How do you choose a dog walker or pet sitter?

By checking insurance, licensing and actual practice — because in many places the work is lightly regulated, and the consequences of a poor choice range from an unhappy dog to a lost or injured one.

What to verify:

Public liability insurance and care, custody and control cover, which specifically covers animals in their charge. Ask to see the certificate; a professional expects the question.

Licensing, which applies to boarding and day care in many jurisdictions — home boarding and doggy day care frequently require a local authority licence with an inspection and a star rating. Dog walking itself is often unlicensed, which is precisely why the other checks matter.

Qualifications and first aid, including canine first aid training.

How many dogs they walk at once, which may be capped by local rules and is the single most informative question. Large groups of unfamiliar dogs off lead is a risk profile, not a service level.

Transport arrangements — how dogs are secured in the vehicle, and whether it is ventilated and temperature-monitored.

A DBS or equivalent check, since they will hold your keys.

What good practice looks like: a meet-and-greet before booking; a written contract and an emergency veterinary authority; recorded vaccination, flea and worming requirements for all dogs in their care; a policy on dogs that do not get on; updates with photographs; and a named backup if they are ill.

Warning signs: no insurance certificate; unwilling to say how many dogs they walk; off-lead walking of a dog with unreliable recall without discussion; no emergency plan; cash-only with no paperwork; and being reluctant to let you see where boarded dogs are kept.

For sitters staying in your home, add: references you actually contact, key handling arrangements, and clarity about who else may enter.

For your own part: be honest about behaviour problems, reactivity and medical needs. Concealing that a dog is reactive puts the walker, other dogs and your own animal at risk, and will usually invalidate the arrangement.