How Mint Leash Club Keeps Your Pet Safe (that maybe your last walker/sitter never thought of!)

As I explore my nearby neighborhoods more and more, observing how other people and pet caretakers handle their dogs and other animals, I realize our standards for safety and risk are on the high end. I wanted to share the things we are always thinking about and doing when out with your pup that maybe not everyone thinks about. My hope is to not only highlight what sets us apart, but also hopefully make folks aware of how they can be more vigilant when out and about!

No headphone or phone usage while on dog walks

One of our policies is that you will never see us out on dog walks wearing headphones or using our phones (except of course to briefly snap an IG worthy photo of your pup in a safe location!). Why it matters: being able to hear our surroundings is paramount in keeping your dog (and us) safe! Knowing if a car is coming down an alley, listening for the “jingle” of another dog coming around the corner, being fully present at intersections; all of these significantly reduce the risk of surprises and accidents.

Stopping at alleys and driveways

Speaking of alleys…we never allow your dog to lead the way into an alley, driveway, or the street. Why it matters: blind corners are just that, blind. Drivers even going slow (which of course they don’t always do) have a hard time spotting people around corners, bushes, trees, etc. They have an even harder time seeing something short, like a dog. We would never put your dog at risk by having them head into an alley or driveway without us peeking around the corner first. It takes an extra second, but is so worth it.

Insurance

Mint Leash Club operates as a fully insured, registered business. Why it matters: this isn’t our side hustle, its our livelihood. We couldn’t be successful without all of our bases covered. This protects both your pet(s) and your personal property in case of an accident: a bite, property damage, a fall on your property, etc. We cover the insurance in case any of these scenarios come up so you don’t have to worry. This protects both you and us because we all know that accidents happen!

No interactions

No one but us is allowed to interact with your dog while out on walks. If anyone asks if they can pet, or have their dog say hi, we politely decline. Why it matters: People and dogs we do not know are unpredictable. Even for the friendliest of dogs, we cannot guarantee the other dog (or yours!) will not react in an unexpected way. Its never worth the risk. Most people have the best intentions, but we live in a big city and while your dog is in our care, we can’t make any assumptions of people’s friendliness or intentions. It might sound harsh, but well worth your pet’s safety!

No dog parks or other off leash areas

Pretty self-explanatory. Why it matters: similar to above, dog parks are unpredictable. I’ve often witnessed dogs in off leash areas that are too poorly behaved or reactive to be there. Even dogs will little-to-no history of bites or aggression can react without warning, especially when new dogs, smells, and sounds are involved. Again, just not worth the risk of something happening on our watch.

Weather policies

We have clearly written policies regarding extreme weather. This includes cold, snow, heat, and severe storms. Why it matters: You might know the insides and outs of your dog, cat, etc and how they react to different temps and weather, we don’t. For us, we don’t see your pooch every day and in all conditions. When someone tells us “oh, they’re great in the heat” that doesn’t tell us much. But what we do know are the industry standard guidelines for things like heat, pavement temps, cold, etc. Even if you dog is “fine in the heat” we know to not ever let is escalate to a condition that is dangerous or even deadly to your pet (pro tip: dogs are much more susceptible to heat than humans, and things can turn critical very quickly).

Fear Free practices

Through the shelter I volunteer at, I received Fear Free training and at Mint Leash Club we follow that mentality when interacting with your pets. Why it matters: One of my biggest personal take aways from that training, is not to push animals past their comfort level. For example, the Rule of 2. When trying to do something with a dog (for instance putting a harness on), if the pet is resisting, don’t let them struggle (cower, duck away, freezing) for more than 2 seconds. If the pet remains fearful or struggling after 2 attempts, pivot to something else or alter your approach. I apply this when working with your pet so that they are not uncomfortable and they do not associate us, or you being away, with bad things!