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A practical guide to choosing a dog walker, trainer, boarding provider, daycare, or outdoor adventure service.
The dog care industry is largely unregulated, with requirements varying by location and type of service. Someone can have years of experience without formal credentials, while someone with certifications may have limited real-world experience.
Neither automatically tells you how someone will respond when things don't go according to plan.
These questions are intended to encourage thoughtful conversations, help you understand someone's experience and preparedness, and ultimately determine whether they're a good fit for you and your dog.
Not every question will apply to every provider, but they're worth considering.
As I always say in our phone consultations, trust your gut. Listen to your gut instinct as you read the service agreement, interact face to face with the care provider and don’t hesitate to advocate for your dog.
1. Background, Experience & Credentials
What led you to working with dogs? Is this your primary profession, a part-time business, or something you do for enjoyment?
How long have you worked with dogs, and what breeds, ages, sizes, temperaments, and behavioral needs have you encountered?
Do you have formal education, certifications, or hands-on mentorship? Who issued your credentials, and are they current?
How do you continue your education and stay informed about canine behavior and handling practices?
Are you insured for the services you provide, including transportation and outdoor activities?
Have you experienced difficult situations or made mistakes while working with dogs? What did you learn, and what changed as a result?
2. Understanding My Dog & Daily Care
How do you learn about my dog's personality, medical history, dietary needs, medications, allergies, exercise requirements, and daily routine?
How do you determine whether my dog is a good fit for your services or a particular group?
What does a typical day look like? How much time is spent exercising, resting, eating, and receiving supervision?
For boarding or daycare, are dogs crated or free-roaming? Where do they sleep, eat, and decompress?
How do you manage feeding, high-value items, and potential resource guarding?
How do you recognize when a dog is stressed, overwhelmed, uncomfortable, exhausted, or unable to settle?
What happens if my dog's behavior or needs change?
3. Training Philosophies, Handling & Equipment
What is your general philosophy regarding dog training and behavior?
What tools do you use? Leashes, slip leads, harnesses, head collars, muzzles, electronic collars, or other equipment?
Under what circumstances are these tools used, and how is owner consent obtained?
What training have you received in their proper application, fit, limitations, and potential risks?
Have you ever had to use a training or handling tool in an emergency? What happened, and how did you respond?
How do you establish reliable communication and control around distractions, wildlife, other dogs, or the general public?
What safety equipment do you carry, such as backup leashes, high-visibility gear, lights, GPS devices, or protective clothing?
Is your equipment properly fitted, regularly inspected, maintained, and appropriate for the conditions?
4. Group Dynamics, Outdoor Activities & Public Encounters
How many dogs are in your care at once, and how many people supervise them?
How do you establish compatible groups and manage different personalities, energy levels, play styles, and conflicts?
Where do you typically take dogs, and how do you verify that your activities comply with local land-use regulations?
How do you handle wildlife encounters, including bears, deer, birds, or other animals?
What happens if you encounter animal carcasses, hunting activity, or unexpected hazards on the trail?
What do you do if a dog approaches someone who does not want contact?
How do you manage confrontations with members of the public who are frightened, upset, or aggressive toward dogs?
What happens if a person or another animal physically threatens a dog in your care?
5. Lost Dog Protocol-Immediate Response & Search Procedures
What is your established lost-dog protocol, and is it documented?
How frequently do you conduct headcounts or verify that every dog is accounted for?
What are your immediate actions when you realize a dog is missing?
How do you determine the dog's last known location, direction of travel, and potential hazards nearby?
If you're responsible for multiple dogs, how do you safely secure or relocate the remaining dogs while beginning a search?
How do you determine whether to remain at the last known location, search the surrounding area, or request additional assistance?
How does your approach change depending on the dog's temperament, recall history, fear responses, or familiarity with the area?
Owner Notification & Public Communication
How quickly do you notify the dog's owner, and what information do you provide?
If the owner is unreachable, who is your next emergency contact?
Do you have prior authorization to publicly share a dog's photograph, name, identifying details, and last known location during an emergency?
Who is responsible for contacting local animal control officers, law enforcement when appropriate, animal shelters, veterinary hospitals, and other relevant organizations?
Are you familiar with local lost-pet networks, community Facebook groups, and organizations that assist with missing dogs?
Who is authorized to make social media posts, communicate with the public, and coordinate volunteers?
How do you ensure that public information remains accurate, updated, and consistent?
How do you manage reported sightings, including instructing the public not to chase a frightened dog?
Who maintains communication with the owner while the search is underway?
Limited Cell Service & Backup Communication
What happens if a dog goes missing in an area with inconsistent or nonexistent cell service?
Do you carry alternative communication devices, such as satellite messengers or emergency communication equipment?
Do you have predetermined check-in procedures or expected return times?
Does anyone know your planned route, trailhead, and anticipated return time?
If you cannot contact anyone from the trail, what is your plan for reaching an area with service without compromising the safety of the remaining dogs?
Can another person initiate emergency notifications or mobilize assistance if you cannot communicate?
Do you have offline maps, GPS coordinates, and sufficient land navigation skills to accurately communicate a last known location?
Support Systems & Search Coordination
Who makes up your emergency support network?
Are those individuals familiar with your procedures, or would they be receiving instructions for the first time during an emergency?
Can someone respond in person to assist with a search, transport dogs, or coordinate communication?
Who assumes responsibility for the other dogs in your care if you need to remain on-site?
Do you have access to additional vehicles, handlers, or equipment?
Are you familiar with professional lost-dog recovery resources in your area?
Who coordinates incoming information, sightings, search assignments, and communication between everyone involved?
What happens if a search continues overnight or extends into multiple days?
Experience, Preparedness & Follow-Through
Have you ever experienced a missing-dog emergency? What happened, and what did you learn?
Have you practiced or reviewed your emergency procedures with anyone who may be called upon to assist?
How do you document the timeline of events, actions taken, and information received?
How do you evaluate your response afterward and determine whether policies or procedures need to change?
One final question worth considering:
If you were completely alone, without cell service, responsible for several dogs, and one went missing, would you have the resources, knowledge, and support system necessary to respond effectively?
A lost-dog protocol should be more than a general understanding of what someone hopes to do. It should account for the practical realities of an emergency, including limited communication, competing responsibilities, available resources, and the unpredictability of the environment.
6.First Aid Training & Experience
Have you completed formal canine first aid or CPR training? Through what organization, and when was your training last refreshed?
Do you have human first aid or CPR training?
Have you ever encountered a medical emergency involving a dog? What happened, how did you respond, and what did you learn?
Can you recognize signs of heatstroke, hypothermia, dehydration, shock, respiratory distress, and other potentially life-threatening conditions?
Do you understand how to assess an injured animal without putting yourself or others at risk?
Are you familiar with handling injuries such as lacerations, puncture wounds, broken nails, paw pad injuries, fractures, and suspected spinal injuries?
Do you understand the limitations of first aid and when immediate veterinary intervention is necessary?
First Aid Equipment & Accessibility
Do you carry a first aid kit physically on your person, or is it kept exclusively in your vehicle?
What specific supplies are included in your kit, and are they appropriate for the number and size of dogs in your care?
Do you carry supplies for controlling bleeding, dressing wounds, flushing debris, and managing minor injuries?
Do you carry emergency equipment such as a thermometer, emergency blanket, and appropriate tools for removing ticks or other foreign objects?
Do you carry first aid supplies for yourself, including equipment for managing personal injuries?
How frequently do you inspect, restock, and replace expired or damaged supplies?
Do you know how to properly use everything in your kit?
If your supplies are stored in your vehicle, what is your plan when an emergency occurs several miles from the trailhead?
Do you carry an emergency evacuation sling, stretcher, or another means of assisting an injured dog?
Emergency Decision-Making & Physical Capability
How do you determine whether to administer first aid on-site, evacuate immediately, or request outside assistance?
Are you physically capable of lifting, carrying, or assisting an injured dog, particularly over uneven or challenging terrain, not including swimming and treading water?
What is your plan if the dog is too large to carry independently?
How do you manage an injured, frightened, or painful dog that may react defensively to being handled?
If you're responsible for multiple dogs, how do you safely manage the others while attending to a medical emergency?
What happens if you personally become injured or incapacitated?
How do you manage your own stress and decision-making when faced with an emergency?
Veterinary Relationships & Emergency Coordination
Do you have established relationships with local veterinary clinics or emergency hospitals?
Do you know which nearby veterinary facilities offer emergency services and their operating hours?
How do you identify the nearest appropriate veterinary facility when working in unfamiliar areas?
Do you have each dog's veterinary information, medical history, medications, allergies, and emergency contacts readily accessible?
Do you have written authorization to seek emergency veterinary treatment if an owner cannot be reached?
What is your procedure for notifying owners, coordinating transportation, and communicating with veterinary professionals?
What happens if an emergency occurs outside normal veterinary business hours?
If you're unable to transport an injured dog yourself, who can assist?
Remote Environments & Limited Communication
What is your emergency response plan when working in areas with limited or nonexistent cell service?
Do you carry offline maps, GPS equipment, or alternative communication devices?
Can you accurately identify and communicate your location to emergency responders or supporting personnel?
Does someone know your planned route, expected return time, and where to begin looking if you fail to check in?
Do you have a support system capable of assisting with evacuation, transportation, or the care of other dogs?
Have you considered how weather, terrain, distance, and daylight could affect your ability to reach veterinary care?
Prevention, Preparedness & Continued Education
How do you assess potential environmental hazards before beginning an activity?
How do you adjust programming for extreme temperatures, severe weather, challenging terrain, or individual medical limitations?
What preventative measures do you take to reduce the likelihood of injury or illness?
How frequently do you review and update your emergency response procedures?
Have you ever changed your equipment, practices, or protocols following an emergency or near miss?
One final question worth considering:
If my dog experienced a serious medical emergency miles from your vehicle, without cell service, would you have the training, equipment, physical capability, and support system necessary to provide immediate care and coordinate a safe evacuation?
First aid preparedness isn't simply about owning a kit or completing a certification. It's about understanding how to use your equipment, recognizing your limitations, making informed decisions under pressure, and knowing when professional medical intervention is necessary.
The equipment you have available is only useful if you can access it when you need it.. Outdoor Competency, Navigation & Personal Preparedness
How do you evaluate weather conditions, trail hazards, daylight, and exposure before an outing?
Do you understand the risks associated with extreme heat, cold, wind, storms, and rapidly changing weather?
Can you recognize the signs of hypothermia, heat-related illness, dehydration, and exposure in both yourself and the dogs?
Do you understand proper layering principles, hydration, nutrition, and personal protection in outdoor environments?
Can you read a topographic map and navigate unfamiliar terrain?
Are you solely dependent on your cell phone for navigation, or do you have offline maps, a compass, and other backup resources?
What do you do if you personally become lost or disoriented on a trail system?
How do you communicate your location or summon assistance without cell service?
Are you physically capable of lifting, carrying, or assisting my dog in a medical emergency?
If you cannot physically evacuate my dog, what is your alternative plan?
How do you manage your own stress, exhaustion, fear, and decision-making during challenging situations?
Perhaps one of the most important questions: Do you know how to take care of yourself well enough to remain capable of caring for the animals depending on you?
7. Transportation, Home Access & Continuity of Care
How are dogs secured and separated during transportation?
How do you manage vehicle temperature, ventilation, loading, unloading, and supervision?
How frequently are vehicles, crates, restraints, and other safety equipment inspected and maintained?
What happens if you're involved in a motor vehicle accident, someone strikes your parked vehicle, or your vehicle breaks down?
What happens if you cannot access my home to retrieve or return my dog?
What happens if you cannot reach me during an emergency?
Do you have a backup care provider if you become sick, injured, delayed, or otherwise unable to fulfill your responsibilities?
How do you communicate incidents, concerns, changes in behavior, or adjustments to your services?
8. Making Your Decision
After having these conversations, consider a few final questions for yourself.
Did this person communicate openly and thoughtfully?
Were they comfortable discussing difficult experiences, mistakes, and lessons learned?
Could they explain their equipment, training methods, and emergency procedures?
Did they acknowledge their own limitations?
Did they demonstrate an understanding of my dog's individual needs?
Were there any answers I would like clarified or demonstrated?
Do their practices align with my expectations and comfort level?
Ultimately, do I trust this person's judgment, communication, preparation, and ability to adapt when an ordinary day becomes an unexpected one?
No provider, regardless of experience or credentials, can eliminate every risk associated with caring for animals.
The goal isn't to find someone who claims to have every answer. It's to find someone who understands the responsibility they've accepted, prepares for the unexpected, recognizes their limitations, and remains willing to learn.
These conversations are worth having, whether you're hiring someone to walk your dog once a week or entrusting them with your dog for an extended period.
This guide is intended as an educational resource, not a certification or guarantee of safety.