Christmas Time

We all know the joy of Christmas and getting the gift you really want and everyone loves a new puppy or kitten as they are quite adorable. So if you are thinking or giving or asking for a new Puppy or Kitten this Christmas, please think again.

Christmas time is hardly the ideal time to bring a new kitten or puppy into your already busy home. Cats and Dogs are a long term commitment and require a lot of love and attention. They are not a gift that can be returned for store credit or refund. The sad truth is that many people look to rehome dogs immediately after Christmas. Dogs Trust alone got more than 750 requests last year to rehome dogs in the three months after Christmas.

It is far too easy to get distracted with all the comings and goings of visitors. A new puppy or kitten requires a lot of attention so you can house train them and get them settled. Very often they are seen as a novelty with every visitor looking to hold them and while socializing your new pet is very important they will need a lot of sleep in the beginning.
Also the cost must not be ignored as most puppies and kittens are bought from breeder who are in the business to make money, add in your vet bills for vaccinations, microchipping etc it all adds up to a pretty penny.

There are many charities looking to rehome unwanted Dogs and Cats, so if you really want to spread some joy this Christmas rehome a Dog or Cat that is already house trained and has had all the required vaccinations.


Is Pet Insurance Necessary for Dog Walking?

As a professional dog walker, it is essential to have Pet Insurance. No matter what size of dog walking business you are running big or small you must have insurance. Dog walkers Insurance will help protect your dog walking business from any damages and defence cost arising from a claim because of your business actions. Working with other people’s pets is a responsible position to be in and it is better knowing you are covered no matter what happens. If you do not have insurance and an animal is in your care, if they got hit by a car, get injured, or become sick, you will be glad to have sustained pet insurance to cover legal costs, medical bills, and any other financial expenses.
If you are thinking of starting up a new dog walking business or have an existing one, then pet insurance is the first place to start to get your business off the ground. Having pet insurance will make your business more appealing and professional to your clients, attracts more business, and gives real peace of mind to you and your customers. It really can help you save thousands if things went wrong.  A lot of policies for dog walkers are divided up into several key benefits.

Here are some of the ones to look out for:

Public Liability 

It is only natural as a dog walking business you will be out with the pets and may meet other people. Public Liability  policy will cover you if a member of the public gets injured because of your dog walking business. E.G. If the pet you are minding becomes separated from you and attacks the third party you may be sued for any injuries that may have been caused. If you have this type of cover, it will cover you for solicitor’s fees and settlement of the claim. If the animal in your care causes damage to someone else property you are covered.  The legal defence and settlement are taken care of by your policy.

Care, Custody, and Control 

Care, Custody, and Control is a major part of your insurance policy. It protects the dogs you meet every day. It is most useful when a dog is in your care if it goes missing or becomes injured or on a rare occasion it may die. With this policy in place, you are covered if any vet bills arise.

Equipment Cover 

Protecting what you use on a day to day basis is most important like dog collars, leads, and everything else. If your equipment suffered any damage or loss of your tools, with suitable equipment cover you will be eligible to make a claim.

Non-Negligent Cover 

This is a similar policy to Care, Custody, and Control only a small difference. If an animal in your care suffers an injury that was not your fault you are protected. Your policy will take care of any vet bills and any compensation to the pet owners.

Loss of Keys Cover 

If you have a pet in your care than you may be responsible for a client’s home keys. Losing keys to someone’s property could have major risks if you need to get in. Having a cover for the loss of keys is very important. At first, you may need to break into the home, so the locks will need replacing and this may not always come cheap. Second, to operate new locks in the home new keys will need to be cut to get in. There may also be intruder alarms systems in the home and they may have to be set off. If the alarm needs professional assistance to be reset, it will cost. Therefore, having insurance will cover all costs listed.

Employers Liability 

If you run your company by yourself this policy is not necessary. However, if you have employed staff working with you on a paid or voluntary basis, this policy is a legal requirement. It is important to check with your insurance brokers before buying pet insurance policies with them. This cover protects your dog walking business if any staff member becomes injured and they may sue you for injury. Defence costs and claim settlement are all taken care of by your insurance.
Being insured for a dog walking business is a must and is a vital part of owning a pet-care business. Accidents can occur and have the right insurance cover protects you, your business, your clients, and their pets. Having pet cover can save you money on vet expenses and can protect the pets in your care in case of an injury or illness. Shop around and consider which insurance company to choose, they can very often vary in prices. Ensure you know exactly what is on your policy plan and ensure you are getting the best deal for your money. If you are ready for a dog walking business, then purchase insurance cover today.

Why You should Hire a Dog Walker in Dublin and Louth

Do you find your schedule tight to the point you can’t effectively take care of your dogs? If yes, there is an alternative method to ensure your pets are effectively taken care despite having a tight schedule. It involves hiring a dog walker in Dublin and Louth. A dog walker is a person who walks with a dog around and gets paid by the pet’s owner. The owner has presented the task of walking them around and returning them to the owner. A healthy dog needs to stretch its legs and muscles to be efficient in its performance. In addition to this, regular walking makes pets happy. A dog walker can be a company or an individual. Pets are quite costly and should be properly taken care of. Let us shift our gears and look at some reasons why you should contact the above professionals:

Peace of mind when you are away

There are some pet owners in Dublin who cannot find a person to take care of their pets while they are away. This can be frustrating to the point a person doesn’t have peace of mind while away. Hiring a dog walker agency in Dublin can give you some peace of mind while you are away. These agencies will not only help feed animals but also take them for walks. Studies have revealed dogs need to move around every now and then for them to be more productive.

For People with busy lives

Many people in Dublin find it difficult to take care of their pets and go to work at the same time. Some people live busy lives in that they don’t have time for themselves. Dogs need consistent care for them to be healthy. This includes regular walking routines. A professional dog walker can help out in this. They can take care of your precious pet, while you carry on with your daily activities.

To give you peace of Mind

People with busy schedule constantly worry about their pets. This ranges from who will take care of them if they are hurt or starving among others. It can be really frustrating for pet owners when they are not around. They can help you have peace of mind, even when you stay late at work. A walker ensures your dog gets quality outdoor time. Pet owners might be busy in the morning in that their pets might not have enough walking time. This can be stressful for your animals and might affect their performance.

Have a better- behaved dog

Humans need regular exercise to live healthy, long and become more productive. Human counterpart dogs also need regular exercise, or they risk becoming obese. Obesity can trigger many health complications. Studies have revealed obesity in animals is caused by lack of enough exercise. Studies have revealed lack of exercise affects a dog’s behavior. This is mostly triggered by busy schedules. Medical experts have revealed dogs that engage in regular workouts are better behaved when compared to those who don’t work out. A dog walker can ensure that your loved animal frequently walk around and refresh their minds.

Your dog will get more stimulation and Socialization

As earlier stated, both humans and pets need frequent exercise. Exercise not only helps in maintaining bodies but stimulates dog’s senses. These senses range from hearing, smelling and seeing. They should frequently meet other animals and people. This not only stimulates their senses, but encourages proper socialization. There are many dog walker experts in Dublin who can ensure your animals achieve the above goals. This is one reason you should approach a selected dog walker agency.

What is the qualification for becoming a dog walker?

This is among the frequently asked questions on this topic. Most people associate these experts with two tasks, namely feeding dogs and taking them for walks. A professional walker needs to exercise full control of their pets. He/she might be forced to break up fighting dogs or refrain them from going in the opposite direction among others. Here are some requirements to join this profession:

  • Having physical stamina
  • Being capable of controlling dogs of different sizes
  • Capability of working with their owners
  • Understanding animal restraints and transportation kennels
  • Obtaining an operational permit.

There are some regions that require someone to obtain a license before they can operate. In addition to this, a dog walker might need to clean them or the street to ensure no droppings are left behind. Let us shift our gears and look at tips on how to find a perfect pet walking agency in Dublin. There are many agencies in Dublin for a person to choose from. A person can either choose an agency or an individual. Some pet owners find it difficult selecting a perfect agency. This is quite understandable as dogs are quite sensitive and need the best care. A person can start off by writing down dog walking Companies to check out. This will simplify the hiring process. A pet owner should compare the ratings of these agencies and choose the best. A person can check out the testimonials or reviews from previous clients. Reviews basically talk about their experiences with the selected agency. Alternatively, a person can check out the various comparison sites and have an insight depth of how people rate the company. A person should not go to top service providers and ignore the middle sized agencies. There are many middle-sized dog walker Companies that perform better when compared to large agencies. Alternatively, a person can move around asking about the shortlisted service providers. Moving on, pet owners need to probe how a service provider hires his employees. As we all know, this is a sensitive job that needs special skills. You can request one on one conversation to clearly understand the recruitment protocol. Moving on, it is advisable to check out the rates of the service provider. A person should go to a service provider he/she can comfortably afford.Lastly, pet owners should outline what he/she expects before allowing the selected dog walker to take care of his beloved pets.

Whether you are a pet dog breeder or busy business owner, hiring a person to walk your dog is very helpful.