A dog walker takes several animals belonging to other people into public places and is responsible for everything they do there. It is one of the few small businesses whose central risk is an independent creature that can run.
What the dog does to somebody else
Public liability answers when a dog in your care bites a person, causes a cyclist or a rider to come off, runs into a road and causes a collision, or damages property. Ownership does not decide liability here; control does, and while the dog is with you the control is yours. Insurers ask about group sizes, whether dogs are walked off lead, how they are assessed before being taken on, and what the recall policy is.
What happens to the dog itself
A dog injured, lost or killed while in your care is the owner's property in your custody, which general public liability wordings treat unevenly through the care custody and control exclusion. Policies written for this trade add cover for the animal, sometimes including veterinary fees, the cost of advertising and searching for a lost dog, and the owner's claim for the animal's value. That section, rather than the liability limit, is what distinguishes a specialist policy from a generic one.
Keys, homes and the collection round
Most walkers hold keys or door codes for client homes and let themselves in. That is a key cover exposure, because a lost key can mean locks replaced across several properties, and it is also a liability exposure inside somebody's house. Insurers ask how keys are labelled, which should never be with an address, and how they are stored. Care of a property while the owner is away shades into home sitting, which is usually a separate declaration.
Carrying dogs, and the van
Transporting dogs in a vehicle needs business use on the motor policy, and carrying animals for payment can be a hire and reward question depending on the insurer. Crates, restraints and ventilation are safety matters insurers ask about, since a dog loose in a vehicle is a road risk. Local authority licensing applies to some animal activities, and while walking is not always licensable, boarding, day care and home boarding are, which is a line many walkers cross as they grow.
Questions people ask about dog walking business insurance
Am I liable if a dog in my care bites someone?
Liability follows control rather than ownership, so while the dog is with you the claim comes to you. Public liability answers for it.
Is the dog itself covered if injured or lost?
Only under a specialist section. General public liability treats the animal as property in your care, custody and control, which is commonly excluded or limited.
Do I need cover for holding clients' keys?
Yes. Key cover answers for replacing locks across client properties, and insurers ask how keys are labelled and stored.