Statistics published in Total Jobs show that animal care related jobs have increased by 35% since March 2020, with 'dog grooming' taking the lead of most sought after skills by jobseekers landing at a whooping 75% since 2020. There is no doubt that while finding a specific dog care provider is easy, choosing the best ones for your dog certainly isn't. This blog post is going to help make the process easier by knit-picking through all of the social media noise to give you the five most important things to consider above all else.
Table of Contents
#1 - Ethics, Values & Code of Conduct
Did you know that a large portion of the dog world still supports and practices outdated concepts? This is a harrowing thought considering the number of scientific studies that prove that the likes of 'dominance theory' is not only completely damaging to the bond we share with our dogs, but totally misleading as well.
It's often hard to tell the difference between a good trainer and a good marketer since many of our "celebrity" trainers on television are practicing outdated theories and concepts with little to zero qualifications to support their methods. All you need to know is that the future of dog care is one that respects the sentiency of animals and that means acknowledging that the only mode of care is one that does not condone punishment in any capacity regardless of how effective you think it is.
A quick fix is merely scratching the surface and eventually those deep-rooted issues will emerge along with a quicker escalation of more concerning behaviours.
#2 - Associations, Affiliations & Word of Mouth
I'm sure you have already heard the phrase "birds of a feather, flock together" and the same tends to be the case in the pet care industry as well.
Who a pet care provider associates with can be incredibly telling and it's worthwhile paying attention to this when seeking out the best person to look after your dog.
Look out for individuals who are members of ethical animal welfare organisations who demonstrate kind and compassionate modalities of care (thankfully, there are plenty out there!).
An investment into such organisations often means that an individual has to pass various prerequisites to apply and be granted membership, but it almost always means having to invest and show evidence of ongoing CPD as well - all of this is super important!
Look out for logos that show an individuals commitment to science-led practices that are constantly reviewed and updated accordingly, but also pay attention to how they speak about animals and conduct their business and how others speak of them as well.
For example, do people endorse them? If they do, what appears to be their strengths? If not, what are people complaining about?
#3 - Approachability, Support & Transparency
Choose pet care providers who are open, honest and approachable from the moment you make contact with them.
There are far too many professionals out there who allow their egos to do all of the talking and forget that it's not just about what they think is best but also about what you, the dog carer thinks is best based on what you know about your dog.
Attentive dog carers know their dog more than anyone else in this world and should be able to pick up on very subtle behaviour changes very early on therefore it's imperative that any suspicions are listened to and followed up appropriately by a suitable pet care professional. If your pet care provider is reluctant to take your concerns seriously, they are not the best fit for you and your dog and it may be time to find someone else.
Any successful relationship relies on mutual respect and teamwork - synchronised care is as much about being open to listening to another's opinion as it is about being consistently on the same wave length.
Furthermore, is the pet care provider open to having you present during a scheduled appointment and if not, why not?
Sometimes it may be down to insurance restrictions but in most cases, Public Liability and/or Employer's Liability Insurance will cover you being there during a session.
If being there in-person is out of the equation, would they be happy to record each session instead? Recordings are a fantastic way to pick up on various things that were perhaps less obvious in real-time.
#4 - Licences, Insurances & Qualifications
Know each sector well enough to understand what licences, insurances and qualifications are requried to trade.
In many pet care sectors, there are no regulations (dog training, behaviour and grooming as examples) therefore it is down to you to make an educated decision based on your own due diligence.
Some sectors have strict licencing T&C's, for example some require degrees and doctorates while others are a lot less stringent.
While I must stress that qualifications do not guarantee competency, it is still worthwhile striving to choose someone who can demonstrate that they have embarked on some form of educational evidence from a reputable training source prior to trading.
I've personally always considered an individual who is actively invested in CPD to be more reliable and competent than the individual who has only ever obtained one qualification over the span of their career - as we know, science evolves and as such, so should our education and approach.
#5 - Intuition, Expectations & Gut Feelings
While I am not saying that your gut feeling is always right there are times when listening to what your intuition is telling you comes in really handy so always keep that in the back of your mind.
If you feel your expectations don't mesh well with the individual in front of you, it might be a good indication that they are not the best fit for you and your dog. Expectations can be incredibly damaging to a relationship and subsequently service of care received - whether it's that you have too high an expectation on the professional and/or your dog, or that it's the professional who has too high an expectation on you, matters greatly.
Being realistic and fair is key.
But also, how does your dog feel and behave in the persons company?
There are some instances where a dog will simply not mesh with a prospective pet care provider - this could be anything from incompatability to their presence triggering a past significant trauma. What I'm saying is that it's often not necessarily because a pet care provider is a "bad" person, a dog has many layers and nothing is seldom black and white.
The important thing to remember is that dogs, like people, are individual and there will be some cases where a pet care provider and a dog will simply not be compatible for whatever reason, in which case, they are not the best person for the job.
Useful Links
Animal Care Related Jobs Statistics: https://www.totaljobs.com/media-centre/pet-professions-take-a-lead-in-britains-job-recovery
Dog Walking Licences UK: https://www.petbusinessinsurance.co.uk/news/Dog-Walking-Licenses-and-Laws/
Dog Boarding Laws UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/animal-activities-licensing-guidance-for-local-authorities/home-boarding-for-dogs-licensing-statutory-guidance-for-local-authorities
Veterinary Surgeons Act: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1966/36
Reputable Dog Grooming CPD: https://courses.holisticgroomingacademy.com
Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5ac78152ed915d76a04b2da6/pb13333-cop-dogs-091204.pdf
Canine Behaviourists: https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/understanding-your-dog/finding-behaviour-and-training-support
Bibliography
Miller, P. (2021) Debunking the ‘Alpha Dog’ theory, Whole Dog Journal. Available at: https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/behavior/debunking-the-alpha-dog-theory/ (Accessed: 07 May 2024).
Gillies, J. (2024) Dogs behaving (very) badly – A Review, Dog Behaviourist & Trainer | CBT Dog Behaviour & Training. Available at: https://cbtdogbehaviour.com/dogs-behaving-very-badly-a-review/ (Accessed: 07 May 2024).
Baker, D. (2020) Why ‘dog whisperer’ Cesar Millan is attacked by critics, constantly, Petful. Available at: https://www.petful.com/behaviors/cesar-millan-critics/ (Accessed: 07 May 2024).
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