03/10/2026
The dog walking world is busy right now!
And that in itself isn’t necessarily a bad thing… or is it? 👀
It’s great to see more people choosing careers with dogs and recognising how amazing they are! But as the industry becomes more saturated, something important is getting lost.
Dog walking is increasingly being reduced to just ‘loving dogs’.
And loving dogs… just isn’t enough. Despite what a lot of people think, there’s a skill to being a professional in this industry!
Knowing the difference between healthy, reciprocal play and one dog simply tolerating another. Spotting displacement behaviours, over-arousal, frustration and discomfort before they become obvious. It’s knowing when a dog needs more freedom, and when they actually need less… 🧘♀️
It’s understanding that the Labrador, the Spaniel, the Terrier, the Sighthound and the Shepherd in front of you all come with very different genetic predispositions. They were selectively bred for behaviours that don’t simply ‘disappear’ because they’re now pets.
Our job shouldn’t just be a case of sticking a dog on a lead, chuck them in a group and “wing it” or drag them around a footpath by a main road for 30 minutes.
It should be about respecting them and meeting their needs.
Not all dog walking is the same, and I really do implore people to do their research when choosing who they trust with their dog.
Of course we love dogs (You’d struggle to do this job if you didn’t)
But loving them is the easiest part. Understanding them is the responsibility 🤟🏻
