How To Find a Reliable, Trustworthy Dog Walker

• This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.
• Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.

Daily walks aren’t just exercise for your dog—they’re key to keeping them happy and healthy. But it’s not always easy to give your pup the activity they need. Whether you’re working late, caring for family, managing mobility concerns, or simply don’t have the time and energy, a dog walker can help.

The question is, how do you find someone you trust enough to take care of your furry best friend? Finding reliable and trustworthy dog walkers isn’t easy—but it’s worth the effort.

“The right dog walker can truly upgrade your dog’s routine, give you peace of mind, and keep everyone safe,” says Alexandra Bassett, a certified dog trainer, behavior consultant, and owner of DogSavvy. With Bassett’s help, we explore how to find a safe, competent, loving dog walking professional who will treat your pup like their own.

How To Find a Dog Walker

Dog walkers can be found in a variety of ways: through word of mouth, a quick online search, or pet care apps like Rover.

Many dog parents swear by personal recommendations, especially when they come from friends, neighbors, or fellow dog parents whose judgment you trust. Don’t hesitate to ask around about who they use for dog walking and why they’d recommend them. You can also check with your vet, groomer, or dog trainer, who may be able to offer customized recommendations based on their contacts and your dog’s particular needs.

Platforms like Rover can also help you find reliable and trustworthy dog walkers in your area, letting you browse profiles, read reviews, and even schedule a meet and greet to see how they get along with your pup.

Qualifications, Licensing, and Background Checks

The best dog walkers come with more than just treats; they’re highly trained, highly skilled, and deeply knowledgeable about dog behavior. A true pro knows how to read canine body language, is ready for any emergency, and uses basic training techniques to make every walk safe, productive, and enjoyable.

First aid & CPR

While you hope nothing ever goes wrong on a walk, accidents and emergencies can happen. A skilled dog walker should be trained in pet first aid and CPR so they can act quickly and confidently if your pup needs help. Organizations like PetTech and the American Red Cross offer courses and certifications to ensure that dog walkers know how to prevent and handle walking injuries, heatstroke, and other urgent situations.

Professional certifications & training

In addition to being first-aid certified, many of the best dog walkers pursue certifications in dog walking, sitting, and training. These certification courses provide valuable knowledge about dog behavior, training and handling techniques, and best practices to keep your dog safe.

Some of the most common dog walking certifications to look for include:

• Certified Pet Expert: CPS-DW Certification for Sitters and Dog Walkers
• Pet Sitters International: Certification for Professional Pet Sitters
• National Association of Professional Pet Sitters: Pet Sitter Certification Course
• Fear Free Pet Sitter Certification Program

Dog walker insurance

Just like insurance for your home or business, dog walker insurance is specially created to protect and support dog walkers in an emergency, whether it’s an unexpected trip to the vet, a damaged fence, or even lost house keys. Many dog walker insurance policies cover injuries, property damage, and accidental lockouts, ensuring that problems are covered without asking them (or you) to pay out of pocket.

Background checks

When you hire a dog walker, you’re not only entrusting them with the care of your dog, but also your home. It’s completely reasonable—and smart—to request a background check. A background check will surface any red flags, such as a criminal record, history of theft, or any other issues that could affect your trust and comfort level. Most professional dog walkers have a background check ready to share or are happy to provide the information you need to run your own screening.

Tips To Find a Good Fit for Your Dog

While credentials and insurance are important, it’s just as key to choose the dog walker whose personality, walking style, and approach are well-suited to your unique pup. Here are some tips to go beyond the basics to help you find trustworthy walkers that are a good fit for your dog.

Look for a shared philosophy

There are many different methodologies and philosophies for dog handling, and it’s important to choose a dog walker who will treat your pup the way you want them to be treated. As a positive reinforcement trainer, Bassett always ensures that her dog walkers use gentle, reward-based techniques.

“If your dog barks or pulls, building space between them and the trigger generally works better than any harsh approach, like jerking on a choke chain,” she explains. “Many dogs can’t just walk calmly down a crowded sidewalk, so it’s crucial to have a walker who’s prepared to prevent unwanted encounters.”

Scan reviews for dogs similar to yours

Dog walker reviews can offer a wealth of information to help you choose the right dog walker for your pup. But don’t just scan for high ratings—look for reviews that mention dogs similar to yours in size, age, temperament, and needs. Read the good reviews, the bad reviews, and everything in between to get a well-rounded sense of a potential dog walker’s strengths and reliability.

Be upfront about your dog’s needs

Every dog has unique personality traits, whether they’re anxious, excitable, reactive, or tend to stop and sniff every single mailbox they pass. It’s important to choose a dog walker who is confident, skilled, and flexible enough to match their approach and pace.

“They should be ready to handle your dog’s unique personality and any quirks,” says Bassett.

You’ll also want to ask about whether the walker typically takes one dog at a time, or if they go for group outings; depending on your pup, one might be better than the other. You might even consider if your dog would benefit more from a drop-in visit and a game of fetch than a walk.

Try out several walkers

If this is your first time hiring a dog walker, this step is is particularly important: meet with and consider several dog walkers. Taking this approach can not only give you plenty of options to find the right fit, but it also gives you a better sense of what’s available. You can see different handling styles in action and clarify what’s most important to you in your dog’s walker.

Meet & Greets and Trial Runs

A meet and greet is a great way to prepare for your dog walker. It gives you a chance to meet potential dog walkers in person, introduce your pup, and see them in action. Treat the meet and greet like an interview, observing how a dog walker shows up, whether they’re prepared, and how they engage with your dog.

“The first thing I would look for is how they handle the basics,” recommends Bassett. “A good walker will check that the collar or harness fits just right—snug so your dog won’t slip out, but never too tight to cause discomfort.”

She further explains that a dog walker should:

• be dressed for success (ready for the road)
• incorporate basic training into their walking routines
• come equipped with all the tools they need for the walk (hello, poop bags)
• prioritize the dog’s safety and clear communication

Once the basics are covered, it’s all about how they interact with your dog: “Observing them in action with your dog—whether it’s a quick walk around the block or a chat in the building lobby—lets you see if they can read your dog’s cues,” says Bassett. “Right away, you’ll get a sense of whether your dog feels comfortable around them and vice versa.”

This is particularly important for large dogs, says Bassett. “Someone who’s 115 pounds might not feel confident wrangling a 75-pound husky that pulls like a freight train, so it’s better to find that out sooner rather than later.”

Check References and Trust Your Instincts

Once you’ve found a promising dog walker candidate, don’t skip the final step: checking references and watching for red flags. Take the time to read reviews, call past clients, and listen for honest feedback about their reliability, communication, and care.

Most importantly, trust your gut—if something doesn’t feel right at any point, it’s okay to keep looking. The right dog walker will greet your dog with the same warmth and respect you do and make you feel confident about leaving your pup in their care.

Putting in the work of finding a reliable dog walker for your pup is well worth the effort. As Bassett says, when the right person is on the other end of the leash, your dog gets to enjoy safe, happy, and enriching walks—and you get the enjoy the peace of mind of knowing they’re in good hands.