Bethany Hoogenakker's dog Belle recently had her first birthday party — at a local brewery. The miniature goldendoodle sleeps on the bed, stars in her own Instagram page, and is a source of delight for Hoogenakker, an ad agency media buyer, and her fiancée, an accountant.
So it's no wonder that Belle has a dog walker.
Actually, several of them.`
"Most days, one of us can get home to let her out, but when we can't, I go on the app and book a walk," said Hoogenakker, 26, of Plymouth.
Hoogenakker uses Wag, a dog-walking app called the Uber for dogs. Wag lets pet owners book on-demand or dog walks (or shorter potty breaks) by approved walkers who are nearby. Rover, another dog-walking app, also offers dog boarding, sitting and day care.
Using an app to find someone to leash up your pup is just the latest feature in the long-established business of dog walking. While it can lack the regularity — and personal connection — of traditional dog-walking businesses, it offers spur-of-the-moment convenience.
"It's great for when you get in a bind," said Hoogenakker, "although it's weird that someone you've never laid eyes on is in your house and with your dog."
Owners pay a flat fee of $20 for a 30-minute walk, and no cash changes hands. The transactions occur online, where owners can tip their walkers, if they like. In the Twin Cities, and across the country, the apps are taking off like a dog after a squirrel.