Toronto dog walker permit: what owners should check

A company’s name on a van tells you little about the person taking your dog out. For a group walk in Toronto, check the walker, the number of dogs and the places they intend to use.

A Toronto dog walker permit authorizes commercial groups of four to six dogs. Check that the permit is current and belongs to the person handling the group, then confirm the route permits commercial dog walking. The City’s permit page is the starting point for the current application and conditions.

When is a Toronto dog walker permit needed?

Toronto requires a commercial dog walker permit for a person controlling more than three dogs. Chapter 349, section 349-12.1 states that limit. In parks, Chapter 608, section 608-34.1 also sets a maximum of six dogs under one person’s control and requires a permit above three.

Ask how many dogs your walker will control at the busiest point of the outing. Include dogs added at later pickups. A booking described as a small group may grow after your dog leaves home.

These walking limits are separate from the rules on animals kept at home. They still apply if your dog gets along with a familiar group. Ask the City for clarification if the proposed arrangement falls outside the permit policy rather than inferring permission from the business’s description.

Whose name and photo should be on the permit?

The permit should belong to the person walking the group, and its photo should match them. The City’s application and permit conditions say permits are issued for the person shown in the photo.

The conditions also require a walker handling four to six dogs in City parks, greenspaces and waterfront areas to display the numerical permit visibly. The walker must present it to the relevant officer or City staff member when asked. Seeing a company’s general paperwork alone doesn’t answer who is authorized for this outing.

Before the first pickup, ask to see the current permit and check its expiry. If the company uses several walkers, agree that it will tell you when the assigned person changes. That gives you time to check the replacement’s permit and discuss whether your dog knows them.

What should you ask about insurance and your dog’s licence?

Ask the walker about the insurance covering the work and check your dog’s own municipal licence. The City’s application process requires commercial general liability insurance for the full permit term, with the City included as an additional insured. Its permit conditions require valid Toronto licence tags on dogs under the walker’s care.

If you hire a company, ask it to explain how its insurance covers your dog and its staff. A municipal permit requirement doesn’t tell you how a particular loss would be handled under that business’s policy. Get any promise about compensation or incident handling in the service agreement, and ask the insurer or a qualified adviser about unclear policy terms.

Check the dog’s tag before pickup. Our Toronto pet licence guide explains registration and renewal. Tell the walker promptly if the tag is missing or if you are still resolving the registration; don’t leave them to discover the problem at the park.

Where can a permitted commercial walker take the group?

A permit leaves location restrictions in place. Chapter 608 prohibits commercial walkers from entering an off-leash area posted against them, and the application conditions list further excluded areas, including playgrounds, sports fields and certain environmentally sensitive areas.

Ask for the intended park or route, then check the signs at that actual location. A park available to an individual owner may have a commercial-walker restriction. The conditions also exclude areas posted against dogs, so the walker needs to check both kinds of sign.

Our Toronto off-leash rules guide explains designated boundaries and supervision. A permit doesn’t turn an ordinary path into an off-leash area. Agree whether off-leash exercise is part of your dog’s outing and what alternative the walker will use if the intended area is closed, unsuitable or busy.

How can you record the checks before the first walk?

Record who will walk your dog, the group size and the route. Recheck these details when they change.

Use the discussion to assess whether the proposed group suits your dog. Ask how the walker introduces unfamiliar animals and what happens if a dog cannot join the planned outing. If your dog needs individual handling, discuss a solo walk before booking, regardless of the permitted group size.

Put the service arrangements alongside the shared pet care plan. Our pet-sitting contract guide covers recording agreed responsibilities and changes. Update the relevant details before the next pickup, so a household member answering the door knows what was arranged.

Where Dana fits

Dana’s shared care helps invited caregivers coordinate tasks and see recorded care. Check the walker’s current permit and the City’s rules yourself. Use shared care to keep the household informed about who is responsible for the outing.