It has been shown that daily walks are good for your dog’s health and happiness, but our busy lives can make it hard to find time for them. The dog walker is a canine friend who will go on walks with your dog, whether they just need a break in the middle of the day or a lot of exercise and training.
To make sure your dog is safe, you should meet with potential dog walkers in person, if possible with your dog with you. Before you hire your new dog walker, make sure you have a list of questions ready that will answer any questions you have. But most importantly, observe how they interact with your dog.
“It’s important that a dog walker has a passion for pets,” says Dr. Wellness Pet Company veterinarian Danielle Bernal agrees that you want to hire someone to watch over your pet and make sure it is happy and healthy when you’re not there. “Other important skills include basic animal training knowledge, road sense and caution, and, of course, care and empathy. ”.
So you want to become a professional dog walker? As the demand for pet care services grows, dog walking is emerging as a fulfilling and profitable career option for animal lovers. However, it’s more than just fun and games. Being a professional dog walker requires knowledge, skill, responsibility and a true passion for canine companionship.
If you have an upcoming interview for a dog walking position, you need to be prepared for some tough questions that will highlight your abilities. To help you get ready, here are some of the most common professional dog walker interview questions you’re likely to encounter in 2024
What experience do you have with dogs?
This is one of the most basic interview questions for any pet care role. Be ready to elaborate on your background with dogs, such as
- Previous jobs as a dog walker, pet sitter or work in a shelter/daycare
- Growing up with family dogs or having your own dogs
- Fostering/volunteering experience
- Dog training certifications
- Relevant education like animal behavior courses
Focus on specifics like breeds handled, ages cared for and types of needs/behaviors dealt with. Highlight any specialized experience with senior dogs, puppies or dogs with disabilities. The goal is to showcase your diverse hands-on expertise.
Are you comfortable with different breeds of dogs?
There are over 300 recognized dog breeds worldwide, each with distinct traits As a professional dog walker, you’ll encounter many types Discuss your breadth of breed exposure and highlight those you’re most accustomed to like herding breeds or toy breeds.
If certain breeds make you uneasy, be honest while emphasizing your willingness to learn safe handling techniques. Reassure the interviewer that your top priority is providing quality care tailored to each individual dog regardless of its breed.
What is your availability?
Dog walking usually involves set schedules, so your availability is key. Be clear about the days/hours you can dedicate. If your schedule is tight, highlight flexibility to accommodate client needs within quick notice.
If you have existing commitments, demonstrate how you plan to manage them alongside new dog walking duties. Making yourself reliably available showcases responsibility and professionalism.
Are you comfortable with different sizes of dogs?
Dog walkers interact with everything from petite 5 lb Chihuahuas to towering 150 lb Mastiffs. Your interviewer wants to gauge comfort levels handling dogs of all sizes in case clients have size-diverse packs.
Discuss your experience with small, medium and large breeds. You can acknowledge size-based challenges while emphasizing adaptability. Focus on safety fundamentals like proper leash handling that apply regardless of a dog’s stature.
Are you comfortable with different temperaments of dogs?
From shy to hyperactive, dogs have varyingly complex personalities. Your interviewer wants to know you can adapt to any temperament. Reflect on bonding with timid, anxious, excitable and aggressive dogs.
Emphasize reading canine body language to understand needs and modify your approach accordingly. Outline techniques like positive reinforcement to manage behaviors. Demonstrating adaptability is key.
Are you comfortable with different ages of dogs?
Puppies, adolescents, adults and senior dogs all have diverse exercise capabilities, attention spans and care needs. Discuss experience with dogs at different life stages and highlight specialized knowledge like house training puppies or accommodating senior dogs’ limited mobility.
Ultimately, show you can adjust walking paces, mileage, activities etc. based on each dog’s age-specific requirements and limitations to provide appropriate, safe care.
Here are some additional common professional dog walker interview questions you may face:
- How do you handle dogs who are fearful or anxious during walks?
- What strategies do you use for cleaning up dog waste during walks?
- How do you make sure dogs get adequate water and rest during long walks?
- How do you handle emergencies like injuries, bites or escaped dogs?
- What experience do you have giving dogs medications or following special diets?
- How do you balance exercising energetic dogs while managing senior or disabled ones?
- What methods do you use to reinforce training and commands during walks?
- How do you make sure dogs are safe around traffic, crowds, bicycles, etc?
- How do you establish trust and control when first walking a new dog?
- How do you accommodate walking dogs in bad weather or extreme temperatures?
- What qualifications like pet CPR/first aid do you have?
To stand out, have clear examples ready highlighting your hands-on experience. Use specifics – breed names, real-life situations, outcomes etc. This proves you have the required knowledge and skills.
Also be ready to ask thoughtful questions about their clients, protocols and expectations so you fully understand the role. This shows genuine interest.
With preparation and practice, you’ll be equipped to ace the interview and start living your dream as a professional dog walker! Just remember, at its core this career is about building relationships between humans and dogs. Your passion should shine through when conveying why you’d be a paw-some addition to their team.
“What are your policies around cancellations and rescheduling?”
Things come up and schedules will change — both for you and your dog walker. The person who walks dogs should have a clear plan so that no one has to rush at the last minute. This is a good time to ask about their policies surrounding inclement weather as well.
“What sort of paperwork do you require?”
Doyle says that a professional dog walker should have two important papers for you to sign: a veterinary release form and general terms and conditions that spell out your contract. “This tells your dog walker what to do if your dog needs to go to the vet.” Additionally, it says if your dog is insured and how much you’re willing to pay at the vet if they don’t have insurance and can’t reach you. It also says what to do if your dog needs to be put down. It’s not a nice form, but necessary. ”.
What Nobody Tells You About Dog Walking
FAQ
Why do you want to work as a dog walker?
What are the hard skills for dog walking?
What makes me a good dog walker?
What are the top dog walker interview questions and answers?
To make sure you’re prepared for every aspect of dog walking, here are 25 of the top dog walker interview questions and answers. 1. What Is Your Experience In Dog Walking? I have a lot of experience with dogs. We always had 2 or 3 dogs in our family growing up and even as an adult.
What questions should I ask before applying for a dog walking job?
Before applying for any dog walking jobs that require an interview, make sure you are able to answer all interviewer questions about dog training and taking care of pets properly without getting nervous or showing signs of lacking experience!
What does a dog walker do?
Remember that nowadays, most dog walkers work for professional agencies (who take care of marketing and communication with the clients). They will interview you before giving you the job, and letting you to spend time with the dogs of their clients. Why do you want to work as a dog walker? What is your availability?
What questions should you ask a dog walker?
Asking the right dog walker questions will find out who is going to take care of your dog the way you want them to, as well as provide all of the safety and security precautions you expect. Here are 23 questions you need to be asking your dog walker before you let them walk your dog. 1. Can we meet first?
