Dog Walker Insurance Cost

To your clients, their dog’s health and happiness are priceless. That’s why we make your insurance affordable. If you’re wondering what you get for the cost of dog walking insurance, we’re here to walk you through it.

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Trusted by over 15,000 Pet-care Professionals

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How Much Is Dog Walking Insurance?

Monthly Average Cost of Dog Walking Insurance

19% pay under $13 59% pay $13 to $18 13% pay $18 to $25 10% pay over $25
19% pay under $13 59% pay $13 to $18 13% pay $18 to $25 10% pay over $25
PCI offers the best balance between minimum prices and maximum coverage.

Some coverages are just too crucial to skip. If you’re going to pay for dog walker insurance (we know, woof, but it’s important), you want a policy designed to respond when you have a pet-related claim. Cheap pet business insurance that doesn’t include comprehensive protection can leave you out in the cold when accidents happen.

The right coverage matters.

Almost 57% of PCI claims have been covered through Pet Protection.*

Over 26% of PCI claims have been covered through Veterinarian Reimbursement.*

That’s why these two coverages come standard in every PCI policy, with the option for higher limits to protect small businesses in all shapes and sizes.

*Data based on PCI claims through October 2024

What Types of Payment Plans Are Available?

PCI keeps your options open with flexible monthly or annual payments to fit your needs.

  • Monthly payments mean less out of pocket now. We get it, pet care can be up and down, especially as a side hustle. Monthly payments break down your insurance cost into bite-size installments. There is a recurring $2 fee for monthly payments.

  • Annual payments mean savings over time. Paying upfront with an annual plan saves you about 13% over the year. That’s around $21 you can put toward your monthly bag of dog food, business marketing subscriptions, or just pampering your pup
Most popular

$13.33/ month

or $139/year!

Employee Dishonesty Coverage (Similar to Bonding)

How Much Does Each Type of Coverage Cost?

General Liability: $13.33/Month or $139/Year

What Factors Affect Dog Walking Insurance Cost?

Yearly Income

Dog walkers with higher pre-tax incomes need higher limits to protect their finances. This can raise your insurance costs.

Add-On Coverages

Customizing your policy with optional protections adds to your total price.

Past Claims

If you have filed insurance claims before, your cost may be higher to reflect your level of risk.

Other Pet Care Services

If you offer… Then you need… Starts at…

Tier 1:

Dog walking
Waste removal
Basic grooming (bathing and brushing)
Basic training (sit, stay, and come)

$13.33/month

Tier 2:

Anything from Tier 1, plus:

Pet sitting
Drop-in visits

$19.08/month

Tier 3:

Anything from Tier 1 and 2, plus:

Dog grooming
Cat grooming

$19.08/month

Tier 4:

Anything from Tier 1, 2, and 3, plus:

Doggy daycare
Daytime boarding for 10 pets or less
Overnight boarding for 5 pets or less
Pet ground transportation
Pet air transportation
Advanced pet training

$21.58/month

Tier 1:

Dog walking
Waste removal
Basic grooming (bathing and brushing)
Basic training (sit, stay, and come)

Dog Walker Insurance

OR

Pooper Scooper Insurance

Starts at: $13.33/month

Tier 2:

Anything from Tier 1, plus:

Pet sitting
Drop-in visits

 

Dog Sitter Insurance

OR

Cat Sitter Insurance

OR

Pet Sitter Insurance

Starts at: $19.08/month

Tier 3:

Anything from Tier 1 and 2, plus:

Dog grooming
Cat grooming

Dog Groomer Insurance

OR

Mobile Pet Groomer Insurance

Starts at: $19.08/month

Tier 4:

Anything from Tier 1, 2, and 3, plus:

Doggy daycare
Daytime boarding for 10 pets or less
Overnight boarding for 5 pets or less
Pet ground transportation
Pet air transportation
Advanced pet training

OR

Dog Trainer Insurance

OR

Pet Taxi Insurance

OR

Pet Kennel Insurance

Starts at: $21.58/month

Note: Some business activities are excluded from coverage. Check your policy language carefully – we’re here to help!

Is Dog Walker Insurance Worth It?

We get it, insurance is expensive. But lawsuits and vet bills due to accidents on the job are more expensive. Even one claim over your dog walking career can ensure that insurance pays for itself. Let’s stroll through an example claim.

Claim Cost

Rocky the husky gets upset when another dog snaps at him on your walk in the park. The two dogs start fighting, and you and the other dog’s owner try to break it up. Both dogs are injured.

According to WebMD, this is a breakdown of how much that vet visit could cost for one animal:

  • Exam: $100–$150
  • X-rays: $150–$600
  • Hospitalization for 3–5 days: $2,000–$3,500
  • Emergency surgery: $2,000–$5,000


Was the other dog owner bitten while trying to separate the dogs? They may come to you to recoup the cost of hospital bills.

Average dog bite hospital bill: $23,680

Total cost:

One dog: $100 to $9,250

Two dogs: $200 to $18,500

Two dogs plus hospital bill: $23,880 to $42,180

You could be looking at over $40,000 for one accident! And this estimate only considers medical bills – we haven’t factored in court fees and penalties if either dog’s owner decides to sue you.

Insurance Cost

Now let’s compare that to the cost of dog walker insurance.

  • Dog walker insurance: $139/year
  • Medical expense limit: included
  • Pet protection coverage: included
  • Vet reimbursement coverage: included


Total cost of insurance:
$139/year

Insurance would cover most or all of your financial responsibility for a fraction of the out-of-pocket cost. Even if you invest in insurance for 10 years and only use it once, it could still pay for itself if you make a single claim.

Don’t Wait & Let Accidents Bite You

Bit by other dog on walk - 
$2,432.04 Front foot injured on walk - 
$5,350.28 Ate something on walk - $15,845.71 Broke leg running on walk -
$10,684 
 Hurt leg getting into kennel after walk - $11,000

Shortening the Leash on Your Insurance Costs

There are two ways to keep your dog walking insurance cost as low as possible. The first is to choose an annual plan. The second is to know your risks and take every step to avoid accidents at work.

Give these dog walker risk management tips a try:

  • Create clear, written contracts with clients to keep everyone on the same page about your services, responsibilities, and pricing.
  • Communicate with the owners, if possible, about their dog’s behaviors, illnesses, or special needs to provide the safest walk.
  • Limit the number of dogs you walk at one time to give each pup enough attention.
  • Know the nearest emergency vet center to each gig, just in case.
  • Check the weather before you walk – extreme temperatures can hurt vulnerable pets, especially smaller breeds and senior dogs.
  • Avoid preventable health issues by being prepared. For example, bring a collapsible water bowl to avoid dehydration, and stay off asphalt on hot days to avoid burned paws.

Why PCI for the Best Dog Walker Insurance?

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Limits of Insurance

The most your policy will pay in a 12 month policy period for bodily injury and property damage claims that you become legally obligated to pay due to your business services.

Limit per Incident: $1,000,000

Limit per Year: $2,000,000

The maximum amount your policy will pay in a 12-month period for bodily injury and property damage claims that result from the products you use to perform your services.

$2,000,000

The amount that your policy will pay for claims arising out of one or more of the following offenses:

  • False arrest, detention or imprisonment
  • Malicious prosecution
  • Wrongful eviction or wrongful entry
  • Oral or written publications that slander or libel a person or organization
  • Oral or written publication or material that violates a person’s right of privacy
  • The use of another’s advertising idea in your advertisement
$1,000,000

The maximum your policy will pay for a bodily injury or property damage claim that you become legally obligated to pay due to your business services.

$1,000,000

Applies to damage by fire to premises rented to the insured; also applies to damage regardless of cause to premises (including contents) occupied by the insured for 7 days or less.

Any One Premises: $100,000

A general liability coverage that reimburses others, without regard to the insured’s liability, for medical or funeral expenses incurred by such persons as a result of bodily injury or death sustained by accident under the conditions specified in the policy.

Any One Person: $5,000

This provides your pet business with coverage in the event that you are legally liable for injuries or damages sustained by an animal in your care, custody, or control.

Limit per Incident: $2,500

Limit per Year: $5,000

This provides coverage for medical expenses—regardless of who is at fault—for a client’s pet in your care, custody, or control.

Limit per Incident: $1,000

Limit per Year: $2,500

Deductible: $250

If you were to lose the keys to a client’s residence, this coverage could help you manage the cost of installing new locks or having the building rekeyed.

Limit per Incident: $2,000

Limit per Year: $2,000

How Do I Get a Dog Walking Insurance Quote?

Get a quote faster than you can say “biiig stretch” with our online application. Just follow these simple steps for coverage in minutes:

  1. Select your business type on the online application.
  2. Choose any coverages you want to add.
  3. Tell us a little about your business.
  4. Choose your start date.*
  5. Enter your payment info.


* We offer same-day proof of insurance! Note that some coverages have a waiting period as shown in the application.

And you’re all set! You can access your proof of insurance or manage your policy instantly anytime through your online account.

walk through of app

FAQs About Dog Walker Insurance Cost

Yes! Walking dogs means putting unpredictable animals in situations full of new places, people, and pets. Even the most careful dog walkers may not see serious and expensive harm to animals, property, or people coming. PCI dog walking insurance accounts for the unforeseeable with coverages tailored to the risks of caring for dogs.

Rover and Wag both recommend that dog walkers carry their own insurance since neither company insures contractors. Both have conflict resolution rules designed to help pets, not necessarily dog walkers, if an accident happens. PCI’s Rover Insurance for Dog Walkers is made to protect you if a pet in your care gets hurt or you experience a costly lawsuit.

Most coverages in Dog Walker Insurance from PCI have no deductible. There is a $250 deductible per occurrence for Veterinarian Reimbursement, which means you’re responsible for the first $250 of a qualifying vet bill, and PCI pays you back for the rest up to $1,000 when you submit a claim. Your policy covers up to $2,500 in vet bills per year with higher limits available.

If a claim is covered under your policy, your dog walker insurance pays court fees, representation costs, judgments, settlements, and other legal expenses that can dogpile quickly.

Dog walker insurance doesn’t cover things like health care for your own pet or caring for livestock, dogs kept primarily for breeding, and exotic animals.

The idea is to not make you pay for things outside your normal business to provide the best protection where you need it most. How likely are you to need to walk a Komodo dragon? And would you really want to pay extra to be able to do it in theory? We’d rather keep you fully protected while walking clients’ dogs.

We keep our claim filing process quick, easy, and accessible through your online account. Just follow these steps:

  1. Log in to your user account.
  2. Locate the “Manage Policies” section.
  3. Click “File a Claim.”
  4. Fill out the form and submit.


A customer service agent will get back to you in 24–48 hours.

Comparing Employee Dishonesty Coverage & Bonding

PCI’s employee dishonesty coverage is similar to a bond, but there may be some key differences to consider.

Employee dishonesty coverage:

  • Can be purchased in the same transaction
  • Doesn’t run credit checks
  • Provides $10,000 per occurrence and $25,000 aggregate coverage

Bonds may differ from our dishonesty coverage by:

  • Checking your credit during the application process
  • Having a “Conviction Claus;” Often bonds won’t pay on claims unless there is a conviction
  • Many require you to reimbursement the bonding company after a claim is paid