There are many reasons why one would hire a dog walker, but did you know there is a difference in today's dog walkers in regard to integrity and reliability. Be careful to check references. Contrary to popular belief, hiring someone who works as a Professional Dog Walker is not necessarily cheaper than hiring a college student or high school kid to take care of Fido in the summer or after school. Not all people have your dog's best interest at heart. Rates are generally comparable but sometimes it is worth it to pay an extra dollar or two for the person who is trained, educated and insured. What happens if your dog bolts from the walker and runs over a cyclist who is then hit by a car? Sounds like a crazy scenario? Not according to Dan Sherk of Verge Insurance Group. Stranger things have happened. What's worse, if the dog walker isn't properly insured, the dog owner is then taken to court and you weren't even there! Doesn't sound very fair, does it? Well, making sure that you choose only the insured dog walker will provide you with peace of mind and security.

Here are a few reasons why you should hire a Professional Dog Walker:

1. Long hours at work. If you're working from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and must commute to work, that doesn't leave a lot of time for Fido's needs. Hiring a professional means that your dog(s) is going to get the workout that he or she needs in order to be healthy and happy.  Dogs are migratory animals, needing to move forward.  Spending too long behind four walls or in kennels can cause mental instability.

2. A Professional Dog Walker provides mental stimulation to help your dog become better behaved. Problem behaviours often disappear.

4. Your Professional Dog Walker is going to be reliable and responsible. A schedule to suit you and your pet's needs is set in motion.

5. You owe it to your best pal to provide genuine consistent professional care when you're not able to be there. 

6. A Professional Dog Walker is attuned to your pet's needs and educated in canine behaviours.

7. Dogs benefit from the social aspect of being with other dogs.  Groups walk allow your dog to develop fundamental building blocks aiding him/her to grow into a confident dog.

8.  Dogs should only spend their age + 1 in a kennel.  A professional dog walker provides the break needed to help a dog relieve his bladder and break up their day. 

9.  A secure group of dogs is so powerful because some dogs never interact with their own and don't know how to be dogs.  Dogs need social skills and more importantly they need a calm assertive pack leader.