Finding the right pet sitter or dog walker isn’t just about availability — it’s about trust, professionalism, and peace of mind. After all, you’re inviting someone into your home and relying on them to care for a cherished family member. A qualified professional should be mature, reliable, insured, trained, and prepared for emergencies — far beyond what a neighbour’s teenager can offer.
Before handing over your keys and your pet’s routine, take the time to go through these essential questions to ensure you’re choosing someone who will provide safe, dependable, and high-quality care.
1. Can the dog walker/pet sitter provide proof of a recent, clear background check?
Not only is your pet an important member of the family worth protecting, but when hiring a dog walker or pet sitter, you are also giving access to your home. Don’t be afraid to ask to see a copy of a background check. They are standard practices for professionals in this industry.
2. Do they use a service agreement or contract?
A well-written contract or service agreement (paper or digital document) outlines the details of the services that will be delivered, including dates and amount of time that will be spent with pets, to ensure clear expectations as to the services that will be provided. The service agreement will also document important contact information, company policies, and the specific care needs of each pet in your household.
3. What is their training approach/method with dogs? Does it align with what you practice?
There are many different dog training methods; ideally, you would like to find a dog walker who uses similar approaches to what you use with your dog. If they struggle to answer this question, this could indicate limited experience working with dogs.
4. How do they invoice? What forms of payment do they accept?
Is a deposit, partial, or full payment required in advance of pet sitting services? For dog walking, ask about their invoicing schedule – is it weekly or monthly? Some businesses are capable of taking e-transfer, credit cards, PayPal, cheques, as well as cash. Look into this and confirm before entering into an agreement.
5. What is their backup plan if they become sick or injured?
Everyone gets sick or injured at one point or another. If their answer to this question is: “I never get sick,” then they aren’t going to be a 100% reliable pet care person for you. It is common in this industry for dog walkers/pet sitters to have arrangements with other businesses to provide coverage in the case of an illness or injury.
6. Is their business insured and bonded?
Ask to see proof of insurance coverage specifically for a pet-care business. Appropriate insurance would include coverage for the following sample (real life) situations:
- While on a walk, a dog ate an unknown substance and became sick. Total claim paid $1,201.
- During a walk, the dog slipped out of his collar and ran off. The dog was found a few days later with an injured jaw. Total claim paid $1,295.
7. Are they certified in Pet First Aid?
Many reputable organizations, such as St. Johns Ambulance, Walks ‘N’ Wags Pet First Aid, and Pet Sitters International offer comprehensive pet first aid courses. Depending on the length of the course (4 to 10 hours), the content can equip participants to administer emergency first aid, and educate them on various health and wellness topics. It’s important that your pet sitter or dog walker knows how to handle emergency situations and has a vehicle to rush your pet to the emergency vet clinic as soon as possible.
8. Are they able to administer medication(s) to your pet if necessary? Do they charge extra for this service?
It’s possible that the very reason you are hiring a pet care professional is because your pet is recovering from an injury or illness and requires medication. Or perhaps your dog requires insulin or pills to manage a chronic medical condition; having someone with the time, patience, and experience/expertise to provide this service would be important to you.
9. How do they communicate with their clients?
It can be stressful to be away from your pet, especially when you don’t know how they will react to a new person. Requesting updates by text or email, along with a photo or two so you can get an idea of how the visit/walk went, is something that most professionals offer. Confirm communication methods in advance.
10. What are their rates?
According to a Pet Sitters International survey conducted in 2024, the average fee in Canada for a basic visit (one animal, no medications), of average length (29.6 minutes), is $26.70. The average fee for a dog walk, of average length (30.6 minutes), is $26.70. For an overnight visit of 13 hours (average length), the average fee in Canada is $75.00.
11. Do they provide you with the opportunity to share information about your pet, so that they can learn about their routines, behaviours, and needs?
Most professionals want to meet your pet for a “meet and greet” before they agree to provide ongoing care or while you are away (pet sitting) to ensure they are a good fit.
12. Are they able to provide client references?
Reputable dog walkers/pet sitters should be able to provide client references upon request. This may be providing the contact information of current clients you can reach out to and/or directing you to verified online reviews.
Article by Megan Despard, Owner of Wiggles and Whiskers
Megan Despard is the Owner of Wiggles and Whiskers. Her specialty is the creation of handmade toys and accessories for dogs, cats, and small animals. She also offers dog walking and pet sitting services for a wide range of animal friends, from dogs and cats to caged animals who might need some company. She also provides cat visits and a combination of dog visits and walking services in Waterloo and Woolwich Township.
Email Address: megan@wigglesandwhiskers.ca
Phone Number: 519.998.6154
Instagram: love4wigglesandwhiskers
Facebook: wigglesandwhiskers
Twitter: wigglewhisker
Website: www.wigglesandwhiskers.ca
