from someone who has the experience and training to properly interact with a dog that has severe anxiety or fear. Check out the list of organizations at the bottom for my recommendations.
It may take weeks of low-stress visits for your dog to become comfortable enough to walk without you there.
A caretaker experienced in this process is going to understand the commitment and not rush your dog. You wouldn't want to do anything that will make their fear and anxiety even worse.
Help! I need a dog walker that I can trust to handle my reactive dog?
Initially you can try reaching out to your veterinary office, as well as to local dog trainers and training facilities who may be able to recommend a pet care service or individual experienced in handling dogs with reactivity.
Specialized services can be a bit more challenging to find, but an experienced caretaker can be worth it!
Don’t wait until the last minute to look for a pet sitter or dog walker.
I like to have a “meet & greet” and then have the walker do a couple of visits prior to any trip that I’m taking. This helps make sure that everyone is comfortable with each other before I’m unavailable for any length of time.
Realize that you may pay a premium for an experienced dog walker with reactive dog experience! It’s worth it for the peace-of-mind.
I personally always do a “walk-along” with a new dog walker to point out Rowan’s triggers. I still have dogs that have attacked him living in the neighborhood, so a calm walk can quickly change.
My dog gets easily distracted and overstimulated on walks. Where do I find a dog walker with high prey drive dog experience?
If you can’t easily find someone with predatory dog experience, a dog walker with reactive dog experience is a great second choice.
Many of the techniques used to keep the focus of a reactive dog on the caretaker instead of the trigger works with dogs that just love to chase rabbits and squirrels.
Work with your pet sitter in mapping out walking routes that are less likely to be “critter central”. It also helps to give them options for tug and chase to burn off extra steam!
How would you want them to handle running into a herd of elk on their neighborhood walk?
Not kidding about the elk -
this was 1/2 block from the house, a week before we left on vacation...
What about services like Wag or Rover?
Services like Wag or Rover can connect you to a pet sitter or dog walker, but you need to do your own due diligence in screening the individuals you hire to ensure they have experience with your dog's individual needs or challenging behaviors.
Do a “Meet & Greet” to see how they interact with your dog.
Ask about other dogs that they’ve worked with who have similar behavior and see how they’ve handled any challenges. Look at their reviews to see what clients with reactive dogs are saying about the walker your considering.
Should I look for a Dog Walking Service or Independent Pet Sitter?
Personally I prefer hiring a company instead of an individual if I’m going to be out of town and may not be easily reached.
I’m lucky enough that Rowan is very people friendly, so I don’t need to worry about a strange walker taking him, just as long as they have reactive dog experience.
It is rare, but with a service business you will still have coverage in case your pet caretaker is injured, experiences vehicle issues, or is just a “no-show” for an unknown reason.
I’ve jumped in to help out my fellow dog walkers in just these circumstances. I've also needed backup for myself when I blew a tire on the way to a scheduled service.
Search for a Professional Pet Sitter or Dog Walker
Pet Sitters International https://www.petsit.com/locate
National Association of Professional Pet Sitters https://pro.petsitters.org/
Fear Free Professionals https://fearfreepets.com/resources/directory/