Pet owners who hire dog walkers have one emergency advantage
But there are four more emergency tips all dog owners should have handy
I sat on a nearby ottoman and looked at the Carolina dog, who was peering at me from behind a side bedroom door.
“I’m not leaving,” I told her. “It took me way too long to figure out how to get inside this place.”
She disappeared into that doorway, then popped her head out again 60 seconds later.
“Still here, girlie,” I said, glancing from my smartphone to the top of her ears. “Sniff me when you feel like it, so you can stop being scared of me. I’m cool.”
When the dog walking app notified me that I’d previously walked this dog, I was confused. I didn’t recognize the dog, but I shrugged and requested the walk. And even after my request was accepted, I didn’t recognize the address. While walking 99 dogs may lead one to believe that a dog walker wouldn’t remember each dog, I always do. Like people, dogs leave an impression.
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Still, when I arrived at the home, I was really scratching my head. I couldn’t figure out where the keys were, where the gate was, walked through the wrong alley and parking lot, and still had no clue when I walked this dog before. As is the case with first-time walks for any dog living in a multi-unit, it may take an extra minute or two to gain entry, depending on how well the access instructions are on the dog walking app. I recognized absolutely nothing about this home.
But as soon as I opened the door and saw the dog looking at me, I smiled and went, “I know you!” The owner had moved to a new address, which was why I didn’t recognize anything. The last home was a fancier condo with security guards who had to buzz me in from one door to the next, and one of the security guards was clearly not a dog lover and ordered me to go through a side entrance.
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That combative incident with the security guard left a lasting impression, and so did the dog. She never wanted to walk more than half a block and was terrified of everybody. I knew this “walk” was going to be pacing around the front of the building more than my usual 20- to 30- to hourlong walks around the neighborhood.
Emergency tip #1: Always have an emergency exit plan for your dog
On my way back from walking this memorable dog, it occurred to me that dog owners who hire dog walkers have an immediate advantage. They’ve already found a way to get their dogs to a safe place. Pet owners who don’t use dog walking apps may scramble to figure out what to do with their dog when they’re not at home (or all at work).
But even for pet owners who have nearby family and friends to get to a dog in the event of an emergency, there are four other things that all pet owners should be prepared for right at this very minute.