What should I ask before hiring a dog walker or pet sitter?

Start by defining what kind of help you need

“Dog walking” and “pet sitting” can describe very different arrangements.

You might need a midday walk while you're at work, one or more drop-in visits each day, care for several pets in the same household, or someone to stay overnight in your home while you're traveling.

Start by explaining what you actually need.

Ask how long visits typically last, what happens during them, whether walks are private or may include other dogs, and how overnight or in-home sitting works if that's the service you're considering.

The clearer everyone is about the arrangement before you leave the keys, the fewer surprises there are later.

Ask who will actually care for your dog

If you're hiring an individual, the answer may be obvious.

If you're hiring a company, ask whether the person you meet will be the person who normally visits your dog.

Some businesses have employees or multiple caregivers and may use different people depending on scheduling, availability, or backup coverage.

That isn't necessarily a problem.

You simply want to understand who may have access to your home and responsibility for your dog.

Ask whether you'll meet the primary caregiver beforehand and how the company handles substitutions.

Talk honestly about your dog

A caregiver needs more than feeding instructions and a leash location.

Talk about your dog's normal routine, personality, walking habits, fears, triggers, interactions with people and other animals, escape tendencies, and anything else that could affect care.

If your dog guards food or toys, pulls strongly on leash, reacts to other dogs, dislikes certain kinds of handling, is frightened by storms, or has another important behavioral concern, say so.

This isn't the time to make your dog sound easier than they are.

Good information helps the caregiver make better decisions.

Discuss health needs and emergencies

Tell the caregiver about medications, medical conditions, allergies, mobility limitations, dietary restrictions, or other health needs that affect your dog's routine.

If medication needs to be given, ask whether the caregiver is comfortable and experienced with the specific type of medication or routine involved.

Also establish an emergency plan.

Make sure the caregiver has your veterinarian's information, your preferred emergency veterinary hospital if you have one, reliable ways to reach you, and an alternate contact if you cannot be reached.

Ask what the walker or sitter would do if your dog became ill or injured, escaped, or another unexpected situation occurred.

You don't need to predict every possible emergency.

You do want everyone to know who to call and what to do next.

Ask how home access is handled

When someone is entering your home while you're away, logistics and security matter.

Ask how keys, door codes, garage access, alarm systems, or smart locks are handled and stored.

If you're working with a company, ask who can access that information and what happens to keys or codes when service ends.

Also explain any household details the caregiver needs to know—doors that must remain closed, gates that need to be latched, rooms that are off-limits, or other pets in the home.

A good care plan includes the house as well as the dog.

Understand scheduling, cancellations, and backup coverage

Ask how scheduling works and how much notice is generally needed for new visits, changes, or cancellations.

If you're traveling, find out what happens if your return is delayed.

Just as important: ask what happens if the walker or sitter becomes sick, has an emergency, encounters dangerous weather, or otherwise cannot make a scheduled visit.

An independent caregiver and a larger company may handle backup coverage very differently.

Neither model is automatically better.

You simply need to understand the plan before you're depending on it.

Ask about business practices that matter to you

Depending on the provider and the arrangement, you may want to ask about professional experience, references, background screening, business insurance, bonding, training, or certifications.

Not every type of dog-care provider will have the same credentials or business structure, and one label alone doesn't tell you whether someone is right for your dog.

The useful question is what protections, experience, policies, and professional practices are in place for the service you're hiring.

If something matters to you, ask about it directly.

Decide how you'll stay in touch

Many people appreciate receiving some kind of update after a walk or visit.

Ask what communication normally looks like.

That might mean a text, app update, written note, photos, or a brief report about walks, meals, bathroom breaks, medications, or how your dog was doing.

Also make sure the caregiver knows when you want to be contacted immediately rather than simply updated later.

Communication expectations are much easier to establish before the trip than while you're already several hundred miles away.

Have a meet-and-greet before you rely on the arrangement

Whenever practical, meet the caregiver before the first time you're depending on them.

Show them where food, leashes, medications, cleaning supplies, crates, carriers, and other essentials are kept. Walk through your dog's routine and demonstrate anything that isn't obvious.

Pay attention to how the caregiver interacts with your dog and whether they ask useful questions.

Your dog doesn't have to fall instantly in love with a new person.

But you should come away feeling that the caregiver understands the assignment, takes your concerns seriously, and knows what information they still need.