There’s no point keeping a dog and barking yourself, as everyone knows. For many people in Mexico, there appears to be no point in keeping a dog and taking it for walks yourself.
Most people probably have at least one neighbor who keeps a dog — or several dogs — either on the roof or locked up in the front yard, and never seems to take them out. Maybe they just don’t have the time, or perhaps they don’t really like dogs and just keep them for security.
Either way, there is no excuse for a dog to be cooped up that way. There are plenty of people in Mexico who for a fee will take dogs for walks. They could be students earning some money in their spare time, or “professional” dog carers who can handle ten or more dogs at once. And of course, the more dogs that are walked at a time means greater income for the walker.
The “pros” can be seen in any number of residential neighborhoods walking a collection of pooches — Chihuahuas, Great Danes, German Shepherds, Labradors and Pit Bulls together is hardly surprising.
The interesting thing is that the dogs never seem to fight. Dogs know who feed them, and they also know who take them out.
Owning a dog for security is a worthwhile proposition in Mexico, where many people are wary of them, and some positively petrified by them.
A number of websites exist where people can offer their services as dog carers, dog walkers or trainers, or find someone to look after their pet. Hourly walking fees appear to range from $50 to $150 pesos. The better sites have apps, and the competition would appear to be quite brisk. Two examples are Cuidamascota and Paséame — I haven’t actually tried any of these.
Learn more about caring for pets in Mexico
Mexperience publishes guides and articles about bringing pets to Mexico and caring for them here:
