Dog walking insurance
Dog walking insurance protects your business when something goes wrong on a walk. It usually starts with general liability, for injury or damage to other people, and adds cover for the dogs in your care, known as animal bailee or care, custody and control. Some policies also pay vet bills whoever was at fault, and cover lost keys. Here's how one dog walker policy sets it out.
If something goes wrong on a walk, which part of the policy pays?
Find what happened in the left-hand column to see which part of a dog walking policy responds, and what it pays.
| What happened | The part of the policy that pays | What it pays |
|---|---|---|
| A dog you're walking knocks someone over or bites them | General liability | $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 a year in Pet Care Insurance's policy, for third-party bodily injury and property damage. |
| A dog you're walking is hurt and it's your fault | Animal bailee (care, custody or control) | Included in the base policy at $5,000 per occurrence and $10,000 a year, with options of $10,000 or $15,000 per occurrence. |
| A dog is hurt on your walk and nobody is at fault | Veterinarian expense reimbursement | Pays vet bills regardless of who is at fault: $1,000 per occurrence and $5,000 a year. |
| You lose a client's keys | Lost key coverage | $2,000 per occurrence and $2,000 a year, included in the base policy. |
| An employee steals from a client | Employee dishonesty | $10,000 per occurrence and $25,000 a year, as an alternative to a bond. |
From Pet Care Insurance's dog walker insurance overview, read in October 2026. The US providers we found don't publish a sample policy, so this is one provider's summary of its own cover.
What isn't covered?
- Boarding or breeding businesses: Pet Care Insurance won't insure them.
- Grooming or training beyond the basics (bathing and brushing; sit, stay and come) without an extra endorsement.
- Animal bailee cover only pays if you're at fault; that's what veterinarian expense reimbursement is for.
Your questions answered
What is animal bailee coverage?
It covers your business if you're legally liable for an injury to, or the death of, a pet in your care, custody or control. Because it depends on you being at fault, some policies add veterinarian expense reimbursement, which pays vet bills whoever is at fault.
Does general liability cover the dogs I walk?
Not on its own. General liability covers injury or damage to other people and their property; the dogs in your care are covered by animal bailee (care, custody or control) cover, which Pet Care Insurance includes in its base policy.
Is bonding the same as insurance for dog walkers?
No. A bond protects your clients if an employee steals from them. Pet Care Insurance offers employee dishonesty cover instead, at $10,000 per occurrence, which it says can be bought in the same transaction as your policy and needs no credit check.
More pet business insurance guides: Dog sitter insurance · Dog grooming insurance
Every limit is from the provider's own documents, read in October 2026. Policies and limits change, so check the policy wording before you buy. See the UK version