National Dog Walker Appreciation Day Date in the current year: September 8, 2024

Most dogs need to be walked at least once a day to relieve themselves, get fresh air and exercise, although very active dogs may require more frequent walks. The length and frequency of walks depend on a dog’s breed, age, level of fitness, health, and temperament.

The majority of dog owners walk their dogs themselves because your pet is your responsibility, after all. However, sometimes life happens: last-minute work schedule changes, unexpected health problems, and various commitments may prevent them from walking their dogs. This is where professional dog walkers come to the rescue.

The dog walking industry began to develop in the United States in the 1960s. The first professional dog walker in New York City and probably in the entire country was Jim Buck. Buck became a dog walker in 1960, and soon this tall, slim and elegantly dressed man walking several dogs at a time became a fixture in the Upper West Side. At its peak, Buck’s dog walking business employed about two dozen assistants.

Today, professional dog walkers and dog sitters are plenty. Some jurisdictions require that dog walking businesses obtain a license and make sure their employees have animal first aid training. In other jurisdictions, there are no specific requirements for dog walkers.

However, the lack of official requirements does not mean that just anyone can be a good dog walker. Most dog owners expect dog walkers to have at least basic experience in animal care and knowledge about dog behavior, as well as to love dogs and get along with them well, obviously.

A good dog walker knows their limits. Some dog walkers are able to walk several dogs at once, while others know that too many dogs are hard to handle for them and would only walk one or two dogs at a time. There are dog walkers who don’t walk large or very active dogs, preferring to deal with smaller breeds.

National Dog Walker Appreciation Day was created in 2016 by Wag!, an on-demand platform that connects dog owners and professional dog walkers. The main goal of the observance is to recognize the hard work of dog walkers, who walk dogs rain or shine, coming to the rescue when dog owners can’t walk their pups themselves for one reason or another.

How to observe National Dog Walker Appreciation Day? If you’re a dog owner, don’t forget to thank your dog walker for their hard work and give them an extra tip or a small token of appreciation. If you’re a dog walker yourself, give a shout-out to your colleagues on social media and raise awareness of the holiday with the hashtags #NationalDogWalkerAppreciationDay and #DogWalkerAppreciationDay.

National Dog Walker Appreciation Day should not confused with National Walk the Dog Day. The latter is observed on February 22 and was created to encourage dog owners to take their pets on longer walks for exercise and bonding.