Dog Walking Etiquette
Though based primarily on common sense, if you are going to be running a dog walking business, it is important for you to be professional about your work. This means that you will need to learn the rules of etiquette for dog walking and apply those rules every time you take the dogs out.
There are polite ways to walk dogs and there are rude ways to walk dogs, and being polite can make an enormous difference in the impression that you make with a client and his or her neighbors, as well as other prospective clients who may be watching you to see how you work.
To start, some of the most common etiquette mistakes that people commonly make with their dogs is to allow them to walk all over the properties of other people, or (more egregiously) to allow them to urinate or defecate on their lawns, trees, mailboxes, or other elements of their landscaping. Instead, keep your pups on the sidewalk or next to you on the street and if they do need to eliminate, find an area that does not belong to someone. If this area does not exist, then you should not be allowing your dogs do eliminate while on the walk at all. Instead, encourage him or her to do the business before leaving the home or property so that there is enough time to go for the walk before elimination must occur again. It may not seem like much to allow your dog to urinate on someone's grass, but this can cause a dead patch on the lawn, or can be very unsanitary if they have children who will be playing in that spot.
Another etiquette concern with dog walking is the stoop-and-scoop issue. Never start a walk with your dogs without being armed with enough plastic bags for several stops. And, of course, use them. Though you should be attempting to have the dogs go before they leave their properties, if they do defecate, it is up to you not to leave any evidence of this.
Professioanal dog walkers always walk with the dog on the left side of their body. They use a strong leash that is six feet long. Most professional dog walkers will also tie two knots in the leash -- one about a foot and a half from the clip that attaches to the dog's collar, and another knot about a foot and a half from the end of their side of the leash. The knots allow extra control so the leash is less likely to slip through your hands. These two best practices will go a long way toward keeping the dog you are walking under control and safe.
Beyond the messy things that dogs can do, there is also the fact that not everybody you will pass is comfortable with dogs. This means that if you're walking more than one animal, some people may become quite frightened or anxious. Be as respectful as you can of people's space and recognize that you do not own the sidewalk. Within reason (that is, when you aren't putting your safety or that of the dogs at risk), be sure to share the sidewalk in a way that doesn't allow any of the dogs to touch, lunge at, or otherwise approach strangers. Even if the other people walking around you aren't frightened of dogs, they may simply wish to go about their business without having to break what they're doing. Try to be friendly by smiling at people as you pass, and keep your dogs under control and away from them.
Control over the dogs while you walk is an important issue for your safety, that of the dogs, and that of people and animals around you. Any dog you walk should be on a leash at all times unless you're in a designated dog park area where off-leash activity is allowed. That being said, you must be able to monitor all of your dogs very closely at all times, even when they are at the dog park. If you lose control of a dog even for a moment, you're putting the dogs and other people at risk, which is not a wise move for a professional dog walker.
MORE DOG WALKING ARTICLES:
How to Start a Dog Walking Business
How to Write a Dog Walking Business Plan
Dog Walking for Children and Teens
Dog Walking Services: Dogs' Day Out
Be the Best Dog Walker in Your Town
How to Handle Aggressive Dogs
How to Get a Dog Walking Job
Dog Walking Franchises
Additional Dog Services to Offer
Walking Puppies
How to Advertise and Promote a Dog Walking Business
How to Get Insurance for Your Dog Walking Business
How to Get Experience with Dog Walking and Dog Training
Pricing Your Dog Walking Services
Would You Make a Good Dog Walker? 5 Questions to Ask Yourself to Find Out
How To Interview Clients: The Owners and Their Dogs
Dog Training Basics Every Dog Walker Must Know: Dog Walkers' Obedience Training
Dog Walking Safety Tips
Dog First Aid
Dog Walking Etiquette
Dog Walking Flyers
Dog Walking Business Names
How to Stop a Dog Fight
Dog Walking Business Cards
Dog Walking Rates
Dog Walking Tips
Reviews of Dog Walking Business Books
Dog Walking Forms