Dog Walking Contract Template
A free dog walking contract template covering the walk schedule, solo versus group walks, leash and harness rules, key handling, weather limits, veterinary authorization, and package pricing. Download in PDF or Word and fill in the bracketed fields.
Last updated: August 5, 2026
What Is a Dog Walking Contract?
A dog walking contract is the written agreement between a dog owner and the walker who takes the dog out on a regular schedule. It covers the practical mechanics — which days, what time, how long, whether the dog walks alone or with a small group, and how the walker gets into the home — and the safety rules that keep the walk uneventful: leash and harness requirements, a firm no off-leash policy without written consent, and temperature thresholds that trigger a shortened walk or indoor playtime instead.
The rest of the document exists because a dog on a public sidewalk is a liability that belongs to someone. The owner is asked to disclose bite history, reactivity, and behavioral issues honestly, to keep vaccinations and flea and tick prevention current, and to indemnify the walker for injury or damage the dog causes to a third party. The walker is given written veterinary authorization with a spending cap so an injured dog gets treated without a phone call that goes to voicemail. On the commercial side, the contract locks in package pricing, expiration dates, holiday and last-minute surcharges, lockout fees, and the notice required to cancel a walk.
When to Use This Template
- ✓You are booking recurring midday walks and want the schedule, duration, and rate written down
- ✓The walker will enter your home with a key, lockbox, or smart lock code while you are at work
- ✓Your dog is reactive, has a bite history, or must be walked alone rather than in a group
- ✓You are the walker and want vaccination proof, behavior disclosure, and indemnification before the first walk
- ✓You are buying a package of walks and need the price, the expiration date, and the cancellation rule settled
- ✓Extreme heat or cold is common where you live and you need a written weather substitution policy
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Full text of the template. Fields in [BRACKETS] are placeholders you fill in.
Dog Walking Contract
1. 1. Parties
This Dog Walking Agreement (the "Agreement") is entered into on [EFFECTIVE DATE] between [WALKER OR COMPANY NAME], located at [WALKER ADDRESS] (the "Walker"), and [OWNER NAME], residing at [OWNER ADDRESS] (the "Owner"). Walks will begin and end at [SERVICE ADDRESS]. The Owner will be reachable during service hours at [OWNER MOBILE] and [OWNER EMAIL]. The backup contact authorized to make decisions and access the home if the Owner cannot be reached is [BACKUP CONTACT NAME, RELATIONSHIP, PHONE]. Each Party confirms that the person signing below has authority to do so, and the Owner confirms being the lawful owner or authorized custodian of each dog described in Section 2.
2. 2. Dogs Covered and Profile
The Walker will walk the following dogs (the "Dogs"): [DOG ONE NAME, BREED, AGE, WEIGHT, COLOR AND MARKINGS, SPAYED OR NEUTERED, MICROCHIP NUMBER]; [DOG TWO NAME, BREED, AGE, WEIGHT, SPAYED OR NEUTERED, MICROCHIP NUMBER]. For each Dog the Owner discloses: pulling or lunging behavior [DETAILS]; reaction to other dogs [DETAILS]; reaction to people, children, bicycles, and vehicles [DETAILS]; recall reliability [DETAILS]; medical conditions, joint or breathing limitations, and heat sensitivity [DETAILS]; medications given before or after a walk [DETAILS]; and food or treat restrictions [DETAILS]. The Owner will notify the Walker in writing of any change to this profile, including a new diagnosis, a change in medication, a recent surgery, or a new behavior, before the next scheduled walk.
3. 3. Walk Schedule, Duration, and Service Area
Walks are scheduled on [DAYS OF WEEK] with an arrival window of [ARRIVAL WINDOW, e.g., 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.], and each walk lasts [WALK DURATION, e.g., 30 minutes] measured from the time the Dog leaves the home. The Owner understands that exact arrival times cannot be guaranteed because of traffic, weather, and the needs of dogs earlier in the route, and that a window rather than a fixed time is the standard of the trade. Walks stay within [SERVICE RADIUS OR ROUTE DESCRIPTION] of the service address, and the Walker will not transport any Dog by vehicle unless the Owner has signed a separate transport authorization. Additional or extended walks may be requested with [ADD-ON NOTICE, e.g., 24 hours] notice, subject to availability.
4. 4. Group Walks and Solo Walks
The Owner selects the following service: [SOLO WALK — the Dog is walked alone] or [GROUP WALK — the Dog is walked with up to [MAXIMUM GROUP SIZE] other dogs from other households]. If a group walk is selected, the Owner consents to the Dog being walked alongside other dogs and confirms that the Dog is sociable with unfamiliar dogs. The Walker screens every dog before adding it to a group and may move a Dog to solo walks at any time, at the solo rate, if the Dog is reactive, over-aroused, or unsafe in a group. Dogs in a group are never left tied outside a store, in a vehicle, or unattended. The Owner will not be charged a solo rate without written notice and consent before the change takes effect.
5. 5. Leash, Harness, Collar, and No Off-Leash Policy
Every Dog will be walked on leash at all times. The Walker will use the equipment supplied by the Owner: [EQUIPMENT, e.g., front-clip harness, six-foot fixed-length leash, flat collar with current identification and rabies tags]. Retractable leashes, choke chains, prong collars, and electronic collars will not be used unless the Owner supplies them and confirms their use in writing here: [EQUIPMENT EXCEPTIONS]. The Owner will keep collars and harnesses in safe, correctly fitted condition and will replace worn equipment on request; the Walker may decline a walk if the equipment is unsafe. No Dog will be let off leash in any unfenced area, including a park, trail, or beach, without separate written off-leash consent from the Owner that names the location and accepts the risk. Doors and gates will be checked and secured before and after every walk.
6. 6. Keys, Home Entry, and Lockout Fee
The Owner will provide access by [ACCESS METHOD — KEY / LOCKBOX CODE / SMART LOCK CODE / DOORMAN / GARAGE CODE] at least [ACCESS TEST WINDOW, e.g., 48 hours] before the first walk so the Walker can test it. Keys held by the Walker are stored in a locked location, are never labeled with the service address or the name of the Owner, and are returned within [KEY RETURN PERIOD, e.g., five days] of the end of service unless the Owner asks in writing that a key be kept on file for future bookings. The Owner will disclose alarm codes and the disarm procedure in writing. If the Walker arrives and cannot enter because a code fails, a lock was changed, a deadbolt was engaged, or the Dog is not accessible, a lockout fee of [LOCKOUT FEE] applies and the Walker will contact the Owner and the backup contact immediately.
7. 7. Weather Policy and Temperature Thresholds
The safety of the Dog comes first in extreme weather. When the temperature or heat index is at or above [HEAT THRESHOLD, e.g., 90 degrees Fahrenheit], or the pavement is too hot for a bare hand held to it for five seconds, the Walker will shorten the outdoor portion of the walk to a brief bathroom break and will substitute [HEAT SUBSTITUTION, e.g., indoor playtime, enrichment, and a water refill] for the remaining time at the full walk rate. When the temperature or wind chill is at or below [COLD THRESHOLD, e.g., 20 degrees Fahrenheit], or during ice, lightning, hail, or a severe weather warning, the same substitution applies. Brachycephalic, senior, very young, and heat-sensitive Dogs are given a lower threshold as noted here: [DOG-SPECIFIC WEATHER NOTES]. The Walker will report any weather substitution in the walk report.
8. 8. Veterinary Authorization and Emergency Care Cost Cap
The Owner authorizes the Walker to seek veterinary care for any Dog that is injured, ill, or in distress during or immediately after a walk, including transporting the Dog to [PRIMARY VETERINARIAN NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE] or, if that clinic is closed or unable to treat, to [EMERGENCY CLINIC NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE] or the nearest available emergency animal hospital. The Owner authorizes the treating veterinarian to examine, stabilize, and treat the Dog on the instruction of the Walker. The Walker may authorize treatment up to [EMERGENCY CARE CAP, e.g., $500] without prior approval and will notify the Owner as soon as practical. Above that cap the Walker will attempt to reach the Owner and then the backup contact before authorizing further care, but may authorize whatever is needed to relieve suffering or preserve life if neither can be reached. The Owner pays all costs and reimburses any amount the Walker advances within [REIMBURSEMENT PERIOD, e.g., seven days].
9. 9. Vaccination, Flea, and Tick Requirements
The Owner represents that each Dog is currently vaccinated against rabies as required by state and local law and against [REQUIRED VACCINATIONS, e.g., distemper, parvovirus, and bordetella where group walks apply], and will provide records from the veterinarian on request and on each renewal. Each Dog must be on a veterinarian-recommended flea, tick, and heartworm prevention program, described here: [PREVENTION PRODUCTS AND SCHEDULE]. The Owner will notify the Walker immediately if a Dog develops a contagious condition, including kennel cough, canine influenza, giardia, or a skin or ear infection, and walks will be suspended until a veterinarian clears the Dog. A Dog that is not current on required vaccinations may not join a group walk, and the Walker may suspend service until records are provided.
10. 10. Owner Disclosure of Bite History and Behavior
The Owner represents that no Dog has bitten a person or another animal, has been the subject of an animal control complaint, or has been declared dangerous or potentially dangerous under any local ordinance, except as fully disclosed here: [BITE, COMPLAINT, OR DANGEROUS DOG HISTORY]. The Owner will also disclose leash reactivity, resource guarding, separation anxiety, door dashing, fence climbing, and any history of escaping a collar or harness. The Owner understands that undisclosed history may void insurance coverage held by the Walker and is a material breach of this Agreement. The Walker may decline, suspend, or permanently end service for any Dog that behaves aggressively toward the Walker, another dog, or a member of the public, and unused prepaid walks will be refunded less any completed walks.
11. 11. Indemnification and Third-Party Injury
The Owner will indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Walker and any assistant of the Walker from all claims, demands, damages, medical expenses, veterinary costs, property damage, legal fees, and fines arising from the actions of any Dog during the term of this Agreement, including bites, scratches, chasing, damage to property, and injury to another animal or to a member of the public. This obligation applies whether the incident occurs on a walk, at the home, or during transport authorized by the Owner, and it survives the end of this Agreement. It does not apply to the extent a claim is caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Walker. The Owner will notify the Walker promptly of any claim or incident involving a Dog and will cooperate in its defense. The Walker carries [WALKER INSURANCE DESCRIPTION] and will provide a certificate on request.
12. 12. Waste Cleanup, Local Leash Laws, and Walk Reports
The Walker will pick up and properly dispose of all waste produced by a Dog on every walk, in accordance with local ordinances, and will place bagged waste in [WASTE DISPOSAL LOCATION] at the service address rather than in the container of a neighbor. The Walker will comply with all applicable leash laws, curfew rules, park regulations, and licensing requirements in [MUNICIPALITY], and any fine issued because of the conduct of a Dog or because of missing licenses or tags is the responsibility of the Owner. After each walk the Walker will send a written report through [REPORT METHOD, e.g., the client app, text, or email] noting the start and end time, the route or distance, whether the Dog urinated and defecated, water given, treats given, and anything unusual, along with at least one photograph. GPS tracking of the route [IS / IS NOT] included.
13. 13. Pricing, Packages, Expiration, and Surcharges
Rates are [RATE PER SOLO WALK] per solo walk, [RATE PER GROUP WALK] per group walk, and [ADDITIONAL DOG RATE] for each additional dog from the same household on the same walk. Packages are available at [PACKAGE PRICE FOR NUMBER OF WALKS] and expire [PACKAGE EXPIRATION, e.g., 90 days] after purchase; unused walks after expiration are forfeited unless the Parties agree in writing to extend. A surcharge of [HOLIDAY SURCHARGE] applies on [HOLIDAY LIST], and a same-day or short-notice booking made less than [SHORT NOTICE WINDOW, e.g., 12 hours] before the requested time carries a surcharge of [SHORT NOTICE SURCHARGE]. Payment is due [PAYMENT TIMING, e.g., in advance for packages, or weekly in arrears] by [PAYMENT METHOD]. Rates may be adjusted with [RATE CHANGE NOTICE, e.g., 30 days] written notice, and the Owner may cancel without penalty before a new rate takes effect.
14. 14. Cancellation, Refusal of Service, and Termination
The Owner may cancel a scheduled walk without charge by giving at least [CANCELLATION NOTICE, e.g., 12 hours] notice through [CANCELLATION METHOD]; a walk cancelled with less notice is charged in full because the slot cannot be resold. If the Walker cancels for any reason other than severe weather, illness, or an emergency, the walk is credited to the account of the Owner. Either Party may terminate this Agreement on [TERMINATION NOTICE, e.g., seven days] written notice, and the Walker may terminate immediately if a Dog is aggressive, if required vaccinations lapse, if the home or route is unsafe, or if fees remain unpaid for more than [DELINQUENCY PERIOD, e.g., 14 days]. On termination the Walker returns all keys and access devices and refunds any prepaid unused walks less amounts owed.
15. 15. Signatures
By signing below, both Parties confirm they have read this Agreement, understand it, and agree to be bound by it, including the veterinary authorization in Section 8 and the indemnification in Section 11. This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of [GOVERNING STATE], is the entire agreement between the Parties, and may be amended only in writing. OWNER: [OWNER NAME]. Signature: ______________________. Printed Name: [OWNER SIGNER NAME]. Date: [DATE]. WALKER: [WALKER OR COMPANY NAME]. Signature: ______________________. Printed Name: [WALKER SIGNER NAME]. Title: [TITLE]. Date: [DATE]. Electronic and counterpart signatures have the same effect as originals.
16. Disclaimer
This template is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Dog walking is regulated differently across states and municipalities, including leash and waste ordinances, limits on how many dogs one person may walk at once, licensing and permit rules for commercial walkers, dangerous dog statutes, and strict liability rules for dog bites that vary substantially by state. Insurance policies also differ in what they cover and what an undisclosed bite history voids. Review and adapt this document for your own location, and consult a licensed attorney or your insurer before relying on it. Use of this template does not create an attorney-client relationship with ScanContract.
Key Clauses Explained
What each important clause does — and what to watch out for before you sign.
Leash and No Off-Leash Policy
Requires the dog to stay leashed at all times unless the owner gives separate written off-leash consent.
Owners who want off-leash time at a trail should understand they are accepting the risk in writing, and should never assume a walker will do it informally. Walkers should refuse verbal permission entirely, because an off-leash dog that runs into traffic or another dog is the single largest exposure in this line of work.
Group Walks Versus Solo Walks
Sets whether the dog walks alone or with dogs from other households and how many dogs are in a group.
Owners should ask for the maximum group size in writing and check whether local rules cap how many dogs one person may walk. Walkers should keep the right to move a dog to solo walks when it is over-aroused in a pack, and should get written consent before charging the higher solo rate rather than surprising the client on the invoice.
Weather Policy and Substitution
Defines heat and cold thresholds and replaces the outdoor walk with indoor time at the full rate.
Owners are sometimes surprised to be billed a full walk for fifteen minutes of indoor enrichment, so read the substitution rule before the first heat wave. Walkers should write in a lower threshold for flat-faced, senior, and heat-sensitive dogs, and should document every substitution in the walk report so the charge is never a mystery.
Veterinary Authorization and Emergency Cap
Lets the walker get an injured dog treated immediately up to a set amount without prior approval.
Owners should name a 24-hour emergency clinic, not just the regular veterinarian, and should file a matching authorization with the clinic. Walkers should set the cap high enough that an exam, x-rays, and stabilization are covered, and should keep the carve-out that allows care needed to relieve suffering regardless of the cap.
Bite History and Behavior Disclosure
Requires the owner to disclose bites, complaints, reactivity, and escape behavior before service begins.
Owners should understand that hiding a bite can void the insurance of the walker and leave them personally exposed to a claim. Walkers should ask directly about leash reactivity and slipping a collar, not just about bites, and should keep the right to end service immediately when undisclosed behavior appears on the route.
Indemnification for Third-Party Injury
Puts responsibility for anything the dog does to a person, animal, or property on the owner.
Owners in strict liability states are often already responsible by statute for a bite, so this clause mostly confirms what the law says — but they should check that it excludes the negligence of the walker. Walkers should carry their own liability policy anyway, since an indemnity from an uninsured individual is only as good as their ability to pay.
Package Pricing and Expiration
Sells walks in blocks at a lower per-walk price with a deadline for using them.
Owners should note the expiration date and check whether unused walks are refundable or simply forfeited, since a long vacation can quietly burn a package. Walkers should keep the expiration reasonable, and should be aware that some states restrict forfeiture of prepaid consumer services, so a hard expiry may not survive a challenge.
Cancellation Notice and Lockout Fee
Charges for a walk cancelled too late and for a trip where the walker cannot get in the door.
Owners should confirm the lockout fee is only charged when the failure is on their side, such as a changed code or an engaged deadbolt. Walkers should test every key and code before the first walk and document the failed entry with a timestamped photo, because a disputed lockout fee is usually a dispute about what actually happened at the door.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a dog walking contract include?▾
Who is liable if a dog bites someone during a walk?▾
What happens if it is too hot or too cold to walk the dog?▾
Can a dog walker let my dog off leash?▾
How much notice is needed to cancel a dog walk?▾
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