Behind the Leash: A Day in the Life of a 30-Minute Walk

As a pet parent, handing over your keys (or door code) can feel a bit daunting. You know your dog is getting some fresh air while you’re at work, but it’s hard not to wonder what those thirty minutes actually looks like once the door closes behind us. We thought we’d take a moment to pull back the curtain and show you how we turn a simple walk into the highlight of your dog's day.

Our appointment begins right at your front door. Before we even step inside, we check our app for any last-minute notes on your dog’s temperament or specific needs for the day. Whether we’re punching in a door code or grabbing a key from a lockbox, our first priority is making sure your home stays secure and your pup feels safe. If there are packages by the door or mail to be brought in, we grab those first.

Then comes everyone's favorite part: the greeting. For some dogs it's a wiggle party, for others its a zoomy party and every once in a while the calm walk up with a toy to show us how happy they are to see us. Have a nervous dog? Totally fine, we will take it at their pace, nice and calm to ensure they enjoy their time out of the house. We take a few moments to party along (while ensuring to keep your house rules in place, if jumping is something we are working on, then we make sure all four stay on the floor). Once the hellos have been established we get their gear ready to go, leash up and head out the door.

Once we hit the pavement, the walk is entirely about them. For some dogs, that means a brisk trek to get the heart rate up, while for others, it’s all about the "sniffari." We scout out routes with plenty of room to roam and familiar trails where they feel confident. Most dogs really thrive on a routine, so we tend to stick to a couple of favorite sidewalks where they know exactly where the best scents are hidden. Ensuring your dog gets their sniff spots in while also getting exercise is the top priority for our walks.

In a typical thirty-minute session, we usually cover between one and two miles. It’s the perfect distance to shake off the midday cobwebs and burn through that extra energy. But the walk isn't just about the distance; it’s about the mental stimulation and the one-on-one attention they crave while you’re away.

As the clock winds down, we head back home for a little wind-down time. We make sure they are tucked in where they feel most comfortable, if that's in a specific bedroom, kennel or couch! Of course, we know you’re missing them too, so we make sure to capture a "midday mugshot" and send over a full report card. Our app keeps track of our time, photos and videos we take and then we send along an update to let you know how they did, if they went potty and any other pertinent information we need to give you. That way, even if you’re stuck in a meeting, you can see exactly how much fun they had on their afternoon adventure. You wont feel pressured to rush home from work and they'll be nice and relaxed until you make it home. When we leave we make sure they got their midday snack if you put in a request in your app profile, we lock the doors and then we send off our report card! Until Next Time!

Do you have a memorable moment from a pet sitter? Or, something you wish they would do while you are gone? Let us know!