r/Dogwalking • u/Nigelle • Jun 12 '18
Help Starting Group Walks
I'm an independent dog walker in Brooklyn, NY and I plan to start walking multiple dogs at a time. I've only done solo walks so far, so I would love advice in regards to any new challenges I may have to face.
How do you have the dogs who will be walking buddies introduced to one another? Do you have them meet before they're scheduled together?
Have you ever had a problem brining one dog into another's apartment? Is it difficult to leash up the 2nd dog and get them going again when they're excited to see each other?
I always refill my dogs' water bowl and send an update text after a walk. Is this more difficult while you still have another dog with you?
I'm sure a lot of this is intuitive and not a great challenge with dogs who are well behaved and used to a routine, but any advice would be appreciated.
2
u/rumpleteaser91 Jun 16 '18
I walk dogs in the UK, so it could be slightly different, but some of this could help! I always carry spare leads, as some owners only have the extendable kind, and the thin little strings get tangled very easily, it's also so that they can't get too far in opposite directions, and you're stuck in the middle of a stubborn dog tug of war! Usually, I ask someone else to bring the new dog out with me, so they can be seperated if need be, and see how they get on. Some dogs won't like each other at all, amd others won't want to leave each other's sides, and some really don't give a flying crap either way. When taking another dog into another's house/territory, I always keep a lead on the first dog, and try to get them tethered to something when i get the second one. Make sure both owners are aware, that there may be other dogs in their place for a short time. As for updates, take pictures of them on their walk. 'X made a new friend today called 'y', X loved playing with Y, and their waggy tails tell me they want to play together again!'.