Dog walking
Dog walking is both a pastime and a profession involving the act of a person walking with a dog, typically from the dog's residence and then returning. This constitutes part of the daily exercise regime needed to keep a dog healthy.[1] It also provides exercise and companionship for the walker.[2]
Description
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In the UK, The Kennel Club conducted a survey of 1,000 dog owners and found that one in five did not walk their dogs on a daily basis.[3]
Dogs are walked with a collar around their neck, or a dog harness,[4] or by following their owner by familiarity and verbal control. Commonly the dog is walked by the owner, or another family member, but there are also professional dog walkers.[5]
Health benefits
[edit]A study by Michigan State University showed that people who walk their dogs are 34% more likely to meet expected levels of exercise, with a recommended level of 150 minutes of activity such as dog walking per week. Matthew Reeves, the co-author of the study said, "There is no magic bullet in getting people to reach those benchmarks but walking a dog has a measurable impact."[6]
Professional dog walkers
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Professional dog walkers, both individuals and businesses, are paid by dog owners to walk their dogs for them. Some dog walkers will take many dogs for a walk at once, while others will not.[5] Also growing in popularity is dog running. Dog runners are professionals who will take your dog running, usually between 1 and 10 miles for a set fee, usually not more than 2 dogs at a time.[7] In some jurisdictions dog walking businesses must be licensed and have animal first-aid-trained employees. Professional dog walking services can be obtained locally or through online referral services.[8]
In the United States, the first professional dog walker is believed to have been Jim Buck, who in 1960 launched his dog walking service in New York City.[9]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Are new rules woof justice for pooches?". Grimsby Telegraph. thisisgrimsby.co.uk. 29 May 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
- ^ Bumgardner, Wendy (13 November 2008). "Dog Owners Get Twice as Much Exercise - Dog Walking for Exercise". About.com. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
- ^ Derbyshire, David (6 August 2010). "Walkies? Fat chance. One in five dog owners too lazy to take their pets out every day". Mail Online. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
- ^ Shaw, Lorrie (5 May 2010). "Commercialism: coming to a pet near you". AnnArbor.com. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
- ^ a b Smith, Mark (5 May 2010). "Lawyer wants to bring dog walkers to heel". The Scotsman. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
- ^ "Walkies Not Just For Dogs". Daily Express. 12 March 2011.
- ^ "example dog runner". Retrieved 30 November 2011.
- ^ Jill Priluck (December 8, 2010). "The founder's life for young VCs". CNN-Money-Fortune Magazine. Retrieved 2010-12-07.
In early 2009, ... Ringwelski launched SkillSlate, a site that organizes handymen, dogwalkers, massage therapists and other solos through profiles and ratings the same way dating sites corral singles.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Fox, Margalit (12 July 2013). "Jim Buck, Who Made Walking Dogs a Job, Dies at 81". New York Times. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
