Fur Rendezvous Dog Walking

03/13/2024

Everyone who is thinking of getting dogs should read this because you need to understand this reality:

***I am a 21st century dog.***
-I'm a Malinois.
Overskilled among dogs, I excel in all disciplines and I'm always ready to work: I NEED to work.
But nowadays I get asked to chill on the couch all day everyday.

-I am an Akita Inu.
My ancestors were selected for fighting bears.
Today I get asked to be tolerant and I get scolded for my reactivity when another approaches me.

-I am a Beagle.
When I chase my prey, I raise my voice so the hunters could follow.
Today they put an electric collar on me to shut up, and you make me come back to you - no running - with a snap of your fingers.

-I am a Yorkshire Terrier.
I was a terrifying rat hunter in English mines.
Today they think I can't use my legs and they always hold me in their arms.

-I'm a Labrador Retriever.
My vision of happiness is a dive into a pond to bring back the duck he shot to my master.
Today you forget I'm a walking, running, swimming dog; as a result I'm fat, made to stay indoors, and to babysit.

-I am a Jack Russell.
I can take on a fox, a mean badger, and a rat bigger than me in his den.
Today I get scolded for my character and high energy, and forced to turn into a quiet living room dog.

-I am a Siberian Husky.
Experienced the great, wide open spaces of Northern Europe, where I could drag sleds for long distances at impressive speeds.
Today I only have the walls of the house or small garden as a horizon, and the holes I dig in the ground just to release energy and frustration, trying to stay sane.

-I am a border collie
I was made to work hours a day in partnershipwith my master, and I am an unmistakable artist of working with the herd.
Today they are mad at me because, for lack of sheep, I try to check bikes, cars, children in the house and everything in motion.

I am ...
I am a 21st century dog.
I'm pretty, I'm alert, I'm obedient, I stay in a bag...but I'm also an individual who, from centuries of training, needs to express my instincts, and I am *not* suited for the sedentary life you'd want me to lead.
Spending eight hours a day alone in the house or in the garden - with no work and no one to play or run with, seeing you for a short time in the evening when you get home, and only getting a small toilet walk will make me deeply unhappy.
I'll express it by barking all day, turning your yard into a minefield, doing my needs indoors, being unmanageable the rare times I'll find myself outside, and sometimes spending my days sunk, sad, lonely, and depressed, on my pillow.
You may think that I should be happy to be able to enjoy all this comfort while you go to work, but actually I’ll be exhausted and frustrated, because this is absolutely NOT what I'm meant to do, or what I need to be doing.
If you love me, if you've always dreamed of me, if my beautiful blue eyes or my athletic look make you want me, but you can't give me a real dog's life, a life that's really worth living according to my breed, and if you can't offer me the job that my genes are asking, DO NOT buy or adopt me!
If you like the way I look but aren't willing to accept my temperament, gifts, and traits derived from long genetic selection, and you think you can change them with only your good will, then DO NOT BUY OR ADOPT ME.
I’m a dog from the 21st century, yes, but deep inside me, the one who fought, the one who hunted, the one who pulled sleds, the one who guided and protected a herd still lives within.
So think **very** carefully before you choose your dog. And think about getting two, rather than one, so I won't be so very lonely waiting for you all day. Eight or ten hours is just a workday to you, but it's an eternity for me to be alone.
Like David Attenborough Fans for more:

11/02/2023

💙💙💙

04/17/2023

Hi everyone! Seems that a cough is going around. Please listen for persistent/unusual coughs (respiratory symptoms). Any dogs exhibiting symptoms will be isolated until they are picked up. Please ask a staff member if you have any questions/concerns.

04/12/2023

🐕‍🦺 Fur Rendezvous Dog Walking is an established and well-loved company in Anchorage devoted to client happiness. We are seeking an exceptional employee to join the staff! 🦮

Schedule:
• MWF at the minimum.
• 4-7 walks on any given day. Outings last 15, 30, 45 or 60 minutes respectively.
• 9-10am-2ish.

Requirements:
• Reliability including a dependable car that you are comfortable driving in inclement weather. You are expected to work in rain, snow, wind, etc. Schools may have snow days but we rarely if ever do. For example, Fur Rendezvous canceled more walks in December 2022 due to snowfall than in all the years prior put together. Your safety will always be taken into account on any given bad-weather day and we will consult accordingly; some walks may be shorter or canceled at my and/or owner discretion but in general and otherwise it is expected that you will show up in spite of any weather conditions and that you will be dressed in clothing suitable for the occasion.

• A year-long commitment at the minimum.

• A lot of experience utilizing positive reinforcement to manage big, strong dogs which could include reactive Rottweilers, skittish sled dogs, hyper huskies and everything in between. Whether or not you were paid for that experience won’t make or break getting the job; I care more that you have the physical ability to manage a headstrong animal without losing your cool or patience but instead consider it a learning opportunity for everyone involved.

• The willingness to follow an assigned schedule and to learn and follow directions specific to each household and respective of each dog.

• The ability to communicate with owners clearly in person and/or via written reports (good spelling and grammar included) after walks.

• Comfortable with or willing to learn Google Maps.

• Comfortable taking pictures with your phone or wiling to learn.

• Comfortable installing and becoming proficient in (it’s super easy) a new app on your phone specific to the business.

• Comfortable mostly texting but sometimes talking on the phone with myself and/other employees regarding work issues.

• Comfortable saying so if you need clarification on anything.

• Flexible enough to accept an occasional last-minute, sometimes same-day request to change, add or cancel a walk.

• You rarely if ever call out sick!! I cannot overstate enough the need for you to be respectful of the fact that regarding your schedule any and every day - tag, you’re it. There is very little wiggle-room for other employees to do your job if you’re a no-show; one no-show or perpetual tardiness or behavior on the job/with clients/in regards to clients inconsistent with the philosophy of Fur Rendezvous will result in immediate termination. We’re good at our respective jobs because we’re the employees we would want taking care of our own animals. Anything less is not tolerated.

Job Description - what you can expect & what will be expected of you:
• I will introduce you to clients (owners and dogs). We will go over the specific needs of each household and how to work most efficiently (i.e. the routine) with each client. You will be walking one or two dogs at a time. After you are successful with the company, you will be able meet new clients on your own. You are paid for all training and new client meetings at the normal pay rate.

• I am responsible for your daily schedule. Any client requests in terms of the schedule go through myself for approval. I make the schedule the Thursday-Saturday (but as soon as possible) prior to the upcoming week and text it to you with the usual caveat that there may be last-minute changes or requests until the official start of the week. What dogs you have in what order will change week-to-week but the total hours worked will generally remain the same.
I work to honor employee needs as well and that is facilitated by proactive and weeks in advance communication if you anticipate needing time off. Of course emergencies and life happens and I will be as helpful as possible in regards to your schedule as possible, but again, consistent/repeated/frequent last-minute (anything less that a week) requests for time off will not be looked upon fondly.

• When it is raining/cold/snowy/windy/icy, etc., dogs still need to go out. The actual outside time can be adjusted as needed due to inclement weather, which we will consider together on a case-by-case basis. If dogs get dirty or snowy or wet on the walk, you are required to clean/dry them off (owners will provide towels upon returning home) and there’s a good chance owners will want you to take your shoes off also (if they aren’t home you’ll have to go in to check water at the minimum or perhaps kennel or feed, etc.) if that helps to inform your choice of footwear.

• When you are walking a very friendly dog (and most of them are), remember that some of the dogs you will see are not friendly. Assume the dogs you see are not friendly. To ensure the safety of our clients, keep the dog you are walking away from other dogs unless they are already friends or we have already discussed a potential dynamic in which that steadfast rule wouldn’t apply. Do not allow children to pet dogs you are walking. Always err on the side of caution. All dogs must always be leashed during their walks and you must always be holding onto the leash while outside the house. Any violation of this policy can result in immediate termination.

• Client peace of mind & confidentiality is of the utmost importance. Do not take friends or family with you on the job, or leave client keys, addresses, names, etc. accessible to anyone but yourself. Do not share personal or sensitive client details with anyone. Any violation of this policy can result in immediate termination.

Pay schedule:
The amount employees are compensated depends on how many dogs are walked and for how long, but generally averages $15-20/hour. Employees are reimbursed at the 2023 IRS mileage rate of 65.5 cents/mile which begins accruing when leaving the first walk on the way to the second walk on any given day. Any work-related expenses are paid back as a separate line-item via paycheck. It’s easier to do payroll once on the last day of the month (paychecks usually show up in your account 1-4 days after the last day of the month depending whether or not a weekend is involved, assuming that I am provided with mileage and any expenses in a timely manner which preferably is after your last walk of the day on the last day of the month), but if you need it bi-weekly I can make that happen.

If you’ve read thus far and are still interested and in agreement with and amenable to everything as described thus far and would like to be emailed an application, please write to [email protected] and tell me:
1) Your name.
2) What days & hours you are available?
3) What is your history with reactive/strong/skittish dogs? Where and when? What was your most favorite thing about that experience? What was your least favorite thing about that experience?
4) Without taking too much time, why do you think you would be the perfect person for this job?
5) Please provide two references and associated contact info for: 1) a work-related reference not related to dogs and 2) a reference related to your experiences with dogs, whether or not you were paid for it.

If you seem like a viable candidate you will receive a job application via email.
Please note the application I email you is required to be submitted via US mail; you will have to print out the application, fill it out and return it via snail mail, not email. The only applications that count are the ones provided by me - nothing submitted online or via email or via social media will be considered. There are no exceptions to this and asking for one will be noted. I have found this application method to be the handiest method in terms of finding out who really wants this job.

I would like to start training the first week of May or so which means, given the dynamic of the paper application, you should return it as soon as possible if you are interested. Should I wish to pursue our relationship further, I’ll be in touch to schedule a working interview/get you lined out with some clients/time together for which you would be compensated at the aforementioned and regular pay rate. If not, I’ll let you know so that you can get on with your life. Thank you for your interest!

Cynthia White
Fur Rendezvous Dog Walking
Anchorage, AK

10/01/2022

🕉 Yogi 💜

09/29/2022

Niles and I had our first walk together today and it was fabulous!

03/30/2022

Akie only has three legs but she plays like she has six!

03/01/2022

02/19/2022

The roads were so nasty today that Peppa preferred to travel via snow berm.

02/01/2022

❤️🎾🎾🎾❤️

01/23/2022

Sunny and snowy walks with the hostess with the mostness Reba & my Max.

01/23/2022

Beagles on board!

01/23/2022

Atlas needed four little ice skates today. Retired to the backyard for playtime instead.

01/02/2022

Oso is the best 🐻

01/02/2022

Benevolent BenMichael 🖤

01/02/2022

New Year’s Eve morning walk with Penny-face.

01/01/2022

Otis; The Uncrowned Prince of Government Hill 👑

01/01/2022

Millie is 16 and can still practically walk her age in miles if you can keep up!

12/12/2021

First walk with Millie today 💙

12/06/2021

Snowy strolling with Freyja & Duckie ❄️

12/06/2021

Akie’s favorite thing in the world: 🎾🎾🎾

12/02/2021

Chase (in the jacket) & Alyeska out & about with Zach ❄️

11/20/2021

Akie doesn’t care how cold it is as long as there is a ball involved 🎾

10/26/2021

Made a new friend named Sox 🖤🤍