How to Choose a Dog Walker in Toronto: 9 Things to Check
November 9, 2026 · 7 min read · By the WalkDogs.ca pack leaders
Handing someone your keys and your dog takes trust. The good news is that Toronto gives you a few hard facts to check before you get to the softer question of whether you like the person. Here are the nine things we'd want to know if we were hiring a walker ourselves.
1. Do they hold a City of Toronto dog walker permit?
In Toronto, nobody may walk more than three dogs at once in a park or on public land unless they hold a commercial dog walker permit. With the permit, the limit is six. Permit holders must display their numbered permit while walking four to six dogs, and show it to a bylaw officer on request.
If a walker offers group walks of four or more dogs, ask to see the permit. If they say they don't need one, that tells you how they treat the rules.
2. Are they insured, and for what?
The City requires permit holders to carry $2,000,000 in commercial general liability insurance. Ask what the policy covers, and whether it covers the activity your dog will actually be doing. Some policies treat off-leash time differently. Our coverage is for on-leash walking, which is the only kind we do.
3. What is the maximum group size?
Six is the legal ceiling, not a target. Ask for the maximum the company will ever take out, and how they handle it when a walker is short-staffed. Our pack walks are capped at five dogs and we plan for four.
4. Will my dog ever be off leash?
This is the biggest difference between walking companies in the West End, and there is no single right answer. Off-leash hikes suit some confident dogs with rock-solid recall. But an off-leash dog can bolt at a squirrel, a skateboard or another dog, and a walker with five other dogs can't always give chase.
We never take dogs off leash. Every dog is secured with four points of contact: a leash, a harness and safety clips. Whatever a company's policy is, make sure it's written down and that you agree with it.
5. Where do they walk?
Permit holders aren't allowed to take dogs into designated natural or environmentally sensitive areas such as ravines, wooded or savannah areas, and wetlands. That rules out parts of High Park. Ask for typical routes. A good walker can name the streets and paths they use and explain why.
6. Are walkers trained in pet first aid?
Cut paws, heat stress, a dog that swallows something it shouldn't: these happen. Ask whether every walker, not just the owner, is trained in pet first aid and CPR, and what the plan is in an emergency. All of our pack leaders are certified.
7. Will I know how the walk went?
Look for GPS tracking, photos and a short report after each walk. They're proof the walk happened and a record of anything unusual, like a loose stool or a limp. We use the TimeToPet app for live GPS, report cards, scheduling and billing.
8. Who covers sick days and holidays?
Ask who walks your dog when your regular walker is away, and whether that person has met your dog. Find out the cancellation policy on both sides, too. We ask for 24 hours' notice, and we hold ourselves to the same standard.
9. Can my dog try it first?
A meet & greet at your home lets the walker learn your dog's habits, health and quirks, and lets your dog sniff out the walker. A trial walk shows you the service in practice. We do both for free.
A quick checklist to take to your meet & greet
- City of Toronto commercial dog walker permit (for walks of 4+ dogs)
- Commercial liability insurance, and what it covers
- Maximum group size, in writing
- Off-leash policy, in writing
- Typical routes
- Pet first aid and CPR training for every walker
- GPS tracking and walk reports
- Backup walkers and cancellation policy
- A free meet & greet or trial walk
If you're in Roncesvalles, High Park, the Junction, Parkdale or Bloor West, we'd be glad to answer every one of these in person. Check our service areas, read our FAQ, or book a free meet & greet.