Most dog walks are wonderfully uneventful. Lead on, tails wagging, a few suspiciously long sniffs, then home. But when you’re responsible for someone else’s dog, it only takes a few seconds for an ordinary walk to turn into a very different kind of day.

At Petcover, the types of incidents that can lead to claims involving pet professionals are a useful reminder that even experienced dog walkers can’t control everything.

Here are some of the situations every professional dog walker should be prepared for.

1. A dog gets into a fight

You know the scenario. Two dogs pass each other. One reacts. The other reacts back. Suddenly you’re trying to separate them.

Dog-on-dog incidents can result in injuries requiring veterinary treatment — and potentially questions about who was responsible.

Reduce the risk: Understand each dog’s temperament before introducing them to group walks. Be particularly careful when introducing unfamiliar dogs and know the triggers owners have identified.

Care, Custody & Control cover is particularly important when an animal is injured while under the supervision of a pet professional.

2. The great escape

A loose harness. A lead slips from your hand. A gate isn’t properly latched.

And they’re off.

A dog escaping while in your care isn’t only frightening. The dog could become injured, cause an accident, damage property or simply disappear.

Reduce the risk: Check collars, harnesses, clips and leads before every walk, and never assume equipment fits correctly because the owner supplied it.

3. A dog bites or injures someone

Even a dog with no known history of aggression can react unexpectedly if frightened, overstimulated or approached in the wrong way.

If a dog you’re walking bites a member of the public or causes someone to fall and injure themselves, the dog-walking business could potentially face a liability claim.

Public Liability insurance is designed to help protect dog walkers against claims involving injury to third parties arising from their business activities.

4. Property gets damaged

Not every dog-walking claim involves an injury.

Imagine collecting an excited dog from a client’s house and it knocks over something valuable. Or a dog escapes and damages a neighbour’s garden or property.

Small accidents can become expensive surprisingly quickly.

Reduce the risk: Take extra care when collecting and returning dogs, particularly when entering clients’ homes or properties.

5. A dog is injured during the walk

Dogs don’t need another dog around to get themselves into trouble.

A dog might injure a leg while running, cut a paw, swallow something it shouldn’t or become injured while exploring.

When the dog belongs to a paying client and was under your supervision at the time, the situation becomes more complicated than an everyday trip to the vet.

This is one of the reasons Care, Custody & Control is so relevant to professional dog walkers. It can help protect a business if an animal becomes injured, goes missing or dies while in its care, subject to the policy’s terms and conditions.

6. A member of the public takes a tumble

Sometimes the dog doesn’t actually hurt anyone directly. A dog suddenly changes direction, runs across someone’s path or wraps a lead around somebody’s legs, and the person falls.

It can happen incredibly quickly, particularly in busy parks, shared paths and public spaces.

Reduce the risk: Keep dogs under effective control and be especially cautious around children, cyclists, runners and crowded areas.

The common thread? Dogs can be unpredictable.

You can have years of experience, excellent procedures and beautifully behaved dogs and still have something unexpected happen.

That’s why running a professional dog-walking business isn’t just about preventing incidents. It’s also about being prepared for the ones you can’t prevent.

Good risk management starts with understanding the dogs in your care, using appropriate equipment, choosing suitable walking environments and having clear procedures for emergencies.

And then there’s the financial side of that risk.

Petcover Business Insurance can arrange specialist protection for dog walkers, including Public Liability and Care, Custody & Control, helping protect your business when a walk doesn’t quite go according to plan.

Because sometimes the difference between a normal Tuesday and a very expensive Tuesday is one dropped lead.