When it comes to canines, there are many different career paths in front of you should you decide to become one/requisition the services of one. There’s of course your veterinarians, your kennel managers and so forth, but today’s article focuses on the job of dog walking. When looking for a dog walker, there should be some basic skills conveyed through either their resume or website, and it should be some of the first set of skills you see. If you are looking for dog walking services in NYC, here are the basic skills to watch out for to know when you’re looking for someone qualified.
#1. Basic dog training and handling skills
Any canine professional should basic to detailed knowledge of the proper way to handle, train, and care for dogs of any breed. Even something as simple as dog walking can benefit greatly from having this knowledge. These skills include training in operant conditioning techniques, proper handling, and basic obedience. They should also have the papers to prove that they’ve undergone the training to learn the skills above, and be willing to send you pictures of these papers.
#2. An eye for behavioral changes
Anyone who works with handling animals, especially ones such as dogs, should have at least a semi-deep knowledge of how dogs behave, and how to spot changes in said behavior. This may sound and even look simple, but there’s quite a lot of complexity to this. Dogs do not comprehend or display emotion the same way humans do. So it can be an uphill climb to spot what exactly a dog is trying to tell you sometimes. Any dog walker should be able to spot these nuanced signals and react to them accordingly.
#3. Ability to spot health problems
A dog walker is not and should not be treated like a vet. Those are two completely different fields of dog care. However, that doesn’t mean it hurts to know, if only a little. The average person may not know the more subtle signs of their dog coming down with a sickness, but any professional in canine handling should be able to spot the signs of at least the more common ailments. This way they can inform you and tell you what to do before it gets any worse.
These basic skills separate amateur dog walkers from the professionals. Being able to spot behavioral changes and health issues, as well as the training to properly handle dogs, are all clear signs that you should consider this hypothetical dog walker for the job. If you want dog walkers that are not so hypothetical but just as skilled, contact the canine care professionals at New York Tails.
