Who pays for a dog walking service?

Around here all the Dog Walking Services on average are $35 per dog per 30 minutes! ($10-15 extra for adding on each other dog. which is insane I don't even know how these people get business...)

Instead I use DayCare Services which is only $22 per dog per DAY.

I think you're going to find that prices will have to do with your LOCATION. Best of Luck! Congrats on the new job by the way!

I pay $15 for a 25 minute visit, and $25 for a "ride-a- long" where she takes Zoe with her on all her dog-walking appointments.  I found her via a google search and she is fantastic - 100% reliable and has a lot of knowledge on dog behavior, training and nutrition.  She also used to be a vet tech.  I'd be lost without her!

We use a service that is insured and bonded - I think she charges $22 for an hour group walk and $20 for an hour group playgroup (in a fenced area).  There are a lot of great services around here like doggy day-trips (only good for a dog with EXCELLENT recall) which are off leash romps at local wooded areas and beaches etc. and there are a number of day-cares in the area too...  If the dogs are going to be transported in a vehicle at any time, I would take a look to see how the dogs are kept int he van/car (are the seatbelts or other restraints, are the all just tossed in there etc). 

We found our walker by interviewing people at the local dog park (I had seen a number or vans around and didn't know which companies were good).  I got a great vibe from the owner from the get go and I still LOVE her.  We are moving in a few months and one of the worst parts of it is the fact that we are leaving her - Wesley adores her.

Personally, a few years later, it is less of a big deal, but initially, I would expect a note from a walker every day - mostly to make sure they came and to see if they report anything unusual.  For me it is also important that I knew we were getting the same walker each day (some companies seem to have a huge issue with this - but I think consistency is important and my dog will only let this one woman into the house if we are not there).  I am not sure if you would have group or solo walks, but check whether the dogs aren't left tied up outside while the walker gets the other dogs.  I would also ask for references - it is a big deal to give someone keys to your house and let them take your pets out into the world...

 This place charges $17 for a half hour visit. They can do whatever I want them to during that half hour - feed, walk or just play. I will probably just have the person play with them in the back yard since that is what I do during my own lunch hours. They said it would be the same person each time.  I told them I needed someone who is extremely husky savvy. (even those people that claim to be husky savvy typically aren't unless you've owned one imo!)

My next question is, do you tip the person each time if they are employed by the dog walking company? Or no?

There's another dog walker that I have met through the dog park. I'm going to call him as well. Neiko already loves him but I don't know if he actually does house visits or not.

Edited to add: I do take Neiko (and soon Lily) to day care every now and then but it is $25 per day per dog. So that'd be $50 per day plus I still need something done with Dakota. So having a dog walker that only has to come once a day is cheaper. However if I have over night visits I may go the day care route and put Dakota in a different kennel (the one she is used to)
 

I personally always leave a note, as well, but it's usually just a few lines. I try to use my whole time to be with the dog and out walking/playing/feeding and not writing letters :)

I know we do a free consultation and trial run, so you could see if any of the walkers you like offer something like that.

ok...do you have anything you think I should ask them otherwise? Do they really spend the entire time playing with the dogs and such? 

I don't use a dog walker but my girlfriend has for years.  Most of her walkers are all referrals froms others in her complex who have used them.  I can tell you what some of the comments and her complaints have been over the years.  I know she has one now, she really loves who also offers boarding overnight which works well for her and her business travel.

1.  She likes notes and insists one them.  She say's it guarentees they were there but more imporatantly she wants to know when she gets home what the dog did on there walks, poop wise.  If her dog went out a 4:00 and didn't poop she know she needs to make sure he does when she walks him when she gets home.  If he already did, then the need to require it isn't as important.  Her dog is very much on a routine, of being walked and poops a couple times a day.  If he dosent' she takes the chance of an accident during the night time or the dog wanting to go in the middle of night.

2.  She once had a dog walker who would take her dog to the end of the sidewalk let him pee - maybe poop and bring him in.  She suspected it when her dog seemed so overexcited to go out when she would come home.  So one day when she was suppose to be out she across the way to a friends and watched her.  Low and behold, she never walked the dog - just took him outfront to go to the bathroom and back in. 

3.  She once had a walker who combined all the dogs in her building into one walk.  So she would walk 4 or 5 dogs at a time.  My friend didn't like this and didn't know she was going to do it.  She wanted more individual attention given to her dog during potting and exercising.  She beleived she paid a premimum price she should deserved individual doggie attention.

4.  My friend also has a long lead outside her back patio area where she sometimes will put her dog out on it.  Usually when its bad weather, or the dog just is antsie to go outside, or if she can't walk him for some reason.  She had one dog walker who would come, tie her dog out, while the dog walker watched her 30 minute soap opera.  She never walked the dog at all!!  She got caught when a neighbor saw a pattern of this walker going into her house everyday and leaving 1/2 hour later without walking the dog.  The neighbor knew she had hired a dog walker and let her know after watching and wondering for a week or so.  In hinesight my friend said she thought she noticed can's of soda in the garbage, crums on the counter and just some stuff out of place.  Creeped her out!

5.  Another story was a good one but something she didn't approve in advance.  One dog walker use to take her dog to the park everyday and let him swim.  Now she had this little white fluffy dog.  She wasn't mad at the dog walker but had to put an end to it.  Becasue her dog beautiful white fur was constantly brown from the lake.  But she did say, that she didn't like it that she wasn't made aware of the dog walker taking her dog anywhere by car, never mind to a park and swimming - she didn't like that.

 ha! Now you're scaring me. I'm pretty easy though. I would actually prefer that the person NOT walk my dogs. I just don't trust anyone to open any doors but the door that leads to my fenced in back yard because Dakota is such an escape artist. She will find a way to escape no matter what. So whoever comes to my house I want them just to let the dogs out back and throw the frisbee around, play, make sure they go potty, etc. A half hour to an hour would be fine. The other thing I'd like is for the dog walker to re-fill kongs before they go. But maybe I just need to buy 3 more kongs and have them ready.

If they are going to play at home and not actually walk, then you don't need to worry about the other dogs in the group, any in car transportation or anyone being tied outside another home/apt. building, that's good... 

I do like the note - it is usually a 1 or 2 liner that talks about who he walked with/played with, whether he pooped and how he beahved...

IMO, they should definitely spend the whole time playing with/walking or whatever they are being paid for...  They should come meet the dogs while you are there and you will be able to see the interaction...  I am crazy, so at first, I spot checked a couple times (I would be home even when I said I wasn't going to be or come home during the time they were supposed to be out walking - to make sure they were out the whole hour).

Jewlieee

ok...do you have anything you think I should ask them otherwise? Do they really spend the entire time playing with the dogs and such? 

This forum confuses me sometimes :) so I'm not sure if you meant me, from a petsitters perspective, or someone else from a dog-owners perspective! I'll just answer with a little of both!

I would make sure to ask questions about emergency plans. Since you know Dakota has tummy issues, I'd forewarn them of that, but also make it VERY CLEAR what constitutes an emergency/phone call to you and what doesn't. I'd also ask what they do in case of blood/injures/ect. My employer has a pretty well-defined list of levels of emergencies, and how the sitter is to act accordingly. Another point to clarify would be what to do if Dakota or one of the aussies escapes. Is there a trick to getting her back, or would the sitter be better off to call you right away?

As to whether I spend my ALL of my time with the dogs...usually yes. That is what I get PAID to do, and I love it!! However, if my instructions say that I MUST use x collar, with x leash, and those items are hidden in some magical cubby, and I waste 15 minutes searching for them, and then the owner wants us to write a short novel about what fifi did for the 30 minutes I was there... see where I'm going with this :) ? But yes, I spend all of my alloted time on that particular client. Keep in mind that I am on a schedule, though, and other doggies need their walkies too!

From a petsitters viewpoint, if you want Kongs refilled, please leave the things somewhere I can see them, like a counter or a kitchen table. I would LOVE if the owners had them ready-to-go for me to give out when I leave, since then I could spend more time with the dogs, but it's up to you.

Also, where I work, it's not common to tip every day. Our invoices are usually monthly, and most people add a tip then. Our regulars sometimes leave us little gifts at Christmastime and things too :)

sl2crmeg, Yes I meant you from a pet sitters point of view lol. Sorry for the confusion. 

That's great info. See I wouldn't even have thought of emergency stuff like when to call me and when not to. So you make a really good point. Also about taking time to find things. If you think of other things I'm all ears!