5 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Dog Walker in Connecticut

Hiring a dog walker means trusting someone with your home, your schedule, and most importantly, your pet's safety. In Connecticut, where options range from app-based gig workers to established local businesses, not all dog walking services are created equal. Asking the right questions before you hire can mean the difference between reliable, professional care and a risky mistake.

This guide covers the 5 essential questions every Connecticut pet owner should ask before hiring a dog walker, what answers to look for, and what red flags to avoid.

Quick visual guide: Here's what employment status means for your pet's care:

Question 1: Are Your Dog Walkers W-2 Salaried Employees or Independent Contractors?

Why this question matters

The employment status of your dog walker - and whether they earn a salary or variable gig-based income - directly affects:

• Background checks: W-2 salaried employees are typically screened before hiring; independent contractors may not be
• Insurance coverage: Employers carry liability and workers' comp for salaried employees; contractors may be uninsured
• Accountability: Companies can train, supervise, and discipline salaried employees; contractors operate independently
• Consistency: Salaried employees earn fair wages and stay longer, building lasting relationships; contractors often churn quickly
• Service quality: Salaried positions attract career-oriented professionals who provide better care

What to look for in the answer

Good answer: "All our dog walkers are W-2 salaried employees, not independent contractors or hourly gig workers. We pay fair salaries, handle payroll, taxes, background checks, and insurance. They receive professional training and supervision to maintain our service standards."

Red flag answers:

• "We work with a network of independent pet care providers" (means contractors)
• "Our walkers are self-employed professionals" (means no oversight or insurance)
• Vague or evasive responses

Follow-up questions if they use contractors

If the service uses independent contractors, ask these critical questions:

• "What process do you have to verify each contractor carries their own liability insurance?"
  • Good answer: "We collect certificates of insurance from every contractor and verify coverage annually"
  • Red flag: "We have an umbrella policy" or "They can work under our insurance" (This indicates employee misclassification - see Question 3 below for details)
• "What happens if a contractor cancels at the last minute?"
  • With contractors, there's often no backup system - you may need to find coverage yourself
• "How do you vet contractors before they're assigned to clients?"
  • Background checks are legal for contractors (qualification standards), but ongoing training and supervision cross into employee territory

Question 2: What Background Checks and Screening Do You Conduct?

Why this question matters

You're giving someone access to your home when you're not there. They'll have your keys, know your schedule, and be alone with your pet. You need to know they've been thoroughly vetted.

What comprehensive background checks include

Professional pet care companies typically conduct:

• Criminal history check: County, state, and federal criminal records
• Sex offender registry check: Verification against national databases
• Drug screening: Pre-employment drug testing
• Reference verification: Contact with previous employers and personal references

What to look for in the answer

Good answer: "We conduct comprehensive background checks through a third-party screening service. This includes criminal history, sex offender registry checks, and drug testing. We verify references before hiring anyone."

Red flag answers:

• "We do basic online checks" (what does "basic" mean?)
• "Background checks are optional" or "only if requested"
• "We trust our walkers" (trust isn't a substitute for verification)
• Refusal to discuss screening procedures

Ask to see proof

Don't just take their word for it. Ask:

• "Can you provide a copy of your background check policy?"
• "What service do you use for background screening?" (BackgroundChecks.com, Checkr, etc.)
• "How often are checks updated?"

Question 3: What Insurance Coverage Do You Have?

Why this question matters

If your dog gets injured, escapes, or causes damage during a walk, or if the walker gets hurt in your home, insurance determines who pays. Without proper coverage, you could be personally liable.

Types of insurance professional services carry

Legitimate dog walking businesses should have:

• General Liability Insurance: Covers property damage and injuries caused by the walker or pets in their care (typically $1-2 million coverage)
• Animal Bailee Insurance: Specifically covers "care, custody, and control" of animals - protects you if something happens to your pet
• Workers' Compensation: Covers medical expenses if an employee is injured on the job (required for W-2 employees in Connecticut)

What to look for in the answer

Good answer: "We carry $2 million in general liability insurance, animal bailee coverage, and workers' compensation for all employees. I can provide our certificate of insurance for your records."

Red flag answers:

• "We're insured" (without specifying what kind or how much)
• "The app provides insurance" (platform insurance often has low limits and many exclusions)
• "You can add us to your homeowner's policy" (not a substitute for professional coverage)
• "We have an umbrella policy that covers all our contractors" (Major red flag - see below)
• Refusal to provide certificate of insurance

For services using independent contractors: Verify insurance per contractor

If you're considering a contractor-based service, ask: "What process do you have to verify each contractor carries their own insurance?"

They should have a system to:

• Require minimum coverage amounts (e.g., $1M liability + animal bailee)
• Collect certificates of insurance from each contractor
• Verify insurance is current before contractors can accept jobs
• Re-verify annually and remove uninsured contractors from the network

If they don't have this process - or worse, if they say "our umbrella policy covers them" - you're dealing with either uninsured contractors or misclassified employees.

Always request a certificate of insurance (COI)

A legitimate business will gladly provide a current certificate of insurance showing:

• Insurance company name
• Policy numbers
• Coverage amounts
• Expiration dates
• Specific mention of pet care, dog walking, or animal services

If they can't or won't provide this, do not hire them.

Question 4: What Happens If My Regular Walker Is Unavailable?

Why this question matters

Life happens. Walkers get sick, take vacations, or have emergencies. You need to know there's a backup plan so your dog doesn't miss walks or sit home alone when you're depending on care.

How professional services handle coverage

Employee-based companies typically provide:

• Trained backup staff: Other employees who can fill in
• Advance notice: If your walker will be out, you're told ahead of time
• Consistent communication: Office staff coordinate coverage and keep you informed
• No extra charge: Backup is part of the service, not an add-on

What to look for in the answer

Good answer: "If your regular walker is unavailable, we assign a trained backup from our team. You'll receive advance notice and meet the backup beforehand if possible. Our office coordinates everything to ensure your dog's care isn't interrupted."

Red flag answers:

• "You'll need to find coverage yourself if your walker cancels"
• "We'll try to find someone, but we can't guarantee it"
• "Just rebook through the app" (means scrambling for a stranger at the last minute)

Test their system

Ask hypothetical scenarios:

• "What if my walker calls in sick on the day of a scheduled walk?"
• "What happens during peak vacation times like summer or holidays?"
• "Will I always have the same backup person, or is it random?"

Question 5: Can You Provide References from Current Clients?

Why this question matters

Online reviews can be helpful, but direct references from actual clients give you unfiltered insight into:

• Reliability and consistency
• Communication quality
• How they handle problems or emergencies
• Whether pets actually seem happy with the service

What to look for in the answer

Good answer: "Absolutely. I can provide contact information for 2-3 current clients in your area who've agreed to serve as references. They can tell you about their experience with our service."

Red flag answers:

• "We don't give out client information due to privacy" (references agree to be contacted)
• "Just check our online reviews" (may be curated or fake)
• "We're new, so we don't have references yet" (understandable for startups, but higher risk for you)

What to ask references

When you contact references, ask:

1. How long have you used this service?
2. Have you ever had any problems? How were they resolved?
3. Is your dog happy when the walker arrives? Do they seem tired and content after walks?
4. How's the communication? Do you get updates and photos?
5. Have they ever canceled or missed a visit? What happened?
6. Would you recommend them to a friend?

Bonus Questions to Consider

Additional questions for thorough vetting

Once you've covered the five essential questions, consider asking:

• "What training do your walkers receive?" (pet first aid, CPR, dog behavior, emergency protocols?)
• "How do you handle keys and home access?" (locked key cabinet? Key tracking system?)
• "What's your cancellation policy?" (how much notice is required? Are there fees?)
• "How do you communicate during visits?" (photos? GPS tracking? Written reports?)
• "What happens in an emergency?" (injury, escape, natural disaster?)
• "Do you have a written service agreement?" (clear terms protect both parties)

How 203 Pet Service Answers These Questions

Our commitment to transparency and fair employment

At 203 Pet Service, we welcome these questions because we have clear, confident answers:

Question 1: Employment status?
All our dog walkers are W-2 salaried employees, not independent contractors or hourly gig workers. We pay fair living wages, handle payroll, taxes, training, and supervision. This employment structure means better care for your pets and long-term staff who know and love your animals.

Question 2: Background checks?
Every salaried employee undergoes comprehensive background screening including criminal history checks, sex offender registry verification, and drug testing before being hired. We attract career-oriented professionals who value stable employment.

Question 3: Insurance?
We carry $2 million in general liability insurance, animal bailee coverage, and workers' compensation for all our salaried staff. We provide certificates of insurance upon request.

Question 4: Backup coverage?
We maintain a trained team of salaried employees so there's always backup coverage if your regular walker is unavailable. Because our staff earns fair salaries, they stay with us long-term - our average employee tenure is over 10 years. Our office coordinates everything to ensure seamless service.

Question 5: References?
We're happy to connect you with current clients in Westport, Fairfield, Easton, or Stratford who can share their firsthand experience with our service quality and our dedicated salaried staff.

Conclusion: Don't Settle for Less Than Your Pet Deserves

Hiring a dog walker is a big decision that affects your pet's safety, your home security, and your peace of mind. Don't be afraid to ask tough questions - any professional service will welcome them.

If a dog walking company becomes defensive, gives vague answers, or makes excuses when you ask about employment status, background checks, insurance, backup coverage, or references, that's your sign to look elsewhere.

Your pet deserves professional, reliable, accountable care. Make sure you hire a service that can deliver it.

If you're looking for a dog walker in Connecticut who can confidently answer all these questions, 203 Pet Service has been serving Fairfield County since 2004 with W-2 salaried employees who earn fair living wages, comprehensive vetting, full insurance, and a proven track record of professional excellence.

Call us at (203) 682-6443 or schedule a meet and greet. We'll answer every question you have, and probably a few you didn't think to ask.

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