Should the walker be insured?

Strongly recommended for any commercial walker. $1M general liability + bonding is industry standard. Cost: $300-800/year typical for individual walkers. Owners should verify insurance certificate before engaging walkers. Walkers without insurance have the same liability but no recovery source - making negligent-walker recovery difficult.

What about platform walkers (Rover, Wag)?

Platforms typically provide insurance and bonding through the platform, with significant fee percentage. Direct walkers (this contract) keep more of the revenue but require independent insurance. Quality varies on both - reviews and references matter more than platform vs direct. Many established walkers use a mix.

How do I handle key transfers?

Standard practice: owner provides key in unmarked envelope; walker stores in locked secure location; uses only for scheduled walks. Lost-key liability (typically rekey cost $150-200) on walker. For higher security, smart locks with shared access codes eliminate physical key risk. Document key handling in writing; sign key receipt.

What if the dog gets injured during a walk?

For naturally-occurring injury (sprain, scrape from chasing wildlife): owner's expense. For walker-negligence injury (off-leash in unsafe area, ignoring leash law, lost-and-found dog injury during loose period): walker liable. Always notify owner immediately + take to nearest open vet if needed (within authorisation amount). Document everything.

Can multiple dogs be walked together?

Yes - "group walks" are common for compatible dogs. Each owner's strict liability remains separate; insurance considerations are similar. Group walks should match dogs by size, energy level, and temperament. Some clients prefer solo walks for their dog; pricing reflects the difference.

Dog Walker Contract

Recurring dog-walking service contract - schedule, rates, key handling, liability.

Customise

Dog owner — name

Owner address

Walker — name

Walker insurance

Dogs to walk

Walking schedule

Rate structure

Key / access handling

Walk protocols

Liability and waiver

Live preview

DOG WALKER SERVICE CONTRACT

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OWNER: Jordan Alex Taylor
482 Elm Street, Apt 3B, Portland, OR 97214

WALKER: Pacific Dog Walking Services
Bonded and insured ($1M general liability via Pet Care Insurance LLC, policy PCI-2026-118432)

DOGS COVERED

Biscuit - Golden Retriever, 4 years old, 28 kg, spayed female. Good with other dogs and people. No reactive behaviour.
Leash trained; familiar with standard walk routes around home.
Current vaccinations including rabies, DHPP, Bordetella - records on file.

WALKING SCHEDULE

MONDAY: 12:30 PM 30-minute walk
TUESDAY: no walk (owner home)
WEDNESDAY: 12:30 PM 30-minute walk
THURSDAY: 12:30 PM 30-minute walk
FRIDAY: 12:30 PM 30-minute walk
SAT/SUN: no walk

Additional ad-hoc walks available with 24+ hours notice.
Cancellations require 12+ hours notice (or charged at full rate).

RATES

30-minute walk: $25
45-minute walk: $35
60-minute walk: $45
Group walk (with other dogs): $20 (smaller group, slower pace)
Weekend / holiday: +25% premium
Monthly recurring (4x/week × 4 weeks): $400 (saves $20 vs ad-hoc)
Payment: monthly in advance via Venmo / cash / check.

KEY / ACCESS HANDLING

Owner provides: copy of front door key with secure holder.
Walker stores key: secured at walker's primary residence (locked drawer with locator key code).
Walker uses key only for scheduled walks; no other house entry.
Key returned at agreement end.
If key is lost: walker pays for rekey of front door (estimated $150-200).
Alternate access methods (smart lock, garage code) acceptable; owner provides specific instructions.

WALK PROTOCOLS

Pre-walk: assess weather (extreme cold, heat, ice, thunderstorms — postpone or shorten); check that owner's pet is healthy (no obvious limp, lethargy, or distress).
During walk: keep dog on standard leash (no extension leashes); maintain on-leash unless in fenced off-leash area; clean up all waste; provide water on hot days.
Emergencies: dog injury / illness — contact owner immediately + take to nearest open vet if needed (authorisation up to $500 without owner consent, then contact owner).
Post-walk: refill water bowl; lock door; text owner brief update with photo.

LIABILITY

Walker maintains insurance for liability, theft, and animal-bite incidents.
Owner is responsible for:
- Dog's vaccination status (current rabies + core).
- Disclosed temperament issues (bite history, leash reactivity).
- Veterinary expenses for naturally-occurring illness or injury during normal supervised activity.
Walker is responsible for:
- Damage caused by walker negligence (lost dog, accident from inattention).
- Injury caused by walker negligence.
Owner agrees to hold walker harmless for damage caused by dog (e.g., dog bite to passer-by during properly-leashed walk - falls under owner's strict-liability under most states).

EXECUTION

_______________________________ Date: ____________________
Jordan Alex Taylor (Owner)

_______________________________ Date: ____________________
Pacific Dog Walking Services (Walker)

About this template

A dog walker contract is the agreement for recurring dog-walking service - distinct from one-off pet care or boarding. Dog walkers typically operate as small businesses (sole proprietorships or LLCs), often with multiple clients. Industry standards: (1) Insurance and bonding (general liability $1M+, bonding for key handling); (2) Set walk schedule with cancellation policy; (3) Clear rate sheet with monthly recurring discount; (4) Specific walk protocols (leash type, weather considerations, waste cleanup); (5) Key handling (where stored, how used, lost-key replacement). The most-litigated dog-walker issue is liability when a dog bites someone during a walk. Dog-bite liability is generally STRICT LIABILITY for the owner under most state laws - meaning the owner is liable for injuries regardless of fault or knowledge of vicious propensity. The walker is generally NOT liable for owner's strict-liability exposure unless walker negligence contributed (lost dog, off-leash in violation of leash law, etc.). Insurance for dog walkers ($300-800/year typical) is essential and reasonably affordable. Some walkers use platforms (Rover, Wag) which provide insurance/bonding but charge significant percentages. Direct contracts (this template) keep more revenue with the walker. Key handling is a frequent dispute source - insist on signed key agreement, secure storage, and lost-key procedures. For multiple dogs in single household, walkers often offer family discount. Group walks (multiple owners' dogs together) are popular but have specific liability implications - each dog is owner's strict-liability responsibility, but pack dynamics can cause incidents.

When to use it

Recurring dog-walking service (multiple walks per week).
Daily mid-day walks while owner works.
Replacement for less-formal arrangements.
Multiple-dog household.

What to include

Owner and walker identification with insurance.
Dogs covered with vaccination details.
Specific walking schedule.
Rate structure with recurring discount.
Key handling procedure.
Walk protocols.
Liability waiver.

Frequently asked

Generally not - dog-bite liability is STRICT LIABILITY for owner under most state laws (the owner is liable regardless of walker fault). Walker may be liable if walker negligence contributed (lost dog, off-leash in leash-law area, etc.). Walker insurance covers walker's personal liability for negligence; owner's separate homeowner/renter insurance typically covers strict-liability exposure.

⚠ Legal disclaimer. Dog-bite liability is heavily state-specific. Most states impose strict liability on owners regardless of walker fault. Walker insurance covers walker negligence only. State regulations on commercial pet-care services vary; some require business licensing. Group walks have specific insurance and liability considerations; individual sitters/walkers should consult their insurance provider before adding group services.