Last updated August 2026
A pack of apps—Wag!, Rover, Pawshake, and others—now offer gig workers who can leash up Fido for his midday potty. These companies make sign-up and coordination easy: Register, plug in your credit card info, and pay about $20 per half hour for on-demand services.
The concept seems like a great innovation and many dog owners are thrilled with the walkers they hire. But several dogs—a Wheaten terrier named Winnie in Houston, a Seattle mutt named Bandit—have been killed while on Wag! walks. And according to a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles, Snoopy the papillon died after wandering out of the yard of a Rover contract worker (who was also a former Baywatch actress).
On their websites, these companies have marketing pitches that focus on safety. Much like Thumbtack or TaskRabbit, they promise to carry insurance to reimburse you for damage to your property by employees plus cover the costs of some veterinary care, in case your pooch is injured while on a walk.
These financial guarantees are reassuring, but most pet owners would rather these companies carefully select and screen their workers—and we’re not sure they do. Wag!, Rover, and PetBacker all say they conduct background checks and vet their walkers but details aren’t always clear about what they do, and passing a standard criminal background check seems like a low bar for clearing someone to trust with your pet and access to your home.
“I’m not a dog lover, but I can’t imagine the randomness of using these services,” said Edgar Dworsky, a consumer lawyer and the force behind ConsumerWorld.org, a noncommercial website devoted to consumer issues. “You don’t quite know who you’re going to get.”
We dug into the application process for these companies, and it seemed easy to get a gig walking pooches with them. Yes, potential walkers must correctly answer some questions on pet safety and have their references contacted. And while this may screen out possible dognappers or complete idiots (think Scooby Doo in human form), we think it does little to ascertain whether wannabe employees have any experience or expertise with animals—or if they will be careful with your furry family members.
So how do you hire help? One resource is the (limited) customer reviews available here at Checkbook.org. (Please help other members by posting reviews of walkers you’ve tried.) Also ask other pet parents or your vet for recommendations.
In general, we recommend going with an individual you find on your own or with a service that employs walkers, as opposed to using the apps.
“Many caregivers identify themselves as ‘pet lovers.’ There is a large difference between someone who has owned pets and someone who works professionally with animals,” said Marny Nofi, an animal behavior expert at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). “If you have a pet who is well socialized and can adapt to change easily, this might not be an issue. However, if your dog or cat has any underlying behavioral issues, then having a ‘pet lover’ versus an experienced pet handler may result in some unexpected issues.”
But don’t entirely rule out these apps. “Using an app to initially locate a care provider can be a great way to expand your support system,” Nofi said. “But it would be in your pet’s best interests to narrow the field to one or two consistent caregivers.”
No matter whom you consider, do the following:
- Ask to see documentation that the service currently carries liability insurance.
- Check references from other pet owners—not the walker’s friends or mom.
- Ask how the team or individual will deal with your pet. In addition to getting your contact information and other basic facts, some services compile detailed profiles of your fur darling and their habits (“High-energy puppy that needs a daily run”; “Elderly terrier that’s bushed after a short walk”). You could even create your own doggie dossier and update it as your pet’s needs change.
- Whether you are using an individual or a larger service, have the specific walker over to see if they get along with Scruffy, and whether they ask detailed questions and seems attentive to your pet.
- Ask for pricing. Rates can range from $10–$30 per walk, depending on time spent and what company or person you use. Ask if booking regular walks can net a discounted rate.
- Find out how the walker will get into your home to pick up your pup. Some of the apps recommend getting a lockbox; with a company or individual you use repeatedly, you’ll likely give them a key. It’s easier to feel secure doing this if the person comes from an established company or is someone you use regularly. Another option is an electronic keypad lock with codes you can create and cancel as needed.
- Ask pointed questions: How long will you spend walking my dog? What will you do to make sure they don’t eat something bad, get off-leash, or tangle with other critters? What’s your training and experience?
- Find out what happens if the walker gets sick or can’t show up because of an emergency.
- Ask if the walker will take your pet to your veterinarian if they get sick or injured.
- Find out what special services the walker or walking company offers. Most will refill the dog’s water bowl, some will send phone pics of your pup in the park or pounding the pavement. Most offer a “key hold” arrangement where they have a copy of your house in case you need a visit unexpectedly.
