How to Choose a Professional Dog Walker in Montreal (Questions You Should Be Asking)

So, your cat only eats when you spin around three times, your hamster likes lavender bedding in his cage, your bird enjoys singing Black Betty, and your dog won’t cross the road if they see a bus; it’s more normal than you think. However, it does make finding qualified pet care even more challenging. 

Personally, it is so nerve-racking and overwhelming to try to find a person to care about my fur babies. Simply typing Montreal dog walkers into Google will just NOT find me the right person—especially when I’m trusting someone with a family member who can’t speak for themselves. Plus, if google was the answer, then hundreds of thousands of search results pop up. So how do I know what is actually important and what makes someone a professional vs some guy in the neighbourhood that everyone trusts with their house keys and dog treats? 

Walkies & Whiskers is a passion of love and a fast answer to all these questions. I had planned all these jet-set vacations and soon realized that boarding the plane and packing my bags weren’t the only things to worry about. Who was going to care for Pepper, my fur baby, or all the dogs I walked? Surely, there was a way to make a side hustle into something professional. 

So Walkies had a new mission: to be a professional dog walking service in Montreal, working with dogs, cats and pets of all ages, temperaments, and needs across multiple neighbourhoods. 

Whether you’re in NDG, Côte-Saint-Luc, Verdun, or downtown, asking the right questions before hiring a dog walker can make all the difference in your pet’s safety, happiness, and routine. 

Along the way, we have been asked everything, from whether we had insurance, to if I wore waterproof sneakers with ankle support (pro tip: YES! AND YOU SHOULD TOO! Hello? Ankle support changed my life) but here are the top things that you NEED to ask any professional before you trust them with fluffy the furry best friend. 

1. Are You an Insured and Professional Dog Walking Service in Montreal?

One of the first questions that you should be asking ANYBODY that comes into YOUR HOME to care for your fluffy buddies, is to whether they are bonded. 

When I first got into the business, I wasn’t – and it isn’t a shame to admit it! It’s expensive and it is not the easiest to acquire when you are in Quebec – aka the world’s hardest province to acquire a winning lotto ticket, a deal on your Spotify plan and a comprehensive insurance plan. But the minute I really started to take myself seriously, I made sure that I was operating as a fully insured and professional business. 

Insurance protects both you and your pet in the unlikely event of an accident, injury, or emergency. Especially when you aren’t home, it is important to have coverage in case of an accident. 

Professional dog walking services should also have:

• Clear policies and procedures
• Experience handling dogs of different sizes and behaviours
• Reliable communication and scheduling systems

Choosing a professional service ensures accountability, consistency, and peace of mind.

2. Do You Have Experience With Different Temperaments and Reactivity Levels?

Not every dog is that famous golden retriever type who wants to kiss strangers and audition for a milk bone commercial. As cute as those dogs are, in an urban city environment like Montreal – most of our pups have some level of reactivity, especially while they are on leash. 

Some dogs pull. Some freeze. Some bark at buses. Some dogs chase bicycles down the road. Some are absolute angels until they see another dog within a 500-metre radius and then they might rip your arm off as they drag you down the road.

When looking at Montreal dog walkers, you need to ask:

• Have you ever handled reactive dogs?
• What would you do if my dog lunged at another dog?
• Do you walk dogs in groups or privately?
• How do you assess compatibility?
• Are you certified or have experience with dogs that require muzzles?

At Walkies & Whiskers, we use a qualification system inspired by professional handling standards. Every dog is assessed before being placed in any type of walk. Not all dogs thrive in pack environments — and that’s okay. At Walkies, we don’t offer our group walks unless dogs have been with us for an extended period and we are more accurately able to predict behavioural patterns. Professional dog walking services adapt to the dog, not the other way around.

If someone tells you, “All dogs are friendly,” that’s your cue to politely close the tab.

3. What Safety Protocols Do You Have in Place?

Emergencies happen; it is the sad reality for the dog and pet industry. Our furry friends love to grab things they aren’t supposed to with their mouths or sniff in spots that might hide a spiky animal with some sharp teeth. This is the part pet parents sometimes forget to ask — until they wish they had.

A professional dog walking service in Montreal should be able to clearly explain:

• What kind of leashes and equipment do they use (or are you expected to provide that for them)
• Whether dogs are ever off-leash
• How they transport dogs (if applicable)
• What happens in extreme weather
• Their emergency protocol

Montreal winters are not for the weak. Ice, salt, snowbanks, -25°C wind chills — these are not casual conditions. A professional should know when a walk becomes unsafe and when enrichment indoors is a smarter choice. Enrichment can be an amazing alternative, but what kind of enrichment do they provide? 

We personally believe in:

• Secure harnesses and backup safety clips
• No off-leash unless explicitly authorized and safe
• Weather-based modifications
• Real-time communication

If someone shrugs when you ask about safety? That’s not your person. That is someone to run away from as fast as possible.

4. How Do You Communicate With Clients?

You are not “annoying” for wanting updates. You are responsible.

Professional dog walking services should provide:

• Walk reports
• Photos or videos
• Clear booking confirmations
• Transparent cancellation policies
• A reliable scheduling system

If a dog walker is still managing everything through scattered text messages and “I’ll remember,” you may want to rethink.

At Walkies & Whiskers, we use structured booking software so clients can view services, confirmations, and updates clearly. Because professionalism isn’t just about walking the dog — it’s about running a system that supports the client experience too.

5. What Happens If My Regular Walker Is Sick?

This question separates hobbyists from businesses.

Life happens. People get sick. Snowstorms happen. Cars break down.

A professional Montreal dog walker service should have:

• Backup walkers
• Internal communication systems
• A documented client profile for each pet
• Coverage plans

If your walker is a solo individual with no backup plan, that’s a risk you should be consciously accepting.

Businesses with teams offer continuity. Your dog isn’t meeting a stranger in an emergency — they’re meeting a trained colleague who already has their profile, feeding instructions, behavioural notes, and emergency contacts.

6. Are You Actually Running a Business — or Is This a Side Gig?

There is nothing wrong with starting small. Walkies & Whiskers started small. But the difference lies in intention.

A professional dog walking service in Montreal should:

• Be registered
• Carry insurance
• Issue invoices
• Have structured policies
• Treat this as a career — not a temporary hustle

When you trust someone with your home keys and your dog, you deserve someone who takes that responsibility seriously.

Choosing the Right Montreal Dog Walkers Comes Down to This

It’s not about flashy branding.
It’s not about who has the most Instagram followers.
It’s not about who your neighbour “knows.”

It’s about:

• Safety
• Accountability
• Experience
• Communication
• Systems

When you type Montreal dog walkers into Google, you’re not just shopping for a walk. You’re hiring someone to enter your home, manage risk, read your dog’s body language, and advocate for an animal that cannot speak for themselves.

That deserves intention.

Looking for trusted dog walkers in Montreal?

At Walkies & Whiskers, we provide professional dog walking services across NDG, Côte-Saint-Luc, Verdun, Westmount, and downtown Montreal — with structured systems, trained staff, and a serious commitment to safety.

If you’re ready for professional, reliable care — not just “someone from the neighbourhood” — we’d love to meet you.

👉 Contact Walkies & Whiskers today and book your meet & greet.