Dog Walking in Ontario

In most countries, no licence exists for dog walking — anyone can start. Insurance, pet first-aid training and references are the real trust signals. Some cities cap the number of dogs walked at once in public parks.

A professional walker carries pet-care liability insurance covering vet fees for injuries in their care, has your vet's details on file, and contacts you immediately. Confirm all three before the first walk.

Walkers price per walk: a 30-minute solo walk costs less than an hour, and group walks are cheaper per dog than private ones. Weekly packages (5 walks) usually discount 10-20% off single-walk rates.

Ask about insurance, how many dogs they walk at once, what happens in an emergency, whether they're first-aid trained, how they secure dogs in vehicles, and ask for two current-client references.

Most regulars do. Use a key safe or smart lock if you prefer, confirm the walker's key policy (coded tags, never address-labelled), and check their insurance covers key loss.

Yes — professionals walk in almost all weather, shortening walks in extreme heat, storms or ice and substituting indoor play or enrichment visits when conditions are dangerous. Heat policies matter in hot climates.

Sociable, recall-trained dogs thrive on group walks and they cost less. Reactive dogs, puppies, and seniors do better solo. A good walker will assess your dog before adding them to a group.

Yes, with adjustments — walks shorten below about -20°C with wind chill, paw balm or boots protect against salt, and good walkers substitute indoor enrichment on dangerously cold days.