Dog Walker Insurance
Dog walking insurance that’s fast, flexible, and reliable on the move — just like you.
Protection for your ruff days.
- Protects pets in your care, custody, and control
- Covers injuries and property damage to others
- Financial help for emergency vet visits and lost keys
- Same-day proof of insurance
Backed by
What Is Dog Walker Insurance?
$2 Million General Liability Aggregate Limit
Covers property damage and harm to people
Pet Protection Coverage
(Animal Bailee)
Pays for accidents and injuries to pets in your care
Veterinarian Reimbursement
Gets pets the help they need (and gets you a refund)
Lost Key Liability Coverage
Handles rekeying costs when you’re locked out
Buy Online in 10 Minutes or Less
Instant Proof of Insurance
Employee Dishonesty Coverage
(Similar to Bonding)
Friendly, Certified Customer Service
Accidents Can Cost You
A leisurely walk can turn into an expensive emergency faster than you can say, “No, don’t eat that!” Pet Care Insurance had these dog walkers’ backs when accidents happened:
Covered.
Covered.
Covered.
Covered.
Covered.
Insurance for Dog Walkers Explained
Who Needs Dog Walker Insurance?
From large pet care businesses to walkers with Rover or Wag, anybody who walks dogs needs dog walkers insurance. If you walk someone else’s dogs on property you don’t own, insurance shields you from being legally and financially responsible when accidents happen.
What Does Pet Sitting Insurance Cover (and What Doesn’t It Cover?)
Dog walking insurance is built specifically to cover common damage and injury claims related to walking dogs and running a pet care business. It can help pay for accidents like pet injuries, hospital bills, vet expenses, property damage, and legal fees, but it can’t cover everything.
| What dog walkers insurance can cover | What it doesn’t cover |
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Pet injuries, escapes, illness, or even death while in your care Learn more about Pet Protection Coverage (Animal Bailee) |
Walking or pet sitting more than five dogs at once Pack walking 6+ dogs? Get a quote from our partner CTA. |
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Vet bill reimbursement if a client’s pet needs immediate care Learn more about Veterinarian Reimbursement |
Individual dogs with a “dangerous dog” designation from local authorities or a history of aggression |
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Damage to someone else’s property (caused by you or dogs in your care) Learn more about General Liability Coverage |
Intentional harm to pets, others, or their property |
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Dog bites and other physical injuries to others Learn more about General Liability Coverage |
Pets that aren’t common companion animals or are kept for commercial or breeding purposes |
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Attorney fees and other legal costs if you get sued Learn more about General Liability Coverage |
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Locksmith costs for lockouts or lost keys Learn more about Lost Key Coverage |
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Basic training like sit, stay, and come |
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Any dog breed (no breed restrictions) |
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*Note: These situations are intended as examples and are not a guarantee of coverage or an exhaustive list of all covered liabilities or exclusions.
Questions about a specific pet or service? See our exclusions page for more details, or talk to our friendly, U.S.-based support agents.
How Much Does Dog Walking Insurance Cost?
Dog walking insurance from PCI costs as little as $14.58/month or $154/year. Want to know how your insurance price gets decided? See our dog walker insurance cost page for a simple breakdown of what affects your price.
Our standard policy includes the protections every dog walker needs, but you can also customize it to fit what makes your business special. Opt into any of these extra coverages at checkout, or add them later as your needs grow and change:
| Add-On | What It Covers | Starting Price | Who Needs It |
|---|---|---|---|
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Broadened Property Damage (popular!) |
Expands coverage for damage to stuff in a client’s house (furniture, decor) |
$5.67/month |
Dog walkers working inside clients’ homes |
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Covers employee injuries on the job |
Free custom quote |
Business owners with staff |
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Additional Pet Protection |
Increases limits for pets in your care |
Three options from $7.92/month |
High-volume sitters or multi-pet households |
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Additional Vet Reimbursement |
Raises emergency vet reimbursement limits |
$5.25/month |
Walkers caring for higher-risk pets (like senior and special needs animals) |
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Covers business equipment and supplies |
Three options from $4.08/month |
Supplies like harnesses, work phones, and transport gear |
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Covers theft by employees; aka the bond in “bonded pet sitter” |
$4.92/month |
Businesses with staff |
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Adds a landlord, client, or facility to your COI |
$0.83/month |
Dog walkers asked to add it by a contract, venue, or partner |
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Covers data breaches and cyber incidents |
Two options from $6.58/month |
Dog walkers booking or storing client info online |
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Covers vehicles used for your pet business |
Free custom quote |
Dog walkers driving pets to walk locations |
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Employee Coverage |
Covers your business for claims due to employees’ actions |
$7.08/month |
Dog walkers with staff |
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Independent Contractor Coverage |
Covers contractors who work for you |
$7.08/month |
Dog walkers who hire contractors |
How Do I Get Dog Walkers Insurance?
Getting covered with PCI is fast and easy, even on the go! Just follow these steps:
- Go to our online application
- Choose the coverages you want
- Tell us a little about your business
- Get your instant quote
- Enter your payment info
It’s proof of insurance and peace of mind in 10 minutes or less.
Important note: Veterinarian Reimbursement and Pet Protection Coverage have a seven-day waiting period. Get insured before accidents happen so you’re ready to get pets the help they need right away.
Coverage Details for Dog Walking Insurance
PCI’s dog walker insurance blends just-right coverage, high limits, and affordable prices. Click the buttons for more info on coverage details.
Limits of Insurance
General Liability Coverage
The most your policy will pay in a 12 month policy period for bodily injury and property damage claims that you become legally obligated to pay due to your business services.
Limit per Incident: $1,000,000
Limit per Year: $2,000,000
Professional Liability Insurance
The most your policy will pay in a year for financial losses arising from errors, omissions, mistakes, or negligence in your professional grooming services
Included in General Liability limits
Animal Liability Limit
The most your policy will pay in a year for bodily injuries and property damage to others because of an animal in your care
Limit per Incident: $100,000
Limit per Year: $200,000
Products-Completed Operations Aggregate Limit
The maximum amount your policy will pay in a 12-month period for bodily injury and property damage claims that result from the products you use to perform your services.
Personal and Advertising Injury Limit
The amount that your policy will pay for claims arising out of one or more of the following offenses:
- False arrest, detention or imprisonment
- Malicious prosecution
- Wrongful eviction or wrongful entry
- Oral or written publications that slander or libel a person or organization
- Oral or written publication or material that violates a person’s right of privacy
- The use of another’s advertising idea in your advertisement
Each Occurrence Limit
The maximum your policy will pay for a bodily injury or property damage claim that you become legally obligated to pay due to your business services.
$1,000,000
Damage to Premises Rented to You Limit
Applies to damage by fire to premises rented to the insured; also applies to damage regardless of cause to premises (including contents) occupied by the insured for 7 days or less.
Any One Premises: $100,000
Medical Expense Limit
A general liability coverage that reimburses others, without regard to the insured’s liability, for medical or funeral expenses incurred by such persons as a result of bodily injury or death sustained by accident under the conditions specified in the policy.
Any One Person: $5,000
Pet Protection (Animal Bailee) – Animals in Your Care, Custody, or Control
This provides your pet business with coverage in the event that you are legally liable for injuries or damages sustained by an animal in your care, custody, or control.
Limit per Incident: $2,500
Limit per Year: $5,000
Veterinarian Expense Reimbursement (Regardless of Fault)
This provides coverage for medical expenses—regardless of who is at fault—for a client’s pet in your care, custody, or control.
Limit per Incident: $1,000
Limit per Year: $2,500
Deductible: $250
Lost Key Liability Coverage
If you were to lose the keys to a client’s residence, this coverage could help you manage the cost of installing new locks or having the building rekeyed.
Limit per Year: $2,000
Please note these are brief definitions of coverage. Your policy may be more restrictive in its language. Refer to the actual policy for a complete description of coverages and exclusions.
Why Choose Pet Care Insurance for Dog Walking?
Insurance companies that don’t specialize in pet care often skip coverages that are essential for dog walkers (like pet protection and vet reimbursement). PCI covers your tail, so you can spend your time and energy loving what you do.
These are real scenarios dog walkers face and coverages we include in every dog walking business insurance policy to keep you protected:
You can get our affordable insurance for dog walkers online and update it anytime. With support from our A-rated insurance carrier and friendly, licensed customer service agents, PCI gives you confidence from cart to claim.
Dog Walkers Thrive with Pet Care Insurance
Dog Walkers Insurance FAQs
What kind of insurance do you need to be a dog walker?
Insurance for dog walkers needs to be tailored to unique risks, such as dog-to-dog interactions, yard damage, and injuries from extreme weather. At a minimum, we suggest these coverages to protect your furry clients and your finances if you’re growing or starting a dog walking business:
- General Liability Insurance
- Animal Bailee Insurance (aka Pet Protection)
- Veterinarian Reimbursement
- Lost Key Liability Insurance
- Workers Comp Insurance (if you have employees and operate in any U.S. state except Texas)
Should a dog walker be bonded and insured?
Dog walker insurance and bonding go hand in hand if you run a walking service with employees. Employee dishonesty bonds prevent you from having to pay to make things right with a client if your employee steals from them.
PCI offers employee dishonesty coverage (similar to but better than bonding) to show clients they don’t have to worry while you’re on the job.
Is dog walking insurance required by law?
Most dog walkers aren’t legally required to get insurance, but most also can’t afford to skip it. Dog walkers are often held financially responsible for property damage and injuries to people or pets. Insurance can help pay for medical bills, legal fees, repairs, and more. Some pet parents and employers also require insurance before handing over the leash, so it pays to be prepared.
Do I need insurance if I work through platforms like Rover or Wag?
Yes! Rover, Wag, and most other pet care apps do not provide dog walking insurance. If an accident happens while you’re caring for a pet, they’re set up to protect the pet and their owner — not you. That’s why Rover and Wag both recommend buying dog walker insurance on your own.
See our insurance for Rover dog walkers page to get the full scoop.
Does dog walkers insurance cover dog bites and injuries to people?
Yes. Dog walkers insurance includes general liability coverage to help pay medical and legal costs if a dog in your care bites someone. It can also cover bites to other pets.
A few things to know about dog walker insurance from PCI:
- Covers harm to others, not yourself or your employees. Add Workers Compensation to cover employees against dog bites on the job.
- Bites from dogs with a known history of aggression or official “dangerous dog” designation aren’t covered. (This is standard across most insurers.) Asking for a bite history upfront helps you avoid higher-risk walks.
What if a dog gets hurt while I’m walking them?
If a dog is injured during a walk, Pet Protection Coverage can help. This coverage can cover vet bills or lawsuit costs if a pet is hurt, gets sick, escapes, or even dies while in your care, custody, or control. See our Pet Protection Coverage page for real claim examples.
What’s the difference between pet sitter insurance and dog walker insurance?
The difference comes down to where and how long you care for pets.
- Pet sitter insurance covers longer visits, often inside a client’s home, including overnight stays
- Dog walker insurance is designed for shorter, outdoor-focused activities like walks and quick visits
If you offer both services, pet sitter insurance can cover your full range of risks.
See Who Else We Cover
We protect pet care professionals for all kinds of services. Here are some of our most popular:
