What we ask for and Why
What we ask for and Why
CLIENTS AND THE MEDIA HAVE MADE IT VERY APPARENT that they don’t know how to evaluate Walkers and our services. It’s new territory for many of them and, historically, they haven’t had much to go on or refer to, with respect to understanding our credentials, knowledge and sophistication. They want to hire the best walker for their pup and are looking to see what we adhere to for standards and vetting.
Owners give Walkers the keys to their world. They deserve assurance and you deserve the prestige that comes with a well-regarded professional endorsement.
Vetted, endorsed Members of CDWA. Clients will be looking to the CDWA to show them who the best and most trusted Walkers are. There is a process around becoming vetted and endorsed (see below), and a small membership cost. The goals of this process are to demonstrate that our community does work to high standards already, can substantiate it, and to give the public a more robust glimpse into how we work than they have now…a clear way to understand our community.
Here are some criteria for what we can do to build our profile in tangible ways, prove our knowledge, professional quality, ethics and standards, and increase Owner accessibility to us. This will speak to our collective goal to eliminate any “buyer beware” sentiment out there and boost our industry’s credibility to the place we occupy, realistically.
Membership is open to Walkers, Boarders and Daycares.
In order to be an endorsed member of the CDWA, agreement and active practice/commitment to our Code of Ethics is paramount. This is the pledge we make, concerning our professional conduct and the promise we make to our clients and pups. You can also provide a copy of the signed Code of Ethics to clients.
Training with a school, mentor or trainer. Have you taken courses at a reputable R+ puppy school? Let us know which course(s). What we value: puppy school, all levels; reactive dogs (mandatory, if you work with reactive dogs), Animal CPR (mandatory), walker certification (not mandatory, as options are limited to attain this). If you don’t have paperwork, ask the mentor, school or trainer to supply a letter/certificate verifying that you received the training.
A PCL is the only method available to civilians who don’t work within the financial industry to bond themselves. It provides prospects and clients with the peace of mind they need to issue keys to their homes. Because CDWA is involved in standards for our profession, we must be able to verify that our members have a history that does not represent a risk to pups, clients or homes.
Police Clearance Letters are ordered for a small fee—under $50. A PCL should be renewed every 3-5 years. Most cities offer online ordering, but not all. If you live in another jurisdiction than what appears below, web search “police clearance letter” in your region and apply.
Calgary • Charlottetown • Edmonton • Halifax • London • Moncton • Montreal English •
Montreal French • Ottawa • Regina • Saint John NB • Saskatoon • St. John’s NL • Surrey •
Toronto • Vancouver • Victoria • Windsor • Winnipeg
Vetting and registration with CDWA will get you in the CDWA Member Search Referrals Engine. Follow the template to provide all of the information we suggest. Members are searchable by the public, by neighbourhood.
If you live in a city that requires you to have a permit to walk larger groups, please send an electronic copy of it to CDWA. If you take your groups to privately-held land, and don’t have a permit, kindly let us know in the materials you send in.
For newer Walker/Handlers, a thorough, legally vetted contract is quite important. Walker/Handlers assume a lot of liability in our work and we are responsible for living beings while they are in our care. A thorough, professional contract addresses liability and other issues from the outset. Along with appropriate insurance(s), both together protect you and the pups. The contract provides a clear framework for clarity off the top, and for prospects to understand how you work and why. Having one is crucial to running any business with liability in mind and reducing or eliminating losses.
EduCanine offers a quick and cost-effective course on Contracts and will provide a contract template on completion. Strongly recommended.
Appropriate insurances (auto, business liability) are standard for the industry, however, are not legally required if you don’t drive or walk groups with 4+ dogs. While smaller groups reduce revenue, all it takes is one incident to place Walker/Handlers in a liability situation that could represent much larger challenges, financially. Liability insurance is inexpensive and recommended, even if walking smaller groups or single reactives. Please consider insurance, even if you don’t require a city permit yet—it protects you.
For newer Walker/Handlers, clients are comforted to know that their pups are insured while in your care. Indicate which insurances you carry, how it protects the pups and what’s included, in terms of veterinary assistance, should something happen. The policy itself is your private information, so no need to issue a copy of the policy to clients or prospects.
Please provide CDWA with a valid, Certificate of Insurance from your insurer. Insurers will provide it to you, free of charge.
The need is obvious.
So much of our business comes from word of mouth and web presence. Peer/Mentor and Client reviews get the phone ring. As a way for CDWA to endorse and promote members, send your best reviews in with registration. Our job is to complement your efforts, online, and help members look as great as they are.
So many of us champion and advocate for our dogs all day long, every day. We help them through issues. We protect them by our processes. We rescue them. We treat their wounds. We educate owners, everywhere. We do a lot. All in a day. Translating the things we do in Case Studies, however, informs clients and demonstrates our knowledge, expertise, diligence, processes and incredible advocacy. If you provide case studies on your CDWA profile, you level yourself up to professional status pretty quickly. Every Walker has or will work with challenging dogs and will have to work very hard, with a Trainer, to solve the issues. Write it up in Case Study format and send it in. The format:
• Outline the pup’s challenge/problem – just the facts
• List the approaches you used to solve the problem
• Describe the outcome you achieved with the pup
• Offer the contact information for the client you helped (with their permission), or pair the case study with the corresponding reference.
What to put in your Submission – the full checklist
New Walkers
If you are a new Walker, job one is to find an Employer who trains to R+ standard, or Find a Mentor and start taking courses. There is a lot to know before attaining a level of competence and professionalism, growing your reputation and business. Loving animals is crucial to enjoying this work but, alone, isn’t enough to become an effective Walker. Today, you have to know the principles of Positive Reinforcement (R+) and Force-Free training, as owners come to know it through their own attendance at puppy school. To be a new CDWA member, you must commit yourself to its practice because that is the industry’s direction. There are plenty of in-person instruction programs and online options. The formal credentials these courses give will make a big difference to the pups in your care, to owners, and to your growth and professional approach to their management. If you always know more than your clients, then you are in a great position to offer leadership and guidance, which will get you more respect overall.
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CITY BYLAWS
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Moncton
Montreal
Ottawa
Regina
Saint John, NB
Saskatoon
St. John’s, NL
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Toronto – On Leash
• S. 349-12 & 12.1
Toronto – Off Leash
• Article VI
Vancouver
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