If you're like most people, your daily schedule is crazy. You can't always be there for your furry friend, and they probably get lonely throughout the day. A dog walker is the perfect option.

There are probably at least several dog walkers in your area; you just need to know where to look, and what to look for in a good dog walker.

Read below for a few pointers to help you find the perfect dog walker:

1. Get on Google. Google has been getting better and better at showing local businesses in search results. Just type in "dog walker", and maybe include your city's name. You should see at least a handful of results. If you don't, try searching for "pet sitter" or "pet service".

2. Check out care.com and craigslist.org. Care.com will likely have pet sitters and dog walkers in your area. For Craigslist, go to craigslist.org, and click "Pet Services" under "Services". Here, you'll find pet care providers in your area.

3. Now that you've got a few possibilities, check out each business. Is it run by an individual, or is it larger scale? This is important, because you may want a consistent person coming to see your dog each time, which will be the case with an individual, but not necessarily with a larger pet care company.

4. Ask the right kinds of questions. Don't be shy! This is your dog, and your money. You can ask things like:

-How long have you walked dogs?

-Do you have a couple of references I could check with?

-Are you able to easily readjust your services due to a quick change in my schedule?

-Are you capable of giving medicine to pets?

-What are some really good reasons that I should choose you instead of another local dog walker?

5. Do your due diligence up front. You'll be grateful that you did. Make sure you take time to find the right pet care provider, and make sure that you like him or her. Their personality makes a big difference in caring for your dog.

These tips should set you well on your way of finding the absolute best dog walker to watch your pet while you're away.

Find the best dog walker for you and your pet's needs. You can also look into Lexington dog walking.

categories: dog walking,pet sitting,pet services,pets,family

You love your dog. You can't wait to get home at the end of the day to play with him or her, and take them on a long, much needed walk. Those long days of commuting, working, and running errands sure leaves your furry friend in need of some exercise and affection. This is where a professional dog walker comes in very handy.

Depending on what size and type of city or town you live in, will largely determine your breadth of options for finding a pet care provider to walk your dog. Here are a few places to start the hunt for a dog walker:

-Google.com. The powerful search engine is a great tool to find local pet service providers. Type in your city's name and "dog walker". As an example, if you live in Sacramento, simply type in "Sacremento dog walker" as your search term. Then Google will serve up a list of local dog walkers in under a second.

-Care.com. This is a hub for pet sitters, house cleaners, baby sitters, etc. It's a great place to find pet care providers. Simply click the "Pets" tab, then click on "College Caregivers". From there, you can type in your zip code and find local pet sitters and dog walkers.

-Check out Craigslist.org. There's usually a craigslist for every major metropolitan area, which will include surrounding areas and smaller towns. Find your nearest craigslist, and click on "pet" under "Services" on the homepage. This will show you any local pet care providers available.

Now that you've got a few prospective dog walkers, here are a few points to think about before choosing one to walk your canine:

-Are they cost effective? Having someone walk your pet consistently can get kind of expensive. Most dog walkers visit dogs at least once per day, five days each week. When looking at different providers, remember that the difference of one or two dollars per walk can make a big difference in your budget over time.

-Is it possible to have a consistent person see your dog every visit? Some dogs get nervous around new people. If this is the case with your canine, you may want to check and see if the pet care provider can send the same person each time, so that your dog will have consistency in their daily walk. Hiring a solo dog walker would ensure this also.

-Do they absolutely love dogs? For your dog to be happy, ultimately you'll want a happy dog walker, someone who loves being with dogs and other animals, and treats your dog as if it's their own, with tons of love and personal attention.

-Are you able to check references? This may seem a little overboard, but the more due diligence you do at the beginning, the more peace of mind you'll have throughout each week, knowing that your furry friend is being well taken care of.

Use these tips to narrow the search and ultimately find the perfect fit to walk your dog.

Still looking to find the best dog walker, then visit www.joyfulpawz.com to choose the perfect dog walking service for you and your pet's needs.