The short answer: first check if they’re insured, DBS checked and first aid trained. Provide them with your requirements to check they have availibility and cover your area. Then arrange a meet and greet. During the meet and greet, find out how long your dog gets, who will do the walk, and whether a group or solo walk suits your dog. Do not secure any booking until you are happy with the service you will be provided. 

Dog walking isn’t a regulated profession in the UK. Anyone can print some business cards and start tomorrow. Plenty of walkers are excellent. A few may not be, and you can’t always tell from a Facebook page. These are the things I’d want to know if I were handing over my own dog’s lead.

Are they insured?

Public liability insurance covers accidents on a walk, such as a dog causing injury to itself, another dog a member of the public. Damage to someone’s property and many more incidents. Ask to see the policy. A professional won’t mind in the slightest.

Have they been DBS checked?

A DBS check confirms there’s nothing on a walker’s record that should worry you. It matters more than you might think, because many walkers hold a key to your home.

Do they know pet first aid?

Human first aid is useful, but dogs aren’t small people. Look for someone trained in pet first aid and CPR. I am, and I’d expect the same for our dog Milo.

What does “an hour” really mean?

This one catches people out. Some walkers count the drive and the collections inside the booked time, so a one hour walk can be closer to forty minutes of actual exercise. Ask them directly. With Milo & Co, a booked hour is a full hour in the field or woods, and we don’t charge for travel.

Who will turn up?

Some businesses share the work between several walkers. Others use the same walker so your dog(s) get consistency. Find out who will collect your dog, and what happens if that person is ill.

Group or solo?

There’s no right answer. A sociable dog may love bounding about with friends, while a nervous or older dog is often happier with a quiet, one-to-one walk. A good walker will help you decide rather than steer you towards the cheaper option.

Have you met?

Please don’t book anyone you haven’t met. A proper meet and greet shows you how they handle your dog(s). It also gives them the chance to learn what your dog(s) love and what worries them, which makes the first walk far easier for everyone.

I walk dogs around Hughenden Valley and the villages nearby, and I’m always happy to answer questions before you commit. If you’d like to see whether Milo & Co is right for you and your dog(s), get in touch to arrange a meet and greet.