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There are so many ways to get people who care about dogs to voice strong opinions, and one hot topic lately relates to dog walkers who walk many dogs all at once. Many people have questions and concerns about this, and I am no exception.
It worries me when I see a person walking more than four or so dogs, which is a very challenging thing to do. Many people who walk dogs are very knowledgeable about canine behavior and do what it takes to keep it safe and fun for all the dogs under their care. That includes walking dogs who are compatible with each other, keeping the number of dogs walked simultaneously at no more than four, and preferably even fewer most of the time, and constantly monitoring the dogs for any behavior that could lead to trouble between the dogs, including signs of stress. It takes a lot of education and experience to be able to handle this, and that’s why the best dog walkers are more than worth their fees.
Regrettably, not everyone who walks dogs is up to this standard of care. Many people seem to feel that just loving dogs is enough of a qualification to take large numbers of them on a walk, whether the dogs are familiar with each other or not. Still other dog walkers may be putting profits over safety. Obviously with more dogs being walked at once, more money can be made.
This raises many questions, especially in situations where a single person is walking many dogs on leashes at the same time. Can one person watch so many dogs at once in order to monitor their behavior? What if the dogs react to each other or to another dog? How could one person manage such a situation? Are these dog walkers picking up all the poop from so many dogs?
Many other dogs are uncomfortable around such large groups of dogs and become intimidated. This is especially relevant at dog parks, and many people worry about taking their dogs to places where such large groups of dogs are present.
Some places limit dog walkers to four dogs, though it is common in other places to see dog walkers with 8, 10, or even more dogs all at once. Should there be limits on the number of dogs that can be walked by a single person simultaneously in places such as dog parks and other public areas? I think that these kind of limits could help prevent problems, and help keep the dog walkers who truly are responsible from being outcompeted by people who are charging less but perhaps putting dogs at risk. What do you think? How many dogs is too many?
I agree. I exercise dogs and I never take more than four, usually two, (however one client has three little dogs, so they are a package deal.) I do what is best for the dogs, not whats best or most convenient for me, and carefully monitor their safety and comfort. I take my job very seriously, i do not make a lot of money doing it, but i do it because i love it. period. it is the source of great joy and entertainment and is very educational too. I find that when off leash, playtime is fun for all and they stay together and romp in a safe area (they must be compatible / friends or they do not walk at the same time) and if really troublesome, i say it is not a good fit and suggest they find someone else. However, i like to give a fair chance to everyone when possible. Often times, the problems originate more with the owners than with the dogs. ahem...I think everyone should become more educated about doggie body language and communication in order to prevent incidents. And yes, I do pick up the poop. I sometimes put a model dog together with another dog who needs doggie social lessons and it works wonders. When a dog is with you, they are top priority just like they are your dog -at that moment, they are... They are your responsibility. Period. I too cringe when i see a picture of someone walking so many dogs, usually in a city. Sometimes people show me a picture on their iphone of this and say, hey, you could do that too and make big bucks, and I say, Nope, thats not for me. sure i know it is possible to do, but i would rather not. Dogs are precious beings and you are responsible for their wellbeing. It is not just about bucks. If you have a mishap, guess what, the bucks stop there. and at what price ? ~ And so I say to other dog walkers, be attentive, and responsible to the needs, happiness and comfort of the doggies you have with you as well as those around you. Be a good steward. You are a human and you are supposed to have good sense. ~~Ahem. There is a lot to be learned from observing dogs. Pay attention and take note.
I totally agree with the statements made in this article and the other commenters' points. I recently moved to northern CA from Seattle and have seen some interesting differences. In Seattle it is not uncommon at all to see dog walkers at the dog parks with 10-12 OR MORE dogs per ONE person (Ive counted as many as 16 dogs to 1 person before). In fact, to see a dog walker at the OLAs with less than 6-8 dogs is an anomaly. However, in California it is LAW that no dog walker have more than 6 dogs. Depending on the city, it is also often law in parks/dog parks for there to be no more than 2-3 dogs per person, and people with more (dog walkers) need a permit and still can not have more than 6 dogs. I was so shocked and PLEASED when I started seeing these laws around here in CA. Other cities & OLAs need to follow suit.
Hello from Western Australia
My husband and I have 3 dogs of our own plus we foster dogs for rescue groups. We know our limit is 3 dogs each but it is unusual to have that many and often it is an emergency situation for us to have 3 foster dogs in residence. So its more likely that we have our 3 and 1 foster dog.
We vary what we do with the dogs including formal training, & funtime at home and time as a group in an off leash area. We also take them around the local area for a walk. We have several reasons for this. One is to get the foster dog used to all the scary things out there in the world and see from us, and the other 3 dogs, that it's nothing to be worried about. We have also found the walk is a good way to get new dogs to integrate into the "pack" that will be their home until they are adopted.
However, it has taken a lot of effort and hard work to be able to walk 4 dogs at once and I agree with a previous post on how in tune you have to be with body language etc. I have found the "discipline" of the walk for the pack to be an invaluable tool in creating calm, non reactive and confident dogs. Even when idiots decide to "buzz" us on their bikes or yell out to try and get a reaction - we even had someone use a loud horn several times to get the dogs to react - I am proud to say our pack just kept on walking.
However, the walk is only one tool and is not a substitute for other activities as a group or one on one depending on the needs of the dogs. It does take experience and skill but you only get those my actually doing things.
Anon
I'm with U. I'm tired of seeing walkers dogs poop not collected. Also, I think it would be a good idea to charge a fee for walkers who use public OLAs.
My struggles are with dog walkers at the dog park. They'll have as many as ten dogs. How are they supposed to manage ten dogs in the narrow sections of the park? What if there's a dog fight? How can anyone wrangle ten dogs in that situation? I've had walkers complain about my son in the park because he has a funny gait. It's not a problem for people with one, two or three dogs, but for some reason a walker with ten dogs has a problem with him. I think they should limit the numbers of dogs any one person can bring to the park, especially for profit!!
I would never pay someone to walk my dogs when he/she is walking several at the same time. No way.
How many dogs is to many for a dog walker to handle. I have been a pet care professional for over a decade. Yes, there are many issues with inexperienced walkers with no education in canine behavior walking far to many dogs. There are also extremely responsible and experienced dog walkers who are also certified trainers walking groups that are matched for compatibility.
I sometimes just walk my three dogs and my foster (four in total) and get asked how I do it.
Just like any job you love you educate yourself and when you have done it as long as I have and know your dogs it is a breeze and a blast. You also do what's best for each individual dog.
If a dog is terrified around other dogs he/she should be privately walked, period.
I think certification should be mandatory. To prevent those of us who are responsible and take our business in the dog world seriously from getting lumped into the "all dog walkers are horrible crowd".
I have to say I have seen private owners who shouldn't even walk one dog and the same goes for walkers.
On the subject of you get what you pay for, this is true but in my experience most people will go cheaper then for a high quality service because they don't do their research:(
Thanks
I wonder exactly what is being accomplished by dogs being walked in large groups like this. Is it purely to allow them to relieve themselves? Because I can't imagine they get many chances to sniff. And for big dogs, leash walks aren't usually vigorous enough to provide serious exercise.
I guess it's only about the poop.
Some communities are passing laws mandating limits but I think the key will be for dog guardians to think seriously about what they're hoping to do for their dogs and make sure the dog walker provides that experience.