What does a Dog Walker do?

Dog Walkers help maintain the health and happiness of canine clients. Their main task is to provide dogs with adequate exercise in the form of outdoor walks while ensuring their safety and comfort in the process. They may be expected to interact with clients before or after walks to share necessary information about the route and the pet’s behavior during each outing.

During walks, a Dog Walker is expected to provide pets with plenty of water and clean up after them as necessary. They will need to take adequate safety measures to protect pets while they are out in public and should have enough stamina to walk for extended periods. When the walk is done, they are responsible for returning the dog home safely within the scheduled time frame.

Dog Walker skills and qualifications

There are a variety of skills needed to be successful in this role. When creating your Dog Walker job description, consider including these qualifications:

• Basic understanding of canine behavior and care
• Ability to safely handle and control dogs of various breeds, sizes and temperaments
• Familiarity with basic obedience commands and leash manners
• Physical stamina
• Problem-solving skills
• Patience
• Customer service skills
• Trustworthiness
• Passionate about dogs and providing them with proper care

Dog Walker experience requirements

Because this role primarily requires employees to care for and interact with dogs, prior experience working with canines is an important factor. When hiring Dog Walkers, look for candidates who have worked with dogs before. Pet sitting, animal training and even volunteer work at a local animal shelter are all valuable forms of experience for Dog Walkers. With hands-on experience working with dogs, candidates are more likely to have an understanding of canine behavior and care, which can make them better suited for the responsibilities they’ll assume as Dog Walkers.

Dog Walker education and training requirements

There are no formal education requirements for Dog Walkers. With the right experience, skills and temperament, candidates should have the tools they need to be quality Dog Walkers. However, they may benefit from a basic understanding of animal first aid, including the ability to perform pet CPR to enhance safety on each walk. A driver’s license may also be useful if a Dog Walker is expected to transport dogs by car to a designated walking route.

Job description samples for similar positions

A dog walker job description sample might not have all the information you’re looking for. If this is the case, the following samples for similar positions may help:

• Pet Sitter
• Veterinary Assistant
• Veterinarian
• Veterinary Technician

Dog Walker job description FAQs

What is the difference between a Dog Walker and a Pet Sitter?

Pet Sitters who care for dogs are often expected to take them for a walk, but this is largely where the similarities end. A Pet Sitter is responsible for the complete care of a pet while their owners are out of town or unavailable, and their responsibilities include feeding pets, cleaning up after them and occasionally staying in the home overnight to provide round-the-clock care. Dog Walkers, on the other hand, care for a pet for the duration of the walk before returning them to the care of their owner.

How do I make my Dog Walker job description stand out?

There are several ways you can make your job posting stand out from its competitors. As you craft your Dog Walker description, try to use inclusive language that encourages interested candidates to apply, regardless of their background. Focusing on skills versus experience can also prevent quality applicants from overlooking your posting if their experience doesn’t match that of a typical Dog Walker. Specifying salary expectations and benefits within the job description may make your role seem more desirable compared to postings that omit this information.

How many Dog Walkers should I hire?

The right number of Dog Walkers for your business will largely depend on the number of clients you have. If your current Dog Walkers are expected to walk more than two dogs at once, it might be more effective to add a new hire to the team. This can ensure each dog receives the attention and care they need on every walk.

The number of clients you have may also fluctuate at different times of the year. For example, if your location experiences heavy snow in the winter, the demand for Dog Walkers may temporarily decline until the weather warms up. If this is the case, you might consider hiring temporary employees during the busy season and minimizing your staff for the rest of the year.