Getting started in dog walking
Steps to go from zero to your first recurring dog-walking client.
- 1
Check local licensing and leash-law rules
Most areas don't require a special license for dog walking, but some cities require a general business license or cap how many unrelated dogs you can walk at once — check your city/county rules before offering group walks.
- 2
Get liability or bonding insurance
A single dog-on-dog incident, escape, or property-damage claim can exceed months of walk income — this is worth having before your first paid walk, not after an incident.
- 3
Set your rates and walk menu
Decide walk lengths (15/30/60-min), same-household multi-dog pricing, and whether you'll offer group walks before you talk to your first client.
- 4
Build an intake form and contract
Collect vet info, feeding/behavior notes, and get the contract signed — and a key exchanged — before the first walk.
- 5
Plan your route for density
Prioritize clients within a tight geographic cluster over scattered one-offs; route density is what determines your real hourly income, not your per-walk price alone.
- 6
List yourself locally and get reviews
Google Business Profile, neighborhood apps (Nextdoor), local vet-clinic bulletin boards, and a Rover profile for initial leads all drive early bookings — then ask satisfied clients for a Google review, the highest-leverage growth channel for solo walkers.