Dogs come in different shapes and sizes. They also come in assorted moods and dispositions. There are toy dogs that do well being carried around in doggie carriers disguised as purses, while some are big and strong and love to run around and get frisky. If you are a devoted dog owner, you would know the importance of being knowledgeable of your dog’s breed in order to take the best care. There are some canine buddies that are alright with staying indoors and are content with daily romps in the backyard while some require more intensive exercise which will require more time—a resource you may not always have. Whatever breed of pooch you own, the common denominator to all of them is that they need exercise, the most common and easiest form of exercise being, to walk them around the neighborhood or down the sandy shore.

Leaving your dog home alone for hours can make him destructive. Be ready to come home to a soggy couch with chewed up armrests. Or worse, you might find yourself forcing a new fashion trend by mixing and matching different shoes because the other half of the pair has been masticated by your canine resident. Walking your dog regularly helps them work out the energies they would otherwise take out on your items at home. Also, regular exercise helps your dog stay fit and keeps their joints and circulatory system in check. This is something you need to take seriously especially if you spoil your pet too much when it comes to food. Medium to large-size dogs require more physical activities that are also frequent. Perhaps one hour out of the whole day may not be enough and leave your dog lazy. Perish the thought that your dog may become obese or develop joint complications from too little exercise—or the lack thereof. Even worse, if your pet falls ill and dies—then you’d have to go and rent All Dogs Go To Heaven and pray that your children get the irony of it all and still come out as emotionally healthy and whole individuals. Yes, it can get that worse all because Lassie didn’t get to run enough. If the two paragraphs above have managed to pack your bags for a guilt trip, then fret not. You get an “A” for effort just for agreeing that you ought to walk your dog more or at least make sure that Rover gets more exercise and play time to expend his energies and keep him fit and active. Now if your newly rekindled excitement to plan hikes with your pooch is dampened by the reality of your hectic work schedule, then perhaps it’s time for you to hire a professional dog walker. Yes. Someone you pay to walk your dog. Professionally. Before you shoot this suggestion down, let me cite the benefit to hiring a professional dog walker. If you’re not sold on it, you can always opt out. But if you love your pup as much as I think you do, then I nearly guarantee that you will see the wisdom in this idea. Why Hire A Dog Walker? Because you are too busy making money to improve your quality of life. But just because you’re doing so doesn’t mean you can’t help improve your dog’s quality of life. A dog walker can take care of your pooch while you are at the office. If you end up needing to pull some over time at the office, a dog walker can make sure that your pet gets enough water and food while you are away. Okay, So How Do I Choose A Dog Walker? It never hurts to ask around. Ask your friends or family members if they have any dog walkers they trust and can recommend. Perhaps your vet or groomer can also refer someone. But before you go hiring a particular referral, make the necessary investigation to ensure your dog’s safety. An individual who has dog-walking experience (ask for references and feel free to call their previous employers/clients) and can provide you with a business license obviously earns brownie points. Get all the necessary data on this person before you hire them and do a background check if necessary. Your dog walker may need to have a duplicate of your house key and come in and out of your home in taking care of your dog. You want to make sure it’s someone you can trust and has an immaculate dog-walking record. You don’t want to leave you dog in the hands of someone who might harm your dog. There’s really not much to it after you’ve done all the necessary investigation and made the essential inquiries. Should you choose the right walker and develop a good working relationship with him/her, it could help put your mind at ease and allow you to focus more on your work than worrying that your dog is at home chewing on the remote control you've already replaced four times.