Should We Get A Solo Dog Walker?

Let’s help you make the decision between having a Solo Dog Walker or a Group Dog Walker.

This is always a key question to ask and it’s genuinely based on what’s more suitable for your dog. Let’s first define what a Solo Dog Walker is. A Solo Dog Walker is a dog walker who will only walk dogs from the same household with the typical number being one to two dogs on a single walk.

Like everything, there are pros and cons to it and it’s our chance to outline these for you to help make a decision. Here are some pros and cons of having a Solo Dog Walker:

What’s the advantages of a Solo Dog Walker?

• The walk is dedicated to your dogs, we are not half focused on your dogs and half focused on the others in the pack - they get our full attention.

• By having our full attention, we can help to implement your training further from command work, scent work to practice lead manners.

• We are also able to identify changes in behaviours, mannerisms and movement as we begin to work with them and get used to them.

• We are able to identify what mood they are in that day from upbeat to a bit ratty (like us, dogs aren’t happy every day - from a night of potential poor sleep to an upset stomach!)

• We can help regulate and monitor socialisations with other dogs in a controlled manner.

• If your dog doesn’t like other dogs or are a bit nervy, that’s fine - we’ve got their corner! By having our full attention without the distraction of other dogs on the walk, we can identify when they start to become agitated or uncomfortable.

• Solo Dog Walks are great for getting your dog free rein to decide the route, whether we mix up weekly or simply take a stroll round their favourite route, we’ve got the flexibility.

• We’re less rushed at pick up and drop off so we’ll have a chance to check in with yourselves if you’re in or have the time to leave out some yummy treats for your dog before heading off.

What’s the disadvantages of a Solo Dog Walker?

• Typically we are on the more expensive side compared to a Group Dog Walker by a couple of quid per hour.

• They are less likely to meet up with their friends each week or even less likely to make new friends on a regular basis (unless they truly hit it off on our walks).

• We’re less likely to let your dog off lead until’ trust and rapport has been firmly created whereas Group Dog Walkers have the benefit of the pack to encourage the recall.

• Your dog is less likely to be out of the house for most of the day as Group Dog Walkers typically take the pack to a destination and drop them off during the rounds. What would be a 1 hour walk for us could be up to a 3 hour trip for your dog (give or take).