What should a dog walker cost

Round here, roughly £12 to £20 for a half hour and £18 to £30 for an hour, depending on solo or group. Anything much cheaper usually means bigger groups.

Should a dog walker be insured and DBS checked

Ask them directly and ask to see it. Don't take a badge on a website as proof, on mine or anyone else's.

Is a solo walk better than a group walk

Not always. Sociable dogs often do better with company. Dogs who pull, guard or get anxious around other dogs do better on their own.

How do I know my dog actually enjoyed it

Watch them when the walker arrives the third or fourth time. Dogs are honest about who they want to go out with.

What if it isn't working out

Say so. A decent walker would rather you told them than quietly stopped booking. Some dogs and some walkers just aren't a match.

How to choose a dog walker

You're handing someone your keys and your dog. Here's what I'd ask if I were you, including the questions people usually forget.

1Ask how many dogs go out at once

This is the one that matters most. A walker with eight dogs in a van cannot watch all of them. Ask for a number, not a word like small. Mine are small groups, and dogs who don't want company get a solo walk instead.

2Ask where the walk actually happens

Some walkers drive round the block. Ask which park, which entrance, and how long your dog is in the car. My dogs go to Bushy Park or Home Park, and the time you book is time on the ground.

3Ask what happens with your keys

You want a clear answer. Keys should be kept secure and never labelled with your address. A keysafe works too, or you let them in yourself if you're home.

4Ask for a meet and greet before you commit

You should be able to meet the person in your own hallway with your dog before any money changes hands. Mine is on me and takes about twenty minutes.

5Ask what happens in bad weather

A good answer is specific. We still go, dogs get towelled off, and in ice or a heat warning the walk gets shorter or becomes a garden visit. There's a full page on that.

6Ask how you'll hear about the walk

You should get something after every walk. I send a photo and a quick message when your dog is home. If a walker can't tell you what you'll receive, that tells you something.

7Ask about cancellations and payment before you start

Get it clear early so nobody is awkward about it later. Mine is written down in the terms, and payment is a bank transfer, weekly or monthly.

Common questions

Next, have a look at prices or the areas I cover.

Ask me any of these

Happy to answer all of it before you book anything.

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