Related reading: is a dog walker worth it? and what happens at a meet & greet.
Handing over your dog’s lead to someone new is a big deal. A good dog walker quickly becomes part of your dog’s week — and a huge part of your own peace of mind. Before you book anyone in South Manchester, these are the questions that separate a genuine professional from a well-meaning amateur.
1. Are they insured, DBS-checked and first-aid trained?
This is the non-negotiable first question. Public liability insurance protects you if your dog is involved in an accident or causes damage while in the walker’s care. A DBS check tells you the person coming into your home has been vetted. Pet first-aid training means they’ll know what to do if something goes wrong on a walk.
At The Dog Walkers, we’re fully insured, DBS-cleared and pet first-aid trained, and we’re registered with NARPSUK, the national association for professional pet sitters and dog walkers. If a walker can’t evidence these, keep looking.
2. What training and experience do they actually have?
Anyone can call themselves a dog walker. Ask what’s behind it. We use IMDT (Institute of Modern Dog Trainers) techniques — positive, modern, reward-based handling — and Daz holds a pet psychology diploma. That training matters most on the days a walk doesn’t go to plan: a dog spooks, a recall fails, two dogs disagree. Experience and calm, qualified handling are what keep your dog safe in those moments.
3. How are the walks structured — and how big are the groups?
“A walk” can mean a focused hour in the woods or a quick potter round the block with eight dogs the walker barely knows. Ask how long your dog is actually walking, how big the groups are, and how dogs are matched. We keep groups small and temperament-matched — dogs are paired by personality so the pack stays calm and happy — with a full hour of active walking on our group dog walks. If you’re weighing up the options, our guide to group versus solo dog walks breaks down which suits which dog.
4. How will my dog be transported?
If your dog is collected, ask how. Loose in a boot is not good enough. We use a climate-controlled van with secure individual crates, and every muddy dog comes home towel-dried under our “Clean Dog Promise”. The same care applies to our pet taxi for vet and groomer trips.
5. Will I get updates while I'm at work?
The best part of trusting a walker is seeing your dog having a brilliant time without you. Ask whether you’ll get updates. We send photo and video updates from every walk, and offer optional GPS tracking so you can follow the route live.
6. What happens in an emergency?
This is where first-aid training stops being a tick-box. Ask, plainly: what would you do if my dog collapsed? We can answer from real experience — Viv once performed CPR on a miniature dachshund whose heart stopped mid-walk, and revived him. We hope never to need it again, but that’s the level of preparedness your dog deserves.
7. Do they offer a free meet & greet?
A professional will want to meet your dog before taking them on — not just say yes to the booking. Our free meet & greet happens in your dog’s own home, so we can learn their routine, any health or behaviour needs, and make sure it’s the right fit for everyone. If a walker skips this step, that tells you something.
8. Can they show you reviews or references?
Ask to see recent, genuine reviews. We hold a five-star Google rating from 48+ reviews, and the themes that come up again and again — reliability, real love for the dogs, and total peace of mind — are exactly what you’re trying to buy.
9. What about nervous, reactive or older dogs?
Not every dog suits a group. If yours is anxious, reactive, recovering or simply prefers calm company, ask whether one-to-one walks are available. Our solo dog walking gives those dogs focused, patient attention — often as a stepping stone towards confidently joining a group later.
What should it all cost?
Price shouldn’t be your first question, but it’s a fair one. Rather than guess, we’ve written a full local breakdown: how much a dog walker costs in South Manchester, including what’s fair to pay and what should be included.
Your quick checklist before you book
- Public liability insurance — can they prove it?
- DBS-checked and pet first-aid trained?
- Recognised training (IMDT, accreditations)?
- Small, temperament-matched groups?
- Safe, climate-controlled transport?
- Photo/video updates?
- A free meet & greet before booking?
- Recent, genuine reviews?