Two Feet Four Paws
Dog Walking Service




Group Walks

---

Let's begin by stating that plenty of dogs simply cannot be in groups.
I have had many clients whose dogs I wouldn't dream of letting meet another
dog on the sidewalk, let alone walk them with other dogs. However, most dogs can
be placed in groups, to the mutual benefit of all concerned.
Even so, a lot of people are uneasy with the concept of group walks.
I think the biggest concern is that their dog won't get any-one-on one
attention or perhaps that they feel that grouping the dogs together
seems a somewhat "bargain basement" approach to dog walking. Not surprisingly
I (respectfully) disagree. Dogs are by nature pack animals. They thrive
in packs. But let me address the first two issues I mentioned.

1. "My dog(s) won't get enough personal attention"

I should mention here that the largest group I've ever taken out is seven,
so groups really aren't all that big to begin with. But before I even get close
to placing a dog in a group, I spend many walks getting
familiar with an individual dog's idiosyncrasies. It is critical to form a
strong bond with every dog I walk. This takes time, and it doesn't happen in a group
setting. However, once the bond is established, a whole new world awaits.
While much of this site may seem flip, I take my job very seriously. All the dogs in any
group receive a lot of personal attention. It's not a case of taking a bunch of dogs
to a park or the beach and letting them run around while I read a book. I'm there to show
my clients a good time and just as importantly, keep them safe, in control, and engaged.
While dog walking isn't exactly nuclear physics, to do it well and in a professional manner
is a bit more tricky than it may seem. I do this job because I love dogs, and because I love
dogs, I do it very well. Your dog, whether by itself or in a group is my personal
responsibility, and it's my job to give them the best darn walk I can. So, while your
dog may be in a group, he or she or they are still individual animals and warrant individual
attention, and that's what they get.

2. "The Bargain Basement Issue"

If this is not issue for you, then you may be excused. If it is, read on.
I strongly believe that most dogs do better in packs. I don't mean to
take away from single walks, but there are inherent advantages to groups, to wit:

* Single walks are limited to 20, 30 or 60 minutes. Group walks can go on for two
hours for the same fee. This is because it's a lot more flexible for me to gather
up a bunch of dogs and bring them to a single location, and while transit time is
is a concern (this is why the dogs need to be in geographical proximity to one another)
it's kept to a minimum and given the choice, I think most dogs would rather be
driving around with other dogs than being at home by themselves.

* I am able to take the dogs to the dog beach or other fenced dog friendly areas
and allow them free run. By free run, I don't mean run amok. It's been my
experience that the dogs stick by me, and even if they do wander off to sniff
some nasty bit of matter, they invariably keep well within a close perimeter.
Keep in mind that a lot of time is spent building a bond in the beginning,
and it's this bond that keeps the dogs close. If I feel a given dog is a "flight risk"
they won't get into a group walk to begin with.

* The amount of fun dogs have in groups is such that I have seen marked changes
in demeanor (positive ones) that I simply have not seen in solo walks.

There's more, but you get the general idea. I have yet to see any
major problems occur with group walks, and as I've stated, a great deal of
good has come from them.


If you have any other questions or concerns regarding this issue, please feel
free to e-mail me here