Dog walking services in Thiruvananthapuram

Every walk is a 20- or 40-minute walk on a leash that starts at your door, is led by a trained Sploot walker and is tracked live on GPS in the app.

You pick a morning or an evening slot that fits your day. Your walker arrives in a Sploot t-shirt with a dog-walking kit, so you can confirm who they are before you hand over your dog.

While you are out you can follow the route on the map. When the walk ends you get a summary, and your walker picks up after your dog so your street stays clean.

If you are not sure yet, a single 40-minute walk lets your dog meet the walker before you commit. Plans then run weekly, monthly or quarterly, with one or two walks a day.

Most dogs need at least one walk a day, and young, high-energy dogs do better with two.

What popular breeds need:

• Labradors were bred to work: a healthy adult wants the 40-minute walk once or twice a day, with time to sniff.
• Golden Retrievers have energy to spare: the 40-minute walk once or twice a day suits most adults.
• German Shepherds are working dogs that need the 40-minute walk, ideally twice a day, to stay calm at home.
• Beagles follow their nose and pull towards smells, so a well-fitted harness is easier on them than a collar.
• Puppies need short, frequent outings, and your vet's vaccination schedule decides when they can walk outside.
• Seniors and flat-faced breeds such as Pugs and Bulldogs do better with the 20-minute walk at an easy pace.

In the hottest months, walk at the start or the end of the day, because afternoons are too hot for your dog's paws and lungs.

Roads and pavements in the sun can burn paw pads. If you cannot hold the back of your hand on the ground for five seconds, it is too hot for your dog.

Book the earliest morning slot or the last evening slot, and ask your walker for shaded routes and water stops.

• Thick-coated and flat-faced dogs overheat fastest. Shorten the walk rather than skipping it.
• Heavy panting that does not ease, drooling, bright red gums, wobbling or vomiting are signs of heat stress. Move your dog into the shade, offer water and call your vet.

In the monsoon, dry your dog's paws and coat after every walk and check for ticks.

Damp fur and wet paws can lead to skin infections, and ticks and fleas are more active in humid weather. Towel your dog off, dry between the toes and look in the ears and armpits.

Waterlogged streets can carry leptospirosis. Keep your dog out of standing water and ask your vet whether your dog is vaccinated.

A walker takes their first Sploot walk only after an interview, in-person training and three assessments.

• Selection: candidates come from job platforms and are interviewed on video. Prior experience with dogs is a basic requirement.
• Training: candidates train in person, on soft skills (Sploot's values, talking to customers, using the app) and on dog-handling techniques, with the dog's safety and comfort first.
• Assessment: a theory viva, a practical round on leash walking and handling, and a shadow walk with an experienced walker, who judges punctuality, customer interaction, kit readiness and comfort with dogs.
• Joining: after they pass, walkers are added to the city partners group, activate the app and check in when they are assigned a walk.

Every walker also completes identity verification before joining.