Frequently Asked Questions

Why choose our team?

We have a medium-sized team that offers the best of both worlds! We are able to match and pair you up with a "primary walker" who is best suited to your and your pup's needs and who is a consistent and reliable care-giver to your pet on a regular basis, but we also have a large enough team that we can accommodate last minute requests when needed. Our team is tight-knit and in constant communication, so any member of our team can seamlessly fill in for any other member if there is any emergency or reason for coverage. Our dog walkers and pet sitters are thoroughly prepared and understand the importance of safety and security for your pup and your home. Our team will provide the individualized and personalized service that is necessary for your furry family member!

Are Walks Private?

We specialize in semi-private walks that we call "Buddy" walks! If your dog is dog-friendly and has all of their shots, we might include them in a small group walk. However, we accommodate "private walk" requests for a small additional fee of $5. We do not charge a "private walk" fee for puppies under 12 weeks old or who do not have all their shots yet.

What is a “Buddy” walk?

For all pups, socialization is a key part of the day. Many of our dogs have formed close bonds with each other and their owners continue cultivating those bonds outside of our walks with them! Our "buddy" walks include 2, no more than 3, pups at one time to give opportunities for proper socialization while still providing individualized attention and care.

What do the walks entail?

Each walk provides socialization, exercise, and mental stimulation when out and about! We provide "First-class service with a personal touch" because we follow your special requests, individual needs and training techniques during each service. We can accommodate feeding during the visit, when requested, and will always make sure they have fresh water. Walkers send detailed text/picture/video updates after each walk to keep you in the loop on how they are doing each day!

WHEN DOES THE WALK OFFICIALLY START AND END?

The walk officially begins the minute we step outside of your apartment door! If you have a sensitive pup, who might need additional time warming up to the walker, we advise our Pet Pros to begin the timer after 5 minutes of being in your home so you are aware that they are there and not running behind schedule.

WILL I HAVE ONE CONSISTENT DOG WALKER?

For regular walks or frequently scheduled sporadic walks there is a "Primary Walker" focus, meaning that your pup has a go-to regular walker that they can create a strong bond with and who is extremely familiar with their individualized needs. Alongside this primary walker focus we function with a team mentality, so that whenever your primary walker is sick or out of town, you can trust our experienced and knowledgeable team to handle your dog's needs! 

WHAT IS THE LATEST WE CAN REQUEST A WALK?

We kindly ask that you request a walk 24 hours in advance to ensure walker availability. However, we pride ourselves on our emergency coverage and can usually accommodate last minute requests. In these emergency walk situations your "Primary Walker" may not be available, however, our team has all of your and your pet's information on hand through our Time To Pet Database! Please note there is a small “Emergency Walk” fee that is applied to any confirmed and scheduled service that is requested after 5pm the day prior to the requested service date.

WHAT DO YOU OFFER FOR PUPPIES WITHOUT ALL THEIR SHOTS?

We specialize in indoor "Puppy Play Time" for those who are not able to go outside and socialize yet! We can also include a quick potty break outside, and then the remaining time spent playing indoors, based on your individual needs. While spending time with your puppy the dog walker provides undivided attention and care while also being able to incorporate pee-pad, crate, or basic manners training. 

WHAT AREAS DO YOU SERVICE?

For several years the majority of our client base has been in the Financial District, Battery Park City, and Tribeca, but we've recently branched out to other areas and Cities! We service Manhattan neighborhoods in New York City and South Loop, West Loop, River North, and North Side neighborhoods in Chicago.

DO YOUR WALKERS HAVE INSURANCE?

We are fully insured and bonded through Pet Sitters Associates, LLC.

HOW WILL YOU ACCESS MY HOME? DO I NEED TO PROVIDE KEYS?

You can leave a set of keys with your front desk or make a copy of your keys for us to hold onto. We will need permission to enter so please make sure to grant your walker key access by leaving their name or “The Big City Woof” in the building’s system. Keys will always be returned to the front desk after the walk. The keys held in our possession are safely kept in our key box when your Primary Walker does not need them.

WHAT IS A “MEET AND GREET”?

This is a scheduled meeting of roughly 10 to 15 minutes to meet your Primary Walker and introduce them to your pet. Meet and Greets allow you to show your walker the routine and any special requests you may have that they will be implementing during the scheduled service time. You can also show them where to locate the treats, leash, food and bowls, jackets and booties, potty pads, or cleaning supplies.

DO YOU OFFER WEEKEND AND EARLY MORNING/EVENING VISITS?

Yes, we accommodate weekend and early morning/evening visits! There is a +$5 “Before 10am/After 6pm” fee that will be applied for services requested and scheduled outside “Prime Time” dog walking hours of before 10am or after 6pm. There is a +$5 “Weekend Service” fee that will be applied for services requested and scheduled over the weekend.

IF MY PRIMARY WALK NEEDS A DAY OFF, WILL OUR WALKS STILL GET HANDLED?

Yes, we operate with a team mentality and will make sure your dog is covered by another member on our team. Your cover walker will have access to your Time To Pet profile so please make sure it is updated with everything your walker needs to know before the service begins.

HOW DO I SCHEDULE VISITS?

If you are a new client inquiring about scheduling services you can email us at info@thebigcitywoofwalker.com. Once your online account (Time To Pet) is activated you can request services and/or submit any changes through your online portal or email us with any requests/changes to the schedule.

I WOULD LIKE TO SCHEDULE A 2:00PM WALK…WILL MY DOG WALKER ARRIVE EXACTLY AT 2:00PM?

We operate with a 2 hour walk window for pick up. If you request a 2pm walk, we will schedule in a 2 hour time frame, between 1-3pm to allow flexibility for our walkers since schedules change on a daily basis.

*We will operate with a 1 hour walk window for pets who have multiple visits per day or puppies who do not have all of their shots and can not hold their bladder for an extended period of time yet.

DO YOU TAKE DOGS IN YOUR CARE TO DOG RUNS? DO YOU ALLOW THEM TO BE OFF LEASH?

We operate with a “No Dog Park” policy unless we have permission to take your dog to the dog run with a signed waiver. Safety is our number one priority so we do not unleash your dogs at any time unless with your permission while at the dog park.

What safety measures do you have in place?

Safety is our #1 priority, and prevention is one of our most important protocols for ensuring that dogs are safe in our care when out on the city streets. We strongly recommend that all dogs have two pieces of walking equipment (ex. a collar and a harness) for their BCWW walks, which allows our team to use their mandatory safety equipment, composed of locking carabiner clips, that attach the two pieces of walking equipment together, giving us a back-up attachment. If your dog slips out of one piece of walking equipment then we’re still connected to them. Our team members always tighten and secure walking equipment prior to taking any dogs outside. We do not walk with retractable leashes.

WILL YOU ADMINISTER MEDICATION?

Yes. When the walker needs to administer medicine, it will be included as part of the scheduled service time without any additional fees applied. For advanced medicine application a +$5 fee will be applied and not included in the scheduled service time to compensate the walker for the additional time spent administering the medicine.

I SCHEDULED A 30 MINUTE VISIT. WILL MY DOG BE OUTSIDE FOR 30 MINUTES?

Yes, our walks begin once we step outside of your apartment building and end when we enter back into the building.

*In severe weather conditions, we advise walkers to take your dog outside for a quick ‘potty break’ and then spend the remaining scheduled service time indoors playing with them in your apartment or hallway.

*If a walker is severely delayed or put behind schedule due to an elevator related issue or when trying to retrieve the key from your building we will advise the walker to shave off a couple minutes of the walk in order to stay on time for the other pups on their schedule that day. You will be notified of any changes!

Do you offer any packages?

Yes, we do! We offer exclusive package deals for all our beloved dog and kitty clients! We understand the importance of providing top-notch care for your furry companions, and we're always looking for ways to enhance your experience. Please email us at info@thebigcitywoofwalker.com to inquire about our package offerings.

For any other questions please email info@thebigcitywoofwalker.com!