How to Be a Good Dog Sitter / Dog Walker

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By harleymilo
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Dog Walking

Dog sitting ranges from taking Fido out for a daily walk while his regular human companion is at work to keeping him company all day at his house while they are away on vacation. This article covers the first scenario where your primary goal is to take Fido out to the bathroom and to get some fresh air and exercise each day. Here you will find a few special tricks to keep everyone happy.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Caring attitude toward animals
Dog leash
Ball or toy
15 minutes or more

Step 1

Set a regular schedule for daily visits with the dog, Fido, so that he can learn when to expect you. If your client works full-time, they may be away from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm and Fido may need two visits per day. For example, you could take Fido outside around 11:00 am and 4:00 pm.
Step 2

Knock on the door and say hello when entering the house so that Fido will be greeted with a warm, familiar voice and not be frightened by an unknown intruder.
Step 3

Talk to Fido as much as possible and explain to him what you are doing so that he will learn your voice and be comforted while adjusting to your unfamiliar ways of doing things. For example, Hi Fido, I’m here to take you outside for a walk. How are you today? (Pet him on the head.) Are you ready to go? Okay, I will put your leash on. (Gently attach his leash.) Alright, let’s go!
Step 4

Be sure to take along his favorite ball or toy, and doggie bags for cleaning up his messes.
Step 5

Be calm and gentle when walking Fido on the leash so that he can adapt to your style and pace. He may be accustomed to walking a certain way with his regular human companion, so be patient while you both adjust to each other.
Step 6

Observe Fido as you go for a walk and try to learn his personality, likes and dislikes. Does he run away from squirrels or try to chase after them? Is he more interested in visual sights or sniffing everything around? Pay attention to his experiences so that you can make notes later.
Step 7

Walk or play fetch until Fido is moderately worn out, indicated by panting, laying down or walking slowly. Usually, at least 15 minutes is necessary. He will be cooped up inside all day long so this is his only chance to exercise and get some fresh air. You should let him make the most of it.
Step 8

Learn how he likes to play. Does he enjoy fetch, tag or tug of war?
Step 9

Upon returning home, stay long enough to observe Fido drink some water or settle down for a nap. If you have the time, pet him and speak to him for a while so he does not feel abandoned right away.
Step 10

Learn how he likes to be pet, maybe rubbing his belly or scratching behind his ears to show you care.
Step 11

When you leave the house, announce your exit by saying goodbye to Fido so he will learn the signal that you are going away and not coming back for a while.
Step 12

A special touch that my clients absolutely love is to keep a journal for Fido. After each outing, write the date and time with a couple sentences about Fido. Include whether he went to the bathroom. Also, make note of unusual behavior, such as if he appears to be ill. Most importantly, comment about something unique that makes that outing memorable. For example, Fido played with Sparky at the dog park. Attach a photo from time to time as a bonus. Clients miss their pets and are comforted to know they have been well-attended to. Providing them with a story helps them feel connected to their pet, as if they were actually there. Leave the journal on a table or shelf and add notes to it each day.