Dog walking or dog sitting: which solution for your dog?
Dog walker or dog sitter: two solutions to take care of your dog, but not for the same needs. Discover their differences and how to choose the most suitable solution for your companion.
Richard Costaglioli
6/11/20263 min read
When you share your life with a dog, there always comes a time when a question appears:
“What do I do when I'm not available?”
A long day of work.
An unexpected appointment.
A weekend.
A vacation.
Today, several solutions exist to take care of your dog.
The two best known are:
Dog walking
Dog sitting
But what's really the difference?
At Buddy Doggy, we often find that the two services are confused.
However, they do not exactly meet the same need.
Dog walking: meeting the daily needs of the dog
Dog walking consists of entrusting your dog to a person who comes to walk it when you are not available.
But a real walk is not limited to going out for a few minutes.
A good dog walker brings the dog:
Physical activity
Mental stimulation
Adapted interactions
A real fresh cut in his routine
The goal is simple: to allow the dog to live a real experience while its owner is busy.
Why choose a dog walker?
Dog walking is suitable for dogs that spend part of the day alone.
For example:
Owners who work in the office
Long days
Irregular schedule
Dog with a lot of energy
Need for socialisation
A walk during the day allows the dog to:
Walk, run & play
Explore
Smell news
Meet other dogs if it suits him
Come home calmer
It's not just an hygienic break.
It is an essential activity in his day.
The role of a professional dog walker
A dog walker doesn't just walk a dog.
His role is also to understand the one he accompanies.
At Buddy Doggy, every new dog is gradually discovered.
We observe:
His character
His energy level
Its limits
His behaviour with other dogs
His recall
Its ability to manage different environments
The goal is to adapt the walk to the dog.
Some will need to run and explore.
Others will need a calmer and more reassuring walk.
A good walk is a walk designed for the dog.
Dog sitting: accompanying longer absences
Dog sitting fulfils another need.
Here, the main goal is to take care of the dog when its owner is away for a longer period of time.
For example:
An evening
A weekend
Several days of vacation
A business trip
The dog sitter then takes care of part of the dog's daily life:
Human presence
Meals
Surveillance
Moments of company
Necessary walks
The goal is for the dog to keep a reassuring setting despite the absence of its owner.
Why choosing a dog sitter?
Dog sitting is particularly interesting for dogs that:
Can hardly endure long absences
Need a regular presence
Can't stay alone
Have a specific routine
It is an alternative to traditional pensions.
The dog benefits from a more human presence and an often more family environment.
Dog walking or dog sitting: which one to choose?
Above all, there is the right service at the right time.
Choose dog walking if:
✓ you are absent for several hours during the day
✓ your dog lacks activity
✓ you want to enrich his daily life
✓ your dog loves walks and discoveries
✓ you want a regular routine
Choose dog sitting instead if:
✓ you leave for several days
✓ your dog needs an extended presence
✓ you are looking for a guard during an absence
✓ you want to prevent him from being alone for a long time
The two services may even be complementary.
An important difference: activity or presence
A simple way to understand:
Dog sitting mainly brings: a presence when you are absent.
Dog walking mainly brings: an activity when your dog needs it.
In both cases, the objective remains the same: the well-being of the dog.
The most important thing: choose according to your dog
Every dog is different.
A young dog full of energy will not have the same needs as a senior dog.
A very sociable dog will not have the same expectations as a more reserved dog.
Before choosing a solution, observe:
His energy level
His behaviour alone
His social needs
His daily balance
The best solution is the one that suits your dog.
Not just on your agenda.
The Buddy Doggy philosophy
At Buddy Doggy, we chose to specialise in dog walking because we deeply believe in the impact of a real walk.
An adapted walk brings:
Physical exercice
Mental stimulation
Confidence
New experiences
Each walk is an opportunity for the dog to learn, explore and evolve.
Because a happy dog doesn't just need someone there.
He needs to live moments that matter.
Author: Richard Costaglioli
