6 Signs Your Dog Needs Midday Dog Walking in Coconut Grove 

Are you a busy professional, doctor, nurse, or mom living and working in Coconut Grove who is wondering if your dog could benefit from a routine midday dog walking schedule? We want to help. We know you brought your dog into your home because you love them and want to give them the best life- even when you’re at work. Coconut Grove is the perfect home for dog lovers. It’s walkable, many of the restaurants and stores are dog-friendly, and there are several dog parks and tons of shady routes to enjoy walks with your best friend. But if you’re a busy professional and not yet a retiree, chances are you’re free to enjoy the Grove’s dog-friendly culture mostly on the weekends.

With regular work hours, you’ll be gone for at least 8 hours a day. Factor in Miami’s traffic, and that’s a very conservative estimate and doesn’t include calls that go over time, patients needing extra care, networking events, and busy tax seasons. 

It can be a beast to come home for a midday walk, have lunch, and get back to work in time- and there is always some sort of construction or a school zone in Coconut Grove, making it that much harder to get home in time. That means your best friend is spending a lot of time alone, holding it for too long (not great for their health), and getting into mischief. If this is your dog’s life, midday dog walks are a great way to give them their much-needed potty breaks, mental enrichment, and to help avoid unwanted behaviors!

1. Potty accidents in the house

Adult dogs should be able to hold their pee between 6-8 hours and 10 overnight. But making them hold it for this long can have negative outcomes on their bladder health. If your adult dog is having accidents during the day, this is your sign to bring in a midday dog walker. You also want to ensure it’s not health-related with your veterinarian.

Senior dogs can hold their pee for less time- between 4 to 6 hours. The general rule of thumb for puppies is one hour per month of age. So, a four-month-old puppy can typically hold their pee for 4 hours. 

Invest in your puppy’s potty training process

Potty training is especially important for a puppy, and you don’t want to wreck their progress. Of all the life stages, we definitely recommend that you reach out for help during the potty training stage! It will pay off greatly for the rest of your dog’s life. 

Each dog is different, and their midday dog walking schedule should reflect that. Here at Equipaws Pet Services, we offer several options for midday walks, starting at 25 minutes. Check them out here. If your puppy is potty training, you will want to schedule enough potty breaks to help continue their training, for example. The important thing is to get your dogs on a consistent schedule, and not to force them to hold their pee for too long. 

2. Destructive behaviors

Trash littered all over the place, chewed-up shoes and socks, books ripped apart? Your pup may be acting out from boredom, lack of enrichment, or anxiety. They need routine exercise to look forward to and for regulation. Consistent midday walks provide mental stimulation and help reduce anxiety. Providing the right amount of exercise and enrichment goes a long way in curbing destructive behavior. 

3. Separation Anxiety

We walk many dogs with separation anxiety. We know from experience that setting them up for success requires a multi-faceted approach. This includes training, regular exercise, and sometimes even medication. If your dog has a hard time with being alone, or is used to having you around all day, think about hiring a midday dog walker near you to help ease your dog’s anxiety. Regularly scheduled midday dog walks from beloved dog walkers are a soothing routine that will break up their day and help with anxiety until you get back from work. 

4. Noise complaints from your neighbors

Is your dog an anxious barker? We’ve had clients call us in the Grove to address barking complaints from neighbors. A midday break enjoying the sights and scents around the Grove is a great way to calm your dog (and maybe score a pup cup from the Salty Donut or Panther Coffee!). 

 

5. Your dog has gained weight:

Is your dog looking a little round around the middle? This might not seem like a big deal. Chubby dogs are cute, after all- but like in us humans, extra pounds result in physical health problems down the road, from joint to heart issues and more. Most dogs left to themselves will sleep all day. Bringing in a midday dog walker will ensure they get their steps in and keep them healthy for years to come. We really want to avoid your pups becoming obese. Check out our post on dog obesity here to see why.

 

 

6. Wild energy when you get home from work

If your dog does zoomies, laps, and jumps on you a ton when you get back from a hectic day at work, that means there’s a lot of pent-up energy. You return from work tired but need to make sure they expend that energy. If you have a midday dog walker visit consistently, you’ll have a relatively calm dog greet you when you return in the evening. They’ll still need your love and attention, but with less sense of urgency.

 

Of course, each breed and dog requires different amounts of exercise. We walk some Golden Retrievers twice a day to help them get that energy out. They love their walks along the Grove’s Bayshore Drive (and even by David Kennedy Park). Let us help them burn off that energy so you can settle into your evening routine calmly!

 

Hiring a midday dog walker for your pups could be the best solution for their physical and mental well-being. We know how hard it can be to get back home in time to let your dogs out. You love them, you want the best for them, and the best includes giving them enough potty breaks and enrichment during the day. 

 

We’d love to help you and your pup live your best lives. At Equipaws Pet Services, our professional dog walkers provide reliable midday visits throughout Coconut Grove, helping busy professionals maintain a consistent routine for their dogs even during demanding workweeks. 

 

Why choose Equipaws for your dog’s much-needed walks around Coconut Grove?

When you hire us, you’re hiring a team of local dog walkers. 

 

• Real-Time Updates: Photos and videos after every visit, plus direct messaging with your sitter via the Precise Petcare app.

• Dedicated Team Care: Our team is made up of trained employees, never contractors. If one sitter can’t make it, another trusted Equipaws team member steps in.

• Licensed, Bonded & Insured: We have full coverage, so your pets and home are always protected.

• Trusted Since 2011: We are proud of our relationship-driven pet care, rooted in Miami. We’re trusted by your neighbors and friends, and you’ll always get a person on the line. 

• Woman-Owned & Community-Rooted: Locally owned, not a franchise. Meet us at our monthly dog-friendly events, including Woofstock and the Hoiday Barkzaar in the heart of Coconut Grove!

• Tailored Service Options: We provide dog walking and pet sitting schedules built around your pet’s needs.

• Award-Winning Care: Best Pet Sitter & Dog Walker, as named by The Florida Villager, Nextdoor, Coral Gables Magazine, ChamberSouth, and the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce.

• PSI & NAPPS Member:  Held to the pet care industry’s highest professional standards.

 

For many busy professionals in Coconut Grove, a recurring midday dog walking service is the easiest way to ensure their dogs stay happy, healthy, and on schedule while they’re at work. Reach out to us today to learn more about how we can help with walks, or register here if you’re ready to set up a recurring dog walking schedule!