Do dog walkers need insurance in Canada? Yes. Whether you’re walking a single dog on weekends or running a full-time pet care business, dog walker liability insurance is one of the most important things protecting your finances and your reputation.
Without it, you’re personally on the hook for:
- A dog bite that sends someone to the hospital
- A dog that slips its leash and gets hit by a car
- Damage caused to a client’s home while you’re picking up or dropping off
Dog walker liability insurance – sometimes called pet services insurance or pet sitter insurance – is designed to cover exactly these scenarios. It protects you from the unexpected, so one bad day doesn’t wipe out everything you’ve built.
This guide breaks down everything Canadian dog walkers need to know: what coverage to get, what it costs, and what it won’t cover.
What Is Dog Walker Insurance in Canada?
Dog walker insurance is a type of business insurance that bundles different coverages to protect you while dogs are in your care, custody and control. Think of it as your financial backstop for the unpredictable parts of the job.
It covers your activities as a dog walker when:
- Another person is attacked and injured by a dog you’re responsible for
- A dog in your care causes damage to someone else’s property
- A dog gets injured or becomes ill and needs emergency veterinary care
- A dog runs away while under your supervision
- You accidentally lose the keys to a client’s home
Who Needs Dog Walker Insurance?
If you’re getting paid to walk, sit, board, or care for someone else’s dog, you need insurance. That includes:
- Independent part-time and full-time dog walkers
- Side hustlers who walk dogs occasionally
- Pet sitters, pet hotels, and animal shelters
- Boarding kennel or doggy daycare owners
- Pet care businesses that include dog walking
- Anyone who holds a client’s house keys
While dog walker insurance isn’t legally required across Canada, don’t let that fool you. Many municipalities have their own rules.
For example, the City of Vancouver requires commercial dog walkers operating in regional parks to carry at least $5 million in general liability coverage per occurrence, and list the municipality as an additional insured on the policy.
Before you start walking dogs professionally, check your local bylaws. Being caught without proper coverage can cost you your permit or worse.
What Types of Insurance Do Dog Walkers Need?
No two dog walking businesses are identical, so your policy should reflect the services you offer. Here’s what a standard dog walker insurance policy typically includes, and what you can add on:
General Liability Insurance
General liability insurance is the foundation of every dog walker policy. It covers third-party bodily injuries and property damage caused by your operations and services.
For example, if you accidentally damage a piece of furniture in a client’s home while retrieving or returning a dog in your care, this insurance may pay to repair or replace the damaged furniture.
General liability insurance for dog walkers and pet services businesses also includes loss of keys coverage of up to $5,000 if you lose a client’s house or office keys and they have to be replaced.
Professional Liability Insurance (Errors and Omissions Insurance)
Also called E&O insurance, this covers claims related to your professional services, like allegations of negligence, failing to deliver a service as promised, or giving advice that causes a client financial harm. It’s especially important if you position yourself as an expert or offer pet care advice alongside your services.
Optional coverages and add-ons worth considering for your dog walking business are:
- Damage to Pets (Care, Custody and Control) Extension
Also called animal bailee or animal liability insurance, this add-on extension covers costs if a dog in your care, custody and control gets injured, becomes ill, or dies while under your supervision. Standard coverage starts at $5,000, with higher limits available if you regularly care for high-value breeds. - Veterinarian Fees Extension
Covers emergency vet bills for dogs hurt while in your care – typically up to $1,000 per animal and $5,000 in aggregate. If you’re walking multiple dogs at once, this matters. - Product Liability Insurance
Usually bundled into general liability, this covers third-party injuries or property damage caused by any product you sell or distribute, including food or treats. If you sell dog snacks or supplements, make sure this is explicitly included in your policy. - Cyber Liability Insurance
Most dog walkers today handle bookings, payments, and client data online. Cyber liability insurance covers you if you experience a data breach or cyberattack – including notification costs, software restoration, legal advice, and losses from a systems outage. Being small doesn’t mean you have no risks. Cybercriminals target small businesses and sole proprietors, too.
What Does Dog Walker Insurance Not Cover?
Every policy has exclusions. Here’s what dog walker insurance won’t cover:
- Criminal, dishonest or fraudulent acts
- Price estimates for services or cost guarantees to clients
- Intentional acts of harm or negligence
- Damage to your own property or equipment
- Unlicensed activities or services
- Claims involving dog breeds specifically excluded from your policy
- Your own injuries while working (you need provincially administered workers’ compensation insurance for that)
Tip: Always read your policy exclusions carefully, especially the section on breed exclusions, which varies by insurer.
How Much Does Dog Walker Insurance Cost in Canada?
Good news: dog walker insurance is surprisingly affordable.
An independent dog walker can typically get coverage starting around $100 per year with general liability and professional liability coverage of $1 million limits each. That’s less than $10 a month to protect your income, your clients, and your reputation.
Your actual premium depends on:
- Your location (urban areas usually carry higher risk)
- The services you offer (more services, more expensive)
- How many dogs you care for and their breeds (higher risk breeds affects cost)
- How long you’ve been in business (your years of experience can help lower your rate)
- Number of employees (if applicable)
- Your annual and projected revenue
- Your business insurance claim history
The quickest and best way to know how much a dog walker insurance policy will cost you is to get a free quote.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Walker Insurance in Canada
If a dog bites someone while I’m walking it, am I covered?
Yes. General liability insurance (included in every dog walker policy) covers third-party bodily injuries like dog bites, as well as property damage caused by a dog in your care.
Do part-time or solo dog walkers really need insurance?
Yes. The risks don’t shrink just because your business is small. One incident – a bite, a lost dog, a broken window – can cost thousands. And many municipalities require proof of insurance (also called a certificate of insurance) regardless of how many clients you have.
Does pet insurance cover dog walking incidents?
No. Pet insurance is what dog owners buy to cover their animal’s medical costs. It does not cover you as a dog walker for injuries to animals in your care, lost keys, property damage, or harm to third parties.
Can my policy cover other services like boarding or grooming?
This is exactly why care, custody and control (animal liability) coverage exists. If a dog escapes and is injured or doesn’t come home, animal liability insurance can cover the associated costs. It’s one of the most important optional add-ons for professional dog walkers.
Get a Free Dog Walker Insurance Quote
Running a dog walking business means taking on real responsibility for your clients’ pets, the people around you, and for your own livelihood.
The right dog walker liability insurance policy protects all of it.
Fill out our simple online application in under five minutes and get a free dog walker insurance quote.
Our licensed brokers are dog walking insurance specialists. They’ll find the right coverage for your services and budget, and can have your policy documents ready in hours, not days.
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