Pet Sitting or Dog Walking…Which Is Best for You?

If you have researched hiring a dog walker lately, you might have been overwhelmed with the different options available. Especially in larger cities such as New Orleans, apps such as Wag, Rover, Bark, and several others can give you a huge variety of choices, but which one is right for you? We are here to help you navigate this niche and help you determine what service might fit your needs best! Whether you are looking for someone to help exercise your dog while you work long hours or just need them fed and given a quick potty break, we know you want to make sure your dog has the best care available and we are here to help you find the right solution. 

Dog Walking

A dog walking visit focuses primarily on exercising your dog by getting them out for a long walk. Most visits are 30-minutes, while some clients schedule longer walks when the weather is nice or if the dog is more high energy. Your dog walker can feed them and play with them during this time as well, but most of the visit is focused on the exercise. 

Your dog may need an extra walk if you work long hours, have plans after work, or even if you work from home. We are happy to take your pet on a walk so they get their exercise without having to interrupt your work day. Regular exercise will keep them more calm and relaxed. A tired dog is a happy dog, so what better way to keep them happy than to get them some fresh air and exercise with their favorite dog walker? Walks can be scheduled daily, weekly, or as needed depending on your schedule and the needs of your dog. Dog walking rates can vary from one sitter to the next, but you want to find someone who bonds well with your dog. People who need dog walkers are usually looking to go the extra mile for their pets to ensure their health and happiness. You want to make sure that your dog walker has the same goal.

Finding the right dog walker can be incredibly beneficial to you and your dog. Through regular walking, your dog walker will be able to reinforce your training. Be sure to communicate with your dog walker if you are working to reinforce certain behaviors, and the training methods you are using. Regular walks are excellent for your dog’s mental and physical health. Not only will they be getting pysical exercise, but they will be mentally stimulated with sights, sounds, and smells on their walk. Most dog walkers will work to change the route they take each day to ensure your dog stays alert and happy during their excursion. 

We also offer a convenient app for our clients so that they can view when we arrive, the routes we take, and when we leave. We can also upload photos and provide other updates for you, so you know if your dog went potty, met friends, or anything else!

Pet Sitting

Unlike dog walking, pet sitting is focused more on spending quality time with your pet playing in their home or yard, feeding meals, giving medications, and just helping to break up their day. Most local dog walking services will offer pet sitting as well. Pet sitting is usually utilized when pet parents are working long hours and can’t get home for meal time or potty breaks, or if they are traveling and need someone to stop by a few times each day to check on their dogs. Hiring an in home dog sitter has many other benefits. They are able to keep an eye on your house to ensure safety, they can bring in mail or packages, water plants, and even alternate lights and curtains to give the appearance that someone is home. 

Pet sitting can include dog walking, especially if the booking lasts for several days.  When pet parents are out of town they may ask to have their dog walked once a day, and add two or three pet sitting visits to ensure their dog gets enough interaction and play time. 

As with dog walking, most pet sitters will utilize an app in order to provide photos and updates during their stay with your pet. This is typically discussed during the meet and greet, they will let you know which app to use, and can answer any questions you may have about using it. These apps allow your pet sitter or dog walker to give you real time updates for when they arrive, when they leave, allow them to send photos, and any other communication that may be needed. 

Which Should You Choose?

Dog walking and pet sitting can be beneficial, depending on your situation and your dog’s needs. Dog walking is great for a dog that needs a little more exercise than you are able to give. It can also be a great option if your dog is crate trained or if you work long hours. Pet sitting is a great option if you are needing multiple visits each day, especially if you are out of town. Pet sitting is also a great choice if your pet is not very mobile, or if they just do not do well walking on a leash. We can still give them plenty of interaction such as snuggling, playing with their favorite toys, or exploring your back yard. You can see a full list of our services and pricing HERE. https://courtneyspetcare.com/services.html 

Still not sure which option to choose? Fitbark has a great article comparing dog walking and pet sitting. https://www.fitbark.com/blog/dog-walking-vs-pet-sitting-whats-the-difference/ We can help evaluate you and your dog’s needs and help you choose which service is right for you. Scheduling a meet and greet is quick and easy, you can find more information on our BOOK NOW page. https://courtneyspetcare.com/book.html  We would love to have you join our pet sitting family and our team would be happy to help answer any of your questions. We can also customize a package specifically for you and your pet’s needs! 

If you have researched hiring a dog walker lately, you might have been overwhelmed with the different options available. Especially in larger cities such as New Orleans, apps such as Wag, Rover, Bark, and several others can give you a huge variety of choices, but which one is right for you? We are here to…