Dog walking
Dog walking is both a pastime and a profession involving the act of a person walking with a dog, typically from the dog's residence and then returning. This constitutes part of the daily exercise regime needed to keep a dog healthy.[1] It also provides exercise and companionship for the walker.[2]
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Description [edit]
In the UK, The Kennel Club conducted a survey of 1,000 dog owners and found that one in five did not walk their dogs on a daily basis.[3]
Dogs are walked with a collar around their neck, or a dog harness,[4] or by following their owner by familiarity and verbal control. Commonly the dog is walked by the owner, or another family member, but there are also professional dog walkers.[5]
Health benefits [edit]
A study by Michigan State University showed that people who walk their dogs are 34% more likely to meet expected levels of exercise, with a recommended level of 150 minutes of activity such as dog walking per week. Matthew Reeves, the co-author of the study said, "There is no magic bullet in getting people to reach those benchmarks but walking a dog has a measurable impact."[6]
Professional dog walkers [edit]
Professional dog walkers, both individuals and businesses, are paid by dog owners to walk their dogs for them. Some dog walkers will take many dogs for a walk at once, while others will not. [5] Also growing in popularity is dog running. Dog runners are professionals who will take your dog running, usually between 1 and 10 miles for a set fee, usually not more than 2 dogs at a time. [7] In some jurisdictions dog walking businesses must be licensed and have animal first-aid-trained employees. Professional dog walking services can be obtained locally or thorough online referral services.[8]
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ "Are new rules woof justice for pooches?". Grimsby Telegraph (thisisgrimsby.co.uk). 29 May 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
- ^ Bumgardner, Wendy (13 November 2008). "Dog Owners Get Twice as Much Exercise - Dog Walking for Exercise". About.com. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
- ^ Derbyshire, David (6 August 2010). "Walkies? Fat chance. One in five dog owners too lazy to take their pets out every day". Mail Online. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
- ^ Shaw, Lorrie (5 May 2010). "Commercialism: coming to a pet near you". AnnArbor.com. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
- ^ a b Smith, Mark (5 May 2010). "Lawyer wants to bring dog walkers to heel". The Scotsman. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
- ^ "Walkies Not Just For Dogs". Daily Express. 12 March 2011.
- ^ "example dog runner". Retrieved 30 november 2011.
- ^ Jill Priluck (December 8, 2010). "The founder's life for young VCs". CNN-Money-Fortune Magazine. Retrieved 2010-12-07. "In early 2009, ... Ringwelski launched SkillSlate, a site that organizes handymen, dogwalkers, massage therapists and other solos through profiles and ratings the same way dating sites corral singles."
External links [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Dog walking |
- WikiHow, How to be a professional Dog Walker
