Updated August 2026
A practical guide from Finchley Dog Walker
When you employ a dog walker or pet sitter, you are trusting them with much more than an appointment in a diary.
They may be responsible for your dog outdoors, enter your home when you are away, hold your keys and make decisions if something unexpected happens.
That is why I believe anyone providing professional pet-care services should have suitable specialist business insurance.
However, simply saying “I’m fully insured” or “I have comprehensive cover” does not tell you everything you need to know. Policies differ, and all cover is subject to limits, conditions and exclusions.
Here is what I recommend checking before you book.
Is insurance a legal requirement for dog walkers?
Dog walkers and pet sitters are not generally required to hold one particular policy simply because they provide those services.
Even so, suitable insurance is an important professional safeguard.
It shows that the person has considered the risks involved in caring for someone else’s dog, accessing clients’ homes and working in public places.
Insurance cannot prevent an incident, and it does not replace careful handling, good judgement or an emergency plan. It provides financial and practical support when an eligible incident leads to a claim.
What does dog walker and pet sitter insurance cover?
There is no single policy that covers every possible situation.
A specialist pet-business policy may contain several different sections. Owners should ask what is included rather than relying on the phrase “fully insured”.
Common sections include the following.
Public liability insurance
Public liability insurance is intended to respond when a third party is injured or their property is damaged and the insured business is considered responsible.
For example, a claim might arise if a dog in a walker’s care injures someone or causes damage to another person’s property.
Whether a particular incident is covered will depend on what happened and the terms of the policy. Insurance should never be described as an automatic guarantee that every bill or claim will be paid.
Care, custody and control
Standard public liability insurance may not be enough when the animal affected is the animal being cared for.
Care, custody and control cover is designed for incidents involving animals temporarily under the care of the pet professional. Depending on the policy, this may include accidental injury, illness, loss or death.
This is an important section to ask about because your dog is under the walker’s control during the booked service.
Specialist pet-business insurers distinguish this cover from ordinary public liability insurance.
Non-negligent cover
Some policies also include non-negligent cover.
This may apply when an animal is accidentally injured, becomes ill, is lost or dies during an insured service even though the business has not been negligent.
An example could be a carefully handled dog being injured by an unexpected event that the walker could not reasonably have prevented.
Again, the precise wording matters. The policy documents determine when this section applies and what costs may be considered.
Loss-of-keys cover
Dog walkers, cat sitters and house sitters are often trusted with clients’ keys.
Loss-of-keys cover may contribute towards costs such as replacement keys, replacement locks, locksmith call-outs or resetting an alarm when an eligible loss occurs.
It does not mean every problem involving a key will automatically be covered. Owners should still expect their pet professional to use sensible security procedures and avoid attaching identifying information to stored keys.
Does insurance cover veterinary fees?
Some specialist policies may respond to eligible veterinary expenses when an animal is injured or becomes ill while in the business’s care.
However, this should not be confused with ordinary pet insurance.
The owner’s pet insurance remains important for existing conditions, unrelated illness, ongoing treatment and circumstances outside the pet professional’s insured service.
Pre-existing conditions may also be excluded from a pet-business policy.
If your dog has a medical condition, takes medication or has recently been unwell, tell your walker or sitter before the booking. Complete information helps them decide whether they can provide the care safely and what they should do in an emergency.
Insurance does not replace safe working practices
An insurance certificate does not prove that someone is experienced, capable or suitable for your particular dog.
I would also ask about:
Their canine first aid training.
Their understanding of canine body language.
How they manage nervous, reactive or escape-prone dogs.
How many dogs they walk at the same time.
Whether their insurance permits that number of dogs.
Their arrangements for extreme weather.
What they do if a lead, harness or collar fails.
Whether they have your vet details and an emergency contact.
How they store and identify clients’ keys.
Insurance works alongside these procedures. It does not replace them.
[Internal link: How to choose a dog walker]
Why insurance matters for nervous and reactive dogs
Nervous and reactive dogs are not automatically dangerous or unpredictable.
They may simply need more space, quieter routes, careful handling and someone who notices early changes in their body language.
For these dogs, prevention remains the priority. I plan walks around the individual dog, avoid unnecessary close encounters and change direction early when something may be difficult.
Suitable insurance adds another layer of professional protection, but it does not make risky choices acceptable.
A dog should not be placed in an unsuitable group, taken into an unnecessarily busy environment or pushed into interactions simply because the walker has insurance.
What proof should you ask for?
It is reasonable to ask a dog walker or pet sitter for evidence that their insurance is current.
You can ask:
Is dog walking or pet sitting listed as an insured activity?
Does the policy include public liability insurance?
Is care, custody and control included?
Is non-negligent cover included?
Does it include loss-of-keys cover?
How many dogs can be handled at one time?
Are there any restrictions relevant to my dog or the service?
When does the policy expire?
A professional should not make you feel uncomfortable for asking.
For security reasons, they may avoid publishing their complete policy schedule or policy number online. They should still be able to show suitable evidence privately to a prospective client.
You can read my current insurance statement here:
[Internal link: Finchley Dog Walker insurance statement]
What about DBS checks?
A DBS check may offer additional reassurance when someone will hold your keys or enter your home.
However, the level of DBS check must be appropriate to the person’s role. Working in clients’ homes does not, by itself, automatically make someone eligible for an Enhanced DBS check.
GOV.UK advises self-employed people to establish whether their work is eligible before applying for an Enhanced check through an Umbrella Body. A Basic DBS check can be considered where a role is not eligible for a higher-level check.
A DBS certificate should also be considered alongside references, reviews, insurance, experience and your own impression of the person.
What insurance cannot promise
No responsible dog walker or pet sitter should promise that insurance covers every eventuality.
A claim may be affected by:
The circumstances of the incident.
The activity being provided.
The number of animals in the person’s care.
Whether accurate information was supplied.
Whether policy conditions were followed.
Relevant exclusions or excesses.
Whether the service had been agreed and booked.
That is why I use careful wording when discussing my own cover. I maintain specialist pet-business insurance appropriate to the services I provide, subject to the insurer’s current terms, limits, conditions and exclusions.
Evidence of my current cover is available to clients and prospective clients on request.
Your own insurance still matters
A dog walker’s or pet sitter’s business insurance does not replace your own pet insurance or household insurance.
Your household insurer may have conditions concerning:
Someone holding your keys.
A pet sitter staying overnight.
A business entering your property.
Other people visiting during a house sit.
Security systems and alarms.
You may need to tell your insurer about these arrangements.
Your pet insurance may also contain requirements concerning who cares for your dog, pre-existing health conditions or third-party liability.
Contact your insurer directly when you are uncertain.
Choosing an insured dog walker in Finchley
I provide calm, one-to-one dog walks in Finchley and nearby areas of North London.
I do not use vans or group walks. Walks begin from the dog’s own home and are planned around their age, health, behaviour and confidence.
My pet-care services are supported by specialist business insurance, written procedures, emergency information and careful risk management.
Insurance is only one part of responsible care, but it is an important part.
[Internal link: Solo dog walks]
[Internal link: Rescue dog support]
[Internal link: House sitting and pet care]
Quick checklist before booking
Before trusting someone with your dog or home, check that:
Their insurance is current.
Their booked service is covered.
They can explain their insurance without making unrealistic guarantees.
They have an emergency procedure.
They ask for detailed health and behaviour information.
They understand your dog’s individual needs.
They are clear about keys and home access.
They provide written terms and conditions.
They are willing to show evidence of relevant credentials.
Frequently asked questions
I believe a professional dog walker should hold suitable specialist business insurance. Ask to see current evidence and check that dog walking is included as an insured activity
Relevant cover may include public liability, care, custody and control, non-negligent cover and loss-of-keys cover. The appropriate sections depend on the services being provided.
No. An eligible expense may be considered under the relevant policy section, but all claims are subject to the circumstances, policy limits, conditions and exclusions. The walker’s insurance does not replace the owner’s pet insurance.
Yes. Asking for evidence of current insurance is a reasonable part of choosing a professional dog walker or pet sitter.
No policy can prevent every incident. Insurance should support careful working practices, suitable handling, honest communication and a clear emergency plan.
Yes. I maintain specialist pet-business insurance appropriate to the agreed dog walking, pet sitting and related care services I provide. Cover remains subject to the insurer’s current terms, limits, conditions and exclusions. Evidence is available on request
Need calm, one-to-one care in Finchley?
If your dog needs a quieter walk, a predictable routine or someone experienced with nervous and sensitive dogs, please get in touch.
Tell me about your dog, where you are based and the type of support you need. I will let you know whether my service is suitable and explain the next steps before anything is booked.
