Life situations
Board and train and the dog walker
You invested weeks and real money in a dog who walks nicely. Then the walker clips on a retractable leash, lets him greet every dog on the block, and the pulling starts creeping back. Walkers are not the problem. Missing information is. Here is what to hand your walker, what to keep for yourself, and an alternative for weekday dogs.
Last reviewed October 4, 2026
The walker handoff
What to tell a walker so the standard holds.
Give the walker a one-page sheet. List the exact cue words, including the release word, and how the dog is asked to wait at the door before going out. Note which equipment he walks in, whether that is the slip lead or training collar from the program, and how it is held: short, loose, no constant tension. Ask for no retractable leash and no on-leash greetings with other dogs.
Tools deserve a clear line. If your dog finished an off-leash program with a remote collar, that collar was introduced carefully and taught to you. We would not hand it to a walker who has not been taught to use it; walk on leash instead. Ask whether the dog is walked alone or with others, since a group of unfamiliar dogs is a far busier setting than the one he practised in.
- Same cue and release words
- Wait at the door first
- Short leash, no tension
- No retractable leash
A weekday alternative
When Day Training makes more sense than a midday walk.
A walk keeps the dog moving, but it is not usually a training session. That is fine for maintenance, yet the dog's relationship with the leash is still shaped mostly by you, on evenings and weekends, so your own practice cannot be handed off. If you want weekday hours spent on training rather than exercise, Day Training runs Monday to Friday at $650 + GST per week.
Drop-off is between 8 and 10 am and pick-up between 5 and 7 pm. The days include one-on-one training, structured socialization, supervised play and enrichment, plus a weekly one-hour go-home lesson so you can practise what the dog worked on. A walker on other days can still fit around it. The consultation will also tell you when a good walker plus your practice is enough on its own.
Asked and answered
The questions people ask us.
Should my dog walker know my dog's commands?
Yes. Give them the exact words, including the release word, and show them once in person if you can. Different words from different people tend to blur what the dog has learned.
Can a dog walker use my dog's e-collar?
We would not recommend it unless the walker has been properly taught to use it with your dog. A leash walk is the safer default.
Will a dog walker undo my dog's training?
Not necessarily, but inconsistent handling can wear down new habits. A written handoff sheet helps, and your own daily practice matters most.
Is Day Training better than a dog walker?
They do different jobs. A walker gives exercise, while Day Training is one-on-one training Monday to Friday at $650 + GST a week with a weekly go-home lesson. The consultation can help you weigh them.
Keep reading
Keep the standard on every walk
Book a consultation and we will help you plan the walker handoff, or talk through Day Training for weekday work.
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