Dogs, like humans, need their exercise so they can stay happy and healthy, which usually consists of at-least one or two daily walks. But for many dog owners, it’s not always easy to find the time to take Fido out for a full and satisfying walk.
Thankfully, like most things these days, there’s an app for that. These four online and mobile services help make sure your dog gets needed walk time, as well as other services.
Care.com
Pets is just one of the areas that Care.com covers, but within that area, it offers professional dog walkers, pet sitters and dog boarding. Users can pick walkers based on experience, hourly rate and availability, as well as have access to background checks and references. Care.com services are available in all 50 states. The app is also available through Google Play.
Rover
Branding themselves as “the dog people,” Rover has boarding, house sitting, drop-in visits and doggy day care services available, in addition to dog walking. For those looking for dog walkers, they can search for a local walker, meet in-person before hiring and then book everything through the app. The dog walker will also provide detailed updates via the app during and after the walk. Get it on the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Barkly Pets
Founded by three DC residents, Barkly Pets allows owners to review and choose a specific walker, and create a customized checklist for the walker, including times of day, number of visits and duration of the walks. Barkly Pets services are currently only accessible to NoVA residents in Alexandria and Arlington. The app is available through the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Wag!
In addition to providing a full bio of its vetted dog walkers, Wag! provides users with a free lock box to allow easy access to their homes for the selected dog walker. Users can also track their dog’s walk live and will receive a complete report of what they did on the walk. Download the app either through the Apple App Store or Google Play.
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