How to choose a dog walker

If you’re looking for a dog walker in Milton Keynes, Woburn Sands or Aspley Guise, you’ll quickly find no shortage of options. From established dog walking businesses to individuals offering walks alongside other commitments, the choice can feel overwhelming.

With so many possibilities available, choosing the right dog walker for you and your dog can feel tricky — and at times a little stressful.

Pricing

Before choosing a dog walker, it’s important to be clear about what you want from the relationship and what budget you’re comfortable with. If price is the main deciding factor, it’s worth understanding how this can affect both the service you receive and your dog’s experience. While this isn’t always the case, lower prices can often reflect a more basic level of care.

Dog walking is physically demanding and requires careful planning. Businesses that price their services appropriately will have taken the time to consider safety, group sizes, transport, insurance, and staff training. This usually means your dog is treated as an individual, rather than simply being added to a large group for the sake of convenience or profit.

Reliability

Reliability is another hugely important factor to consider. We regularly hear from new clients whose previous dog walker let them down. There’s often an assumption in this industry that dog walking is a 365-day-a-year service, but of course everyone needs time off. When choosing a lower-priced service, it’s worth bearing in mind that the walker may be working alone, which can mean interruptions when they take holidays or need time to rest and recover. This isn’t a failing — dog walkers are people too, braving the elements and clocking up a lot of miles — but it’s something to be aware of.

For some owners, this arrangement works perfectly well. Others may prefer the reassurance of a service that has a cover system in place. It’s simply something to think about before making your choice.

At Jog My Dog, we work as a team of experienced, self-employed dog walkers. Each walker runs their own business under the Jog My Dog umbrella, allowing them to build strong, individual relationships with their clients and dogs. At the same time, we have a well-established cover system in place. If your usual walker is on holiday or unexpectedly unwell, another trusted team member can usually step in.

Cover walkers are introduced early on (usually when you first join us), so they’re already familiar with your dog, your routine, and our high standards of care. This way, you benefit from having a dedicated, consistent walker while also enjoying the peace of mind that your dog’s walks can continue reliably throughout the year.

Transport

I’m often surprised at how rarely we’re asked about how dogs are transported to and from their walks — yet this is a huge consideration. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for some dog walkers to transport large numbers of dogs in a single vehicle before releasing them together in a field. While things may often appear fine, situations can quickly change. Hot weather, close quarters, or dogs that struggle around others can all increase stress levels, particularly for flat-faced breeds or dogs that find confined spaces challenging.

At the other end of the spectrum, some dogs are transported loose in cars — sitting in footwells, moving around the boot, or climbing over seats — which can be both unsafe and distracting for the driver. Dogs should always be secured when travelling, either in a crate or in a suitable harness and seat belt, just as a child would be. Not only is this far safer, it’s also a legal requirement. In the event of an accident, an unsecured dog could be seriously injured.

This is why doing your research is so important. Always ask how dogs are transported and what systems are in place to keep them safe during travel.

At Jog My Dog, safety is a top priority. Dogs are transported in their own individual crates unless they are from the same household (with owner consent) or are very well known to one another and can still travel comfortably together. For dogs that are unhappy travelling in a crate — and some are — we ask owners to provide a harness so we can secure them using dog seat belts. Any dogs travelling in the boot area are also attached via a long lead secured to the vehicle, preventing them from jumping out when the boot is opened.

These measures ensure every dog travels safely, calmly, and comfortably — just as they should.

How many dogs will they walk with?

Every dog walking situation is unique, and the number of dogs that can be walked together safely depends on several factors: the walker’s experience, the dogs’ breed, temperament, age, and the environment of the walk.

An experienced walker can safely manage a small group of well-behaved dogs in a secluded area. If the dogs know each other, have good recall, and are calm, group walks can be a fun and safe experience. On the other hand, a few very energetic dogs with poor recall may require smaller groups — often two or three — to ensure safety and enjoyment for all.

Professional dog walking businesses will carefully assess each dog before accepting them, typically through a detailed phone conversation and a trial walk during the initial meet and greet. At Jog My Dog, we also observe dogs during their first group walks, as this is often when their true behaviour becomes apparent. Dogs that are reactive, struggle with recall, or do not interact well with others are not suitable for group walks, as our groups are carefully managed to ensure safety and harmony.

Most of our group walks consist of 3 or 4 well-behaved dogs. We take them to safe and stimulating locations such as the woods in Aspley and Woburn Sands, enclosed fields in Woburn Sands or Wolverton Mill, and rural paths along the North Bucks Way. While these areas are generally quiet, encounters with other people or dogs are always possible. For this reason, it’s essential that dogs attending group walks are well-behaved, reliable with recall, and show no aggression.

Our walkers often meet up in advance to assess how different dogs interact and to ensure that group combinations remain safe, even when accommodating last-minute changes, holidays, or emergencies. During walks, we check for good recall, a reliable ‘sit/stay,’ and any reactivity around treats or toys. Having two walkers present in fully enclosed areas allows us to carry out these checks safely — a key part of providing stress-free and enjoyable walks for every dog in our care.