A pet walker's primary duty is typically walking dogs, although being a pet walker is often a profession that involves a combination of other duties. While being a pet walker does not necessarily imply that a person will only work with dogs, dogs are usually the only type of domesticated animal in most areas that need regular walking. Pet walkers are sometimes also responsible for feeding pets, reinforcing training, and taking basic care of animals. Professional pet walkers may also work as trainers and provide exercise and discipline for the dog.
When a person hires a pet walker, he or she is typically looking for a person who can keep a dog safe and happy. The pet walker's main responsibility is to walk the dog for a period of time and return the dog safely to his or her owner. Primarily, what a pet walker does is actively watch a dog outdoors. Pet safety is the first and most important job of a pet walker, although providing a pet with exercise is important as well.
Actually walking the pet is a large part of the job as well. This may involve picking up the dog from its owner or getting the dog from a kennel. Walks often take place in public areas, so walking multiple dogs may be troublesome for novice dog walkers. There are special leashes that are designed specifically for walking multiple dogs, and pet walkers may wish to invest in some equipment for this profession.
Some pet walkers combine the exercise portion of this job with other pet care services in order to make the profession more lucrative. A person might both walk and feed animals or may even provide services unrelated to pets, such as watering plants. If a dog walker works with multiple dogs at once, it can be difficult to provide much play time, but some walking services offer time off the leash during walks. When walking dogs is part of a job at a kennel or dog care facility, other duties may be performed between walks.
Usually, pet walkers either have regular appointments working for a client or work in special situations, such as when the client is out of town. When the appointments are regular, the dog walker may develop a special relationship with the animals, which can help with obedience during walks. Part of being a pet walker includes gaining the trust of both the pets and the owners so that all parties involved feel confident that the animals are being well cared for.