Rover offers doggy daycare services for pet owners throughout the local area. Its network includes thousands of pet sitters that are available to care for dogs while their owners work or travel. The service connects sitters with clients online or through its app. Customers can meet with sitters prior to booking, and services are available for a range of dogs, including high-energy puppies and dogs with special needs.
Astro Pet Sitters are fully insured professional pet sitters in Brandon and are open five days a week. The owners of the company have a license to operate in the State of Florida, are Pet First Aid Certified, and are members of Pet Sitters Associates. Customers can choose from three packages starting from $192.
Awoken K9 offers dog walking, dog training, and rehabilitation services in Tampa and surrounding areas. This training center's goal is to teach dogs of various sizes, ages, and breeds how to behave in everyday settings. The dog walkers and trainers at the facility take an individualistic approach when providing services and training programs. The trainers can also help with young puppies, aggressive dogs, and dogs with excessive barking. They offer private in-home training, home school program, and virtual dog training.
Beth’s Pet Companion is a National Association of Professional Pet Sitters certified member providing dog walking and pet sitting services in Tampa. The website has testimonial section with a client stating, “I come down to Tampa, FL, every fall and winter and Beth is so kind to my dogs. Not only does she walk them, but feeds and gives them loving as well! If you are in the Tampa area and looking for a dog walker, hire Beth!”
Bosco’s Pet Care Services is a dog walking and pet sitting service provider in Valrico. The company is a member of the Pet Sitters International and provides dog-walking services from Monday to Friday. A past customer said, “Jamie and Matt provided excellent, timely, and professional service with daily updates. I was quite happy, as was Milo.”
Calling All Dogs & Cats is a team of professionals that has been offering dog walking, cat sitting, vacation care, and pet sitting services since 2004. It serves areas in Pinellas County and South Tampa. The company offers a 15-minute dog walking service and provides add-on services such as pet shopping. It is equipped with GPS tracking systems to provide timestamps for all of their visits.
Fairy Dust is a dog walking, pet sitting, and house cleaning service provider in Saint Petersburg. The company has over 21 years of experience and is a member of Pet Sitters International. The website has a blog section, which is updated regularly with articles on pet tips and pet advice. The company offers day and overnight pet care, long-term pet care, medical care, and consultation services on pet nutrition, hygiene, health, and training.
Need a Pet Sitter of Tampa is a 24/7 pet concierge service provider. The company offers dog-sitting, boarding, and walking, as well as cat sitting services. The pet sitter provides an in-house dog boarding service, where dogs can roam freely in the house and run around in the backyard. The dogs are let out at least three or four times each day. Need Pet offers add-on services such as extra-long walks with exercise and Davis Island Dog Park excursions.
No Place Like Home Sitting is a fully insured and bonded company providing pet sitting, daily dog walking, and cat care in Lithia. The company started in 2013 and offers services in FishHawk Ranch, FishHawk Trails, and River Hills. The company is a member of Pet Sitters International as well as Valrico and FishHawk Chambers of Commerce. A standard vacation visit offered by the company costs $17 per visit and includes feeding, watering, potty time, and play time.
Perfect Pets of Tampa provides dog walking, grooming, doggy daycare, and pet boarding services. Perfect Pets opened in 2010, and the lead care specialist and dog trainer has a formal education from Starmark Animal Behavior Center in the narcotics and police dog training program. A Perfect Pets dog walking service costs $18 per visit and includes walks, play, feeding, brushing, and waste removal. Dog walking services are available from Monday through Friday.
Regal Pet Services is a dog walking and pet sitting service provider in St. Petersburgh. The company is insured and bonded and the owner has Red Cross pet CPR and first aid training. A pet sitting service at Regal Pet Service costs $23 per visit for two pets. Customers can check the website to get more information on the number of visits required based on the pet’s age.
Rover Heights Pet Care is a pet sitting, walking, and playing company in Tampa. The company is licensed, insured, and bonded. Regular walk service costs $14 and lasts about 20 minutes. Rover Heights provides pet exercises to improve dogs' mental and physical well-being. The amenities provided by the company include daily pictures of the pet, a walk my pup GPS tracker, and oral medicine administration, if required.
South Tampa Dog Walking and Pet Sitting is a fully licensed, insured, and bonded company. The company offers daily dog walks, in-home visits, vacation care, and overnight pet care services. The company employs a team of professional pet sitters and is a member of Pet Sitters International. Pet Tech has certified the team members to provide Pet First Aid and CPR.
Tampa Metro Pets is a member of Pet Sitters Associates and offers pet sitting, dog walking, and cat care. The dog walking service offered by Tampa Metro Pets includes feeding, watering, walking, and playtime. The company charges $15 per visit for three visits per week. Customers need to contact the pet sitter for rates on providing services on weekends.
Tampaws Pet Care Services is a dog walking and pet sitting company in Tampa. The founder has received the most involved volunteer award in 2012 and has experience in administering basic medical care, including insulin injections, special diets, eyedrops, eardrops, and surgical care. The company provides daily updates to pet owners through e-mail and offers discounts to pet owners who volunteer with local rescue services.
Unleashed Tampa Bay is an in-home pet sitting service provider in Tampa. The company is fully insured and bonded and are Pet Tech trained in pet first aid and CPR. The website has a FAQ section with valuable information and a blog which is updated regularly with articles providing tips and advice on pets.
Many people have turned to dog walking as a regular household service. Dog walking can give your pet some exercise while you’re away at work or just take this chore off your hands when you’re having a busy day. Additionally, some people simply need dog walking help if they’ve sustained an injury or have health-related issues.
The general rule is to walk your dog at least three to four times a day, with each walk being at least 15 minutes long. However, this can significantly vary depending on the dog breed, the dog's age, and the dog's energy levels. For example, some breeds that require a lot of exercise are Labrador retrievers, German shepherds, and boxers.
In total, most vets recommend a dog receives between 30 minutes to two hours of exercise a day. The variation depends on your dog’s energy levels. So, if you're hiring a dog walker for a one-hour morning walk, you can choose to do the other 30 minutes to an hour yourself in the evening.
Usually, it’s safest to walk your dog on a leash so you can prevent them from wandering away. Dog walkers can help your dog learn how to walk well, as they are experts in dog walking. In general, dogs should walk close to their owners (or dog walker) and stay on the left side.
Many dogs don’t adapt to leash walking right away. They may lunge, pull, or even stop walking. You can ask your dog walker to help train your dog to walk on a leash better. For example, when dogs pull on a leash, the correct reaction is to stop walking. Eventually, this teaches them that pulling won’t be tolerated.
It doesn't feel great when your dog barks at other dogs. Luckily, you can train this behavior out of them. The experts recommend you teach your dog to heel. This way, when other dogs pass by, you can get your dog to heel and reward them for their good behavior. You can ask your dog walker to practice this on their walks.
Walking your dog has two benefits: it's physical exercise for them and it's mentally stimulating. Dogs are genetically a very active species that likes to be outdoors, so they enjoy getting outside a couple of times a day. Additionally, the smells and sights on their walk stimulate their brain. The human equivalent of a dog’s walk is like reading a good book.
On average, you can expect to pay between $0.05 to $1.00 per minute to have your dogs walked. An average of $0.75 means a 30-minute walk is usually $22.50 and an hour walk is $45. Of course, many things can impact the price, including your location, the length of walking, and the number of dogs.
Tipping isn’t necessary or all that common for dog walking services. However, if you have a particularly difficult dog or one that needs special attention, you may choose to tip your dog walker. Additionally, if you have the same dog walker for a while, a tip around the holidays is a nice gesture.
The snow can be painful for your dog's sensitive paws. More importantly, the salt on the ground can also hurt your dog's paws. Lastly, the snow and ice increase your dog's risk of slipping and injuring themselves (or you). When walking your dog in the snow, always put on dog booties.
Dogs may love their walks, but in extreme temperatures, it can be safer to remain indoors. At a certain point, extreme cold temperatures can be life-threatening for your dog. Don't take small breed dogs out in temperatures below 23 degrees F and 14 degrees F for medium to large breeds.
Just as frigid temperatures can harm your dog, the same rule applies to hot weather. If temperatures rise above 68ºF, it's easy for your dog can get overheated and dehydrated. When it's hot outside, consider exercising your dog indoors, shortening their walks, and/or buying booties to protect their paws from pavement. Even if it seems cool, remember that the hot sidewalk can hurt your dog's paws.
If your dog is walking in circles before lying down, this is normal hereditary behavior. However, if your dog is walking in circles around an area without settling, it might be a sign of stress or anxiety. This likely means they’re not getting enough stimulation and need more (or longer) walks.
First, if you're going to walk two dogs at once, the dogs must get along. Many dog walkers tackle walking two dogs at once. Using a dog leash coupler can help keep the dogs side by side while still having separate leashes and some freedom.
Some dog breeds are more prone to walking sideways, also known as “crabbing.” In particular, dogs with long legs do this to avoid tripping. Border collies, spaniels, vizslas, pointers, and German shepherds are prone to sideways walking. Other causes might be hip dysplasia, vestibular disease, or an injury.
There are two common reasons why dogs walk and poop. First, it’s a way for the dog to leave a strong scent behind. Walking puts added pressure on the anal scent glands, so a more potent smell is produced. Secondly, walking can help make passing their bowel movement easier. If your dog is backed up, walking helps them pass their poop.
Dogs can be trained to walk backwards. It looks quite cute when dogs do this, which is why some dog owners teach this trick. You can request that your dog walker practices walking backward with them. If your dog does this unprompted, though, it might be a sign of a health issue.
Usually, dogs should be allowed to rest with minimal activity the first 24-48 hours post-neutering. During this time, just take your dog out for their bathroom breaks. After that, you can start integrating short walks back into their routine. Your vet should provide you with clear guidelines for walking post-neutering.
You don’t necessarily need professional training in dog walking to start a dog walking business; although, it might help! After creating a website, you’ll need to build up a clientele roster. You can do this by offering introductory competitive rates as you wait to grow a reputation in your area.
There are several ways you can become a dog walker:
