Dog Walker or Doggie Day Care?

In this age of COVID, many people are getting dogs for the very first time. Others are adding to their pet family. But the ever-changing environment of working and schooling from home or returning to the office creates confusion about what to do with your dog(s) . . .should you hire a dog walker or take them to doggie day care? This article lists the pros and cons of both to help you make the right decision for your dog.

Pros of Hiring a Dog Walker

· Hiring a dog walker is beneficial for a dog that isn’t social, is fearful with strange people and/or dogs, is recovering from surgery, or is elderly.

· A dog walker can give your dog individualized attention.

· The dog gets to check out its own neighborhood and read his pee mail as he does when you take him for a walk.

· If you get stuck at work or if the dog needs more mental stimulation, the dog walker can make another trip to potty, walk, and feed your dog.

There are no breed restrictions or age restrictions for a dog walker.

Cons of Hiring a Dog Walker

· The dog doesn’t get as much exercise as he would at day care.

· Your dog doesn’t get the social interaction with other people and dogs.

Pros of Doggie Day Care

· Day care may be a good fit if your dog is anxious or suffers from separation anxiety.

· It’s good for high-energy, social dogs

· Your dog is tired at the end of the day.

· Day care allows your dog to be around a variety of breeds and ages as well as a number of different people.

· You can drop your dog off and pick him up on your way to and from work.

Cons of Doggie Day Care

· The dog may be too tired to play with you when you come home from work.

· There’s the potential for injury or illness being around other dogs.

· The dog may become too excited at day care which could lead to excitement aggression being around large groups of dogs at the facility.

· The dog may become stressed going to day care every day.

· Day care doesn’t replace the need for structured walks.

Some of our clients use a hybrid of services. You could take your dog to day care a couple of days a week and have a dog walker come in the other days. That way they get the best of both worlds but aren’t too tired to play when you come home.

But whichever you choose, make sure your dog is enjoying the experience.

***We’d love to help give you peace of mind and give your pup a break during the day by walking him and giving him some mental exercise. Check out this page on our website and then contact us at (540) 353-2485 or info@thewell-traineddog.com.