Questions to Ask a Dog Walker Before You Hire One

Knowing the right questions to ask a dog walker is what separates handing your dog to a trusted professional from handing your house keys to a stranger. A dog walker often has access to your home while you are out and takes sole charge of your dog for an hour or more, so a few straight questions up front tell you quickly whether someone is a genuine professional or just fitting walks around a day job. This guide gives you the questions that matter, and explains what a good answer sounds like, so you can book with confidence.

The essential questions

Work through these before you commit. A professional will have ready answers and be happy to show paperwork; hesitation or vagueness is your signal to keep looking.

Are you insured, and can I see the certificate? Any professional dog walker should carry pet business insurance that includes public liability, plus cover for having your dog and your keys in their care. This protects you if your dog causes damage or an accident happens on a walk. Ask to see the certificate and check it is in date. A walker who cannot produce one is a hard no.

Do you have a current DBS check? Because a dog walker frequently needs access to your home when you are not there, a Disclosure and Barring Service check is reassurance that they have no relevant criminal record. DBS checks are usually renewed every three years, so ask to see a recent one rather than taking their word for it. You can read what a DBS check covers on gov.uk.

Will my dog be walked alone or in a group, and how many dogs? Clarify whether you are paying for a solo walk or a group walk, and how large the groups are. Most insurers cap group walks at around six dogs, and some councils require a licence to walk several dogs on certain parks or public land. A smaller group usually means more attention and better control. If your dog is nervous or reactive, this answer matters even more.

Can you give me references from current clients? A good dog walker has happy regulars and will gladly put you in touch with one or two. “Just trust me” is not an acceptable answer. Speaking to an existing client tells you about reliability and how the walker actually handles dogs day to day.

What happens in an emergency? Ask what they would do if your dog was injured or fell ill on a walk, whether they are trained in canine first aid, and which vet they would use if yours was unreachable. A professional will have a clear plan, not a blank look.

The practical questions

Once the safety basics check out, these confirm whether the service fits your dog and your routine.

• How will you collect and secure my dog? Understand how they enter your home, how keys are stored, and how the dog is secured in the vehicle. Loose dogs in a car boot are a red flag.
• Where do you walk, and on or off lead? Ask about the routes and whether they let dogs off lead, and only agree to off-lead walking if you trust their recall and your dog’s.
• What is your cancellation and bad-weather policy? Know what happens if you cancel, or if there is a heatwave or storm when walking may be unsafe.
• How will you update me? Many walkers now send a quick photo or message after each walk. It is a small thing that tells you the walk actually happened and how your dog got on.
• Are you a member of a professional body? Membership of a recognised trade association signals someone who takes the work seriously, though it is a bonus rather than a substitute for insurance and a DBS check.

Matching the walker to your dog

The questions above screen for professionalism; the last step is fit. A boisterous young Labrador and a timid rescue need different things from a walker. If your dog is anxious, reactive or newly adopted, be upfront about it and ask how the walker would handle it, and consider a solo walk rather than a group. Our guide to hiring a dog walker for a rescue dog goes into this in more depth. It is also worth deciding whether a walker is even the right service: for some dogs, daycare rather than a walk is a better match. And once you have a shortlist, our guide to what a dog walker costs in the UK helps you sanity-check their pricing.

Trust your instinct on the meeting, too. Watch how the walker is around your dog and how your dog responds. A confident, calm manner and genuine interest in your dog tell you as much as any certificate.

Frequently asked questions

What questions should I ask a dog walker before hiring them? Start with the safety essentials: are they insured with public liability, do they have a current DBS check, will your dog be walked alone or in a group and how large, can they provide client references, and what is their emergency plan. Then cover the practicalities, such as how they secure your dog, their bad-weather policy, and how they will update you after each walk.

Should a dog walker have insurance and a DBS check? Yes. Any professional dog walker should carry pet business insurance including public liability, and cover for your dog and keys in their care. A DBS check matters because they often have access to your home when you are out. Ask to see both documents and check they are current rather than taking someone’s word for it.

How many dogs should a dog walker walk at once? Most insurers cap group walks at around six dogs, and some councils require a licence to walk several dogs on certain public land. Smaller groups usually mean more attention and better control, so ask how large the groups are and whether your dog would be walked individually, especially if it is nervous or reactive.

Is it normal for a dog walker to have keys to my house? Yes, most dog walkers hold a key or use a lockbox so they can collect your dog while you are out, which is exactly why insurance and a DBS check matter. Ask how keys are stored and labelled; they should never be tagged with your address. A professional will have a secure system for this.

What should a dog walker do in an emergency? A professional should have a clear plan: know basic canine first aid, carry your contact details and your vet’s, and have a nominated vet to use if yours cannot be reached. Ask this question directly before hiring, because a confident, specific answer is a strong sign of someone who takes the responsibility seriously.

Do dog walkers need a licence in the UK? There is no single national licence to be a dog walker, but some local councils require a licence to walk several dogs at once on certain parks or public land, and professional insurance is essential rather than optional. Ask your walker whether they hold any council permits needed for the areas they use.