The History of Hundelufting - Tirsdag 31 januar turer

Hundelufting, Dog Walking, Promenades de Chien. How much do you know about the history of our industry?

I am slightly ashamed to admit that until today I had never actually looked into this. And yet who were the pioneers? The humble first hundelufting services out there?

Whilst I am certain that down the years slaves, servants and workers have walked their Masters’ dogs as one part of their employment, I was more interested in the first recorded case of someone dedicating their main job to hundelufting / dogwalking.

And that is where I came across an article written in the late 19th Century about a lady in New York.

Unfortunately the article fails to mention the lady’s name, so we’ll call her Jennifer Hundelufting (though i can say with almost certainty that this was not her name).

Jennifer caused intrigue and mild confusion by the fact she had offered her services to walk with dogs in return for money.

Here is a part of the article:

“Walking up Fifth Avenue last Friday morning was a pretty, trim-looking girl, who attracted the rather admiring attention of passers-by from the enjoyment she seemed to take in what was apparently a morning constitutional. It was a thoroughly uncomfortable day. A constant drizzle was falling, half rain and half sleet…

“She had no umbrella and she walked freely and easily, her cheeks rosy with exercise and her hands free, except as she held a leash at the other end of which was a handsome Irish setter dog.”

“Now the young woman’s mornings are all engaged wandering up and down Fifth Avenue exercising society pets… It is a good thing for the young woman. It is a blessing for the dogs, as it is the best thing they can get inside the city limits, and it is with great satisfaction to the fond owners of the dogs. So there is a new profession, and at least one woman is helping to support herself by means of it.”

I do hope that you found this interesting to find out a little more about the Happy World of Hundelufting.

A little over 120 years later, it is estimated that there are over 15000 professional dog walkers in the US alone.

Back to today and the forecast snow and rain mostly held off long enough to allow us to explore in sunshine and later under grey skies.

Fun Hundelufting Adventures as always, check out the photos below 👇

Doggies: Jello, Quila, Mira, Kira and Pippi