Insured, DBS-checked, first-aid trained: the credentials that matter in a dog walker

Handing your dog over to someone new means trusting them with two precious things: your dog's safety, and — more often than not — a key to your home. So before you book anyone, it's worth knowing which credentials genuinely matter, what each one actually means, and the questions a good walker will be only too happy to answer. Here's our honest guide.

1. Insurance — and what "fully insured" really means

This is the non-negotiable one. "Fully insured" should mean two things: public liability (which covers third parties — say your dog causes an accident) and care, custody & control cover (which protects your dog while they're in the walker's hands). Plenty of people say "insured"; fewer can explain what their policy actually covers. Ask — and ask to see the certificate. We're fully insured on both counts, and we're always happy to show you the paperwork at your free meet & greet.

2. A DBS check

Your walker will often have a key to your home and let themselves in and out while you're at work. A DBS check (the background check once known as CRB) is a perfectly reasonable thing to ask any walker about — it's about trusting someone in your home as much as with your dog. Don't feel awkward asking; a professional won't mind the question one bit.

3. Canine first aid

Dogs are dogs — a cut paw, a bee sting, a wobble in the heat. If something happens mid-walk, you want someone who knows what to do in the moment and when to get to a vet. Canine first-aid training is well worth asking your walker about, and it's a good sign of someone who treats this as a profession rather than a hobby.

4. Qualifications & memberships (nice to have)

Some walkers hold animal-care qualifications or belong to industry bodies. These aren't essential — plenty of brilliant walkers are simply experienced, dog-obsessed locals — but they're a reassuring extra, and a sign someone's invested in doing things properly.

5. The checks that matter just as much

Paperwork isn't the whole picture. Three things tell you as much about a walker as any certificate:

• A free meet & greet. Any good walker will want to meet you and your dog first — to learn their routine and make sure they'll be happy. If someone's willing to take your keys without ever meeting your dog, walk away. Ours is free and no-obligation.
• References. A walker worth booking will happily put you in touch with other local owners. We offer references on request.
• The same person every time. Consistency matters, especially for nervous dogs. With us it's always Heather or Jake — never a rota of strangers.

Don't be shy — a good walker will prove it

Here's the thing: every question above is fair, and the right walker will be glad you asked. Insurance certificate? Happy to show you. Meet your dog first? Wouldn't have it any other way. If anyone's cagey or offended by a reasonable question, that's your answer. (For the wider checklist, see our guide to choosing a dog walker in South Liverpool.)

We'd rather earn your trust properly than simply ask for it — fully insured, references on request, and a free meet & greet before you commit to anything. Book yours and ask us anything you like.