5 Questions to Ask Any Dog Walker Before You Hire Them
Not all dog walkers are the same. Five questions separate the ones worth trusting from the ones worth passing on.
Question 1: Are you insured, bonded, and do your employees pass background checks?
This is the baseline. Not optional, not a nice-to-have. If a walker says they aren't insured or bonded, the conversation ends there. Insurance protects your pet and your home if something goes wrong. Bonding protects you from theft. Background checks tell you whether the person entering your home has a clear record.
Ask for proof, not just a verbal yes. A professional will have it readily available.
Question 2: What happens if you can't make it?
This question tells you whether you're dealing with a solo operator or a team. A solo walker — whether independent or through a gig app — has no backup. If they get sick, cancel, or have an emergency, your dog doesn't get walked. Full stop.
A team-based company has built-in coverage. Someone else steps in. Your dog's care doesn't hinge on one person having an uncomplicated day. After 13 years running Funky Bunch Pet Care, this is the question we wish more pet parents asked first.
Question 3: What certifications do you hold?
Pet First Aid and CPR certification is the minimum. Fear Free certification is the gold standard — it reflects specific training in recognizing and reducing animal stress during professional care. Not many walkers hold it. In Springfield and Sedalia, Funky Bunch is the only team that does.
Beyond certifications, ask about ongoing training. A professional who invests in continuing education treats this as a career, not a side gig.
Question 4: What will I receive after each visit?
The answer should be: a photo and a written update, every single visit, without exception. Not 'I'll text if something comes up.' Not 'I post on social media sometimes.' A direct, personal, written report from your dog's specific walk that day.
This is how you stay connected to your pet's care when you can't be there. It's also how you know whether the walk actually happened, how long it took, and how your dog was doing. Funky Bunch uses Time To Pet to send real-time updates and photos to clients after every visit. That's the standard. Hold everyone to it.
Question 5: How are your walks structured?
A great dog walk is more than a loop around the block. It's built around Exercise, Exploration, and Enrichment — what we call the Three E's. Exercise to burn the physical energy that builds up during the day. Exploration to give your dog's brain the cognitive stimulation they need. Enrichment to vary the experience and keep your dog genuinely engaged rather than just present.
Ask what a typical walk looks like. If the answer is 'we walk the same route every time as fast as possible,' that's a different product than what your dog actually needs.
The short version
Five questions. Five answers that tell you almost everything:
Insured, bonded, background-checked?
What happens when you cancel?
What certifications do you hold?
What do I get after each visit?
How are walks structured?
A professional dog walker has good answers to all five. If the answers feel vague, incomplete, or defensive — keep looking.
Funky Bunch Pet Care answers all five confidently. Book a meet and greet in Springfield or Sedalia and find out what your dog's walks could look like.
