A Dog Walking Agreement is a written contract between a professional dog walker or pet services business and a dog owner that sets out the terms on which dog walking services are provided in Australia. It covers the dog's details (including microchip and vaccination status), the walker's services (duration, frequency, leash requirements, and key access arrangements), fees and GST, cancellation policy, emergency veterinary authorisation, insurance, and the allocation of liability between the parties.

In Australia, the legal framework for dog walking involves companion animal legislation in each state and territory — such as the Companion Animals Act 1998 (NSW), the Domestic Animals Act 1994 (VIC), the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 (QLD), and equivalent statutes in Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory, and the ACT. These laws impose registration and microchipping obligations on dog owners, and liability for injuries caused by dogs typically rests primarily with the owner.

The Australian Consumer Law (Schedule 2 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth)) applies to the provision of dog walking services. This means the walker must exercise due care and skill, and that services must be fit for purpose and delivered within a reasonable time. These guarantees cannot be excluded by contract.

A written Dog Walking Agreement is an essential risk management tool. Without one, disputes about who authorised emergency veterinary treatment, whether the walker was permitted to take the dog off-leash, and who is responsible for a dog bite incident are extremely difficult to resolve.

A Dog Walking Agreement is needed before a professional dog walker begins providing services to a new client. It is essential for: sole-trader dog walkers who pick up and walk dogs from private homes; pet services businesses that employ or contract multiple walkers; dog walkers who offer group walks with multiple dogs simultaneously; pet sitters who include walking as part of a broader pet care service; and dog walkers who require key access to the owner's home.

The agreement is particularly important in the following situations. If the dog has any history of aggression, reactivity, or escape behaviour, the agreement records the owner's disclosure and the parties' agreement on how these risks will be managed. If the walker is holding a key to the owner's home, the agreement records that authorisation and the conditions of the key-holding arrangement. If an emergency veterinary situation arises while the dog is in the walker's care and the owner cannot be reached, the agreement records the owner's advance authorisation for the walker to consent to emergency treatment.

Most pet insurance policies require that animals are under the custody of an authorised person. A written agreement also helps establish that the walker was lawfully in custody of the dog at the time of any incident, which is relevant for both the walker's public liability claim and the owner's companion animal insurance claim.

For dog walkers operating as sole traders or through a company, this agreement also helps demonstrate that they are operating as an independent business rather than as an employee, which is relevant for income tax, GST registration, and superannuation guarantee purposes.

A comprehensive Dog Walking Agreement for Australia should include the following key elements.

Dog identification details: The agreement should record the dog's name, breed, age, colour, and microchip number. Microchipping is mandatory in all Australian states and territories, and recording the microchip number helps reunite the dog with the owner if lost during a walk. The agreement should also confirm that the dog is currently registered with the relevant local council.

Health and vaccination status: The agreement should record the dog's vaccination status (C5 or equivalent) and confirm that the dog is currently treated for fleas, ticks, and worms. The owner must warrant that the dog does not have any contagious condition. Failure to disclose a contagious condition that subsequently affects other dogs in a group walk may give rise to claims against the owner.

Behavioural disclosure: The owner must disclose any known history of aggression, reactivity, escape behaviour, or special handling requirements. A walker who is bitten by a dog and can show that the owner concealed known aggressive behaviour has a significantly stronger claim against the owner.

Key access and security: Where the walker requires access to the owner's home, the agreement should clearly state the scope of that authorisation, the walker's obligations for key security, and the requirement to return keys on termination.

Emergency veterinary authorisation: The agreement should record the owner's advance consent for the walker to authorise emergency veterinary treatment in specified circumstances. This is critical because a veterinarian may need written authorisation before treating an animal not accompanied by its owner.

Fees and cancellation: The per-walk fee, GST treatment, invoicing frequency, and cancellation notice period should all be clearly documented. Cancellation policies in consumer contracts must not be unfairly one-sided.

Insurance: The agreement should address the walker's public liability insurance and recommend that the owner maintain pet insurance. The parties' respective indemnity obligations in respect of the dog's actions towards third parties should also be addressed.