For pet owners · Pet care
What questions should I ask a dog walker?
Ask a dog walker about their experience with dogs like yours, whether walks are solo or in a group and how many dogs they take, their off-leash policy, what they do in an emergency, whether they carry insurance, and whether they hold any permit your city requires. Then watch a first walk.
In 60 seconds
- Ask how long the walker has worked with dogs and whether they have handled your dog’s size, energy level and temperament before.
- Find out whether your dog will walk alone or in a group, and how many dogs the walker takes at once.
- Ask when, if ever, the walker lets dogs off leash, and get your own rules agreed in writing.
- A good walker can explain exactly what they would do if your dog was injured, lost or got into a fight.
- Some cities, such as Toronto, require a permit for commercial dog walkers who walk several dogs in city parks, so check your own municipality.
- A first walk together, or a short trial week, shows more than any answer given in an interview.
What experience should a dog walker have?
A dog walker should have real experience with dogs similar to yours in size, strength, age and temperament. Ask how long they have walked dogs, what kinds they walk now, and how they handle pulling, leash reactivity or fear. Ask for two references from current clients and call them.
- How long have you been walking dogs, and what sizes and breeds do you walk now?
- Have you walked a dog that is reactive, fearful or pulls hard? What did you do?
- Do you have any pet first aid training?
- Can you give me two current clients I can phone as references?
Should my dog go on group walks or solo walks?
Solo walks suit puppies, seniors, reactive dogs and dogs still learning leash manners, because all the walker’s attention is on one animal. Group walks can suit healthy, social dogs that enjoy company. Ask how many dogs are in a group, how the walker matches dogs, and how a new dog is introduced.
Ask whether the group is the same dogs each day and whether dogs ride together in a vehicle. Also ask what happens if your dog does not get along with another dog in the group. A careful walker will describe a gradual introduction and be willing to switch your dog to solo walks.
What should a dog walker’s off-leash policy be?
A dog walker should only let dogs off leash where local rules allow it and only with your written permission. Ask whether they ever let dogs off leash, where, and how they check recall first. Many owners prefer that their dog stays on leash with a walker, even in off-leash areas.
Off-leash areas, leash rules and fines are set by each municipality and sometimes by individual park, so they vary widely across Canada. Ask the walker which areas they use and confirm on your city’s website that dogs are allowed off leash there.
What should a dog walker do in an emergency?
A dog walker should have a clear plan for injury, illness, a lost dog, a dog fight and bad weather. Ask them to walk you through each one. They should carry your contact details and your vet clinic’s number, know the nearest emergency clinic, and know who can approve treatment if you cannot be reached.
- What do you do if my dog is hurt or suddenly unwell?
- What happens if my dog slips its collar or runs off?
- How do you handle a fight between dogs in your care or with another dog?
- Do you shorten or cancel walks in extreme heat or cold?
- Who covers for you if you are sick?
Does a dog walker need a permit or licence in Canada?
It depends on the city. There is no single national rule. Toronto, for example, issues commercial dog walker permits for people walking four to six dogs on a commercial basis, and applicants must show liability insurance. Other municipalities have different rules or none, so check your city’s animal and parks bylaws.
Even where no permit is required, it is reasonable to ask whether a walker carries liability insurance and what it covers. Ask to see proof rather than taking a yes on trust.
What practical details should I agree with a dog walker?
Agree in writing on walk length, time window, solo or group, off-leash rules, how you will get updates, how keys are handled, cancellation terms, and how and when you pay. Clear details up front prevent most disagreements later and make it easier to spot if something changes.
Also agree on what happens on bad-weather days. Extreme cold, heat, ice and wildfire smoke can all make a normal walk unsafe, so decide in advance whether the walker shortens the walk, plays indoors, or skips the visit, and whether that changes what you pay.
Rates vary by city, walk length and whether walks are solo or in a group, so compare a few walkers before you settle on terms.
Can I find a dog walker through Maple Care?
Yes. Post a free, anonymous pet care request that shows only your city, and independent care professionals who want to reach you pay for your contact details. Maple Care does not set rates or supervise walks, so use the questions above, check references and agree terms directly with the walker you choose.
Free to post. Your contact details stay private.
Frequently asked questions
How many dogs should a walker take at once?
There is no national rule. Some cities regulate walkers who take several dogs into public parks; Toronto, for example, issues a permit for walking four to six dogs on a commercial basis. Fewer dogs means more attention for each one, so ask the walker how many they take and decide what you are comfortable with.
Should I meet the dog walker before the first walk?
Yes. Meet at your home with your dog present, show the walker how to put on the harness, and go on the first walk together if you can. Watching how they handle your dog on a real walk tells you more than any interview answer.
How will I know my dog actually got walked?
Ask how the walker reports each visit. Many send a text or photo at pickup and drop-off, and some share walk routes. Agree on this before the first walk. If updates stop, or your dog seems unusually restless or has accidents at home, raise it with the walker quickly.
Is it okay for a dog walker to drive my dog somewhere?
Only if you agree to it in advance. Ask how dogs are secured in the vehicle, how long they will be in it, and how the walker handles hot or cold days. Some provinces have rules on transporting animals; British Columbia, for example, requires animals to ride inside the passenger compartment or be confined or secured. Check what applies where you live.
What if my dog walker misses a walk?
Agree ahead of time on how the walker will tell you about a delay or missed walk, and who covers when they are sick. Ask for a text when each walk starts and ends. Repeated missed or shortened walks are a good reason to look for someone else.
Are dog walkers responsible for my dog’s behaviour in public?
Generally the person in charge of a dog must follow local leash, waste pickup and nuisance rules, and some bylaws also place duties on the owner. Under the Criminal Code, anyone with custody or control of an animal must not wilfully neglect it. Other liability varies by municipality and province, so read your city’s bylaw and discuss responsibility with the walker in writing.
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