What Should I Ask a Dog Walker Before Hiring Them?

Choosing the right care for your dog starts with asking the right questions.

When you hand over the leash, you’re trusting someone with a member of your family, and that’s not something to take lightly. Whether you’re looking for daily walks, overnight care, or help during a busy travel season, here are the key questions every pet parent should ask before hiring a dog walker or sitter; and how Dogs On The Run makes this process seamless.

1. Are they insured, bonded, and background checked?

This is one of the most important (and often overlooked) questions. Insurance and bonding protect both your home and your pet, while a background check helps ensure the person entering your home is trustworthy.

With Dogs On The Run: Every professional in our network is fully vetted, insured, bonded, licensed, and background checked. You don’t have to wonder; it’s a standard we hold across the board.

2. What happens if you get sick or have an emergency?

Life happens; illness, travel, emergencies. Many solo sitters don’t have a plan in place for coverage, leaving families scrambling.

With Dogs On The Run: We operate as a Concierge Service. That means you have access to a Care Team, not just one individual. If your regular professional is unavailable, our Concierge Team ensures seamless backup support from another trusted DOTR professional.

3. Will I always have the same person caring for my dog?

Consistency builds trust. Dogs thrive on routine and familiarity. But when you work with an app or a large marketplace, the person who shows up may vary from visit to visit.

With Dogs On The Run: You’ll always know who’s coming through your door. We personally match each family with the right professional based on personality, experience, and location. You’ll meet them in advance; no surprises.

4. How do they handle communication and updates?

Some pet care providers disappear or go silent between visits, leaving you guessing how things are going.

With Dogs On The Run: Communication is at the heart of what we do. Each professional provides timely updates, messages, and photos, supported by our Concierge Team to ensure you’re always in the loop.

5. What safety measures do they follow?

From leash handling to pet first aid, proper safety training matters.

With Dogs On The Run: Many of our professionals are Fear Free Certified or trained in Pet First Aid and CPCR and all of them have loads of experience. We believe preparedness is professionalism because your pet’s safety is never optional.

6. What’s their cancellation or backup policy?

Understanding their policies helps avoid surprises later.

With Dogs On The Run: Our Concierge Team provides clear policies, flexible communication, and professional accountability, balancing reliability for families and fairness for professionals.

Why DOTR Is Different

Dogs On The Run isn’t a booking app or a faceless platform. We are a trusted Concierge Service connecting families with exceptional independent professionals who genuinely love what they do.

We build relationships, not transactions. Our team personally vets every professional, to ensure communication, professionalism and ensures every client receives the luxury of reliability, transparency, and care.

Because at the end of the day, this isn’t just about walking your dog. It’s about trust, safety, and peace of mind; knowing your dog is in the best hands possible.

Dogs On The Run
Trusted. Vetted. Loved.