Insurance for dog walking businesses
Dog walking may not always legally require business insurance but it’s worth considering as having the right dog walkers insurance can help protect you against common risks in the profession. These may include lost or injured dogs, property damage or third-party injury. Some clients or local requirements may make dog walker insurance mandatory, so it’s important to check the rules where you live.
It may seem like a dream job to be able to play with and walk dogs for a living. However, working with animals, even trained ones, can be unpredictable. Fortunately, business insurance for dog walkers may help provide financial support if something goes wrong, such as a business interruption.
What is dog walkers public liability insurance?
Public liability insurance protects you if a member of the public claims your business caused them injury, whether that is to their person, property or even financial loss. It applies to incidents linked to your business activities and helps manage potentially high legal and settlement expenses.
For example, you knock over an expensive vas at a client’s house when collecting their dog for walking, public liability insurance could cover legal and compensation costs, as the claim arises from your business activity. Having this cover can cost as little as $39 a month*, according to our partners at BizCover, although this figure can vary based on risk and location.
Public liability insurance and council restrictions
If you’re a professional dog walker or provide pet-sitting services, public liability insurance is likely to be a key component of your business insurance policy. Many local councils require dog walking services to have this cover when using public parks and spaces to walk dogs. In some Australian council areas, public liability insurance for dog walkers is a key requirement before the permit is approved to operate.
What is dog walkers personal accident and illness insurance?
Personal accident and illness insurance is a type of cover within business insurance packages that can pay a benefit if you’re unable to work due to injury or illness, helping to cover lost earnings and essential expenses while you recover.
As dog walking requires you to be physically capable to do the job, having this cover as part of your business insurance for dog walking package can be beneficial. In cases where you need to take time off work to recover from an injury or illness, it can cover up to 85% of your income. It is a popular insurance option for those who work in freelance roles and may not have access to workers compensation (like a dog walker), with BizCover estimating it can cost $115 a month.^
Want to find out more about business insurance? You can learn more about other types of business insurance that could benefit you and your business with our helpful guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much dog walkers insurance do I need?
Most dog walkers in Australia will need enough cover to handle a serious injury or major claim, which could be between $5 million to $20 million in public liability insurance. For personal accident and illness insurance, you can pick a weekly benefit amount that is in line with your average income, or even just how much you would need to cover day-to-day expenses. Using data from our partners at BizCover, having public liability insurance and personal accident and illness cover may just cost $154 a month*^. However, depending on your needs you may need to think about factors such as:
- the size of your business
- the number of clients you serve
- your business’s annual revenue.
How do I lodge a dog walking business insurance claim?
To make claim for business insurance for dog walkers, you can lodge it online through your insurance provider’s website. You will need to complete a form and provide information relevant to your claim, as well as supporting evidence such as:
- veterinary bills and invoices
- photographs
- an incident report with facts (date, time, location of event)
- witness statements
- police reports.
After the claim has been lodged, the insurer will assess the claim and may appoint a loss adjuster. If accepted, the insurer may pay compensation, legal or settlement costs, depending on the circumstances.
Check your Product Disclosure Statement for details on how to lodge a claim with your insurance provider.
Finding dog walkers business insurance – we make it a walk in the park
Looking for peace of mind? You can compare the insurance for dog walkers for free using our comparison service. It’s easy to use and only takes a few minutes to compare quotes from a range of insurance brands.
If you see a price or policy you like, you can even purchase cover straight from the results page, where we’ll connect you with our team of business insurance experts and brokers who can help you find coverage.
Meet our business insurance expert, Adrian Taylor
As a General Insurance expert with over 13 years’ experience in financial services, Adrian Taylor strongly believes in the protection and peace of mind that all types of business insurance provide business owners. Adrian says this type of cover can be the difference between a business staying afloat and going under if trouble arises.
* Customer Average Monthly Payment Report, provided by BizCover, based 1 July 2023 to Jun 2024 and presented as a guide only. It may not reflect pricing for your business; individual criteria will apply. BizCover. Public Liability Insurance. Accessed July 2026.
^ Customer Average Monthly Payment Report, provided by BizCover, based on 1 July 2023 to Jun 2024 and presented as a guide only. It may not reflect pricing for your business; individual criteria will apply. BizCover. Personal Accident and Illness Insurance. Accessed June 2026.