Dog walkers and pet sitters face daily risks - from dog bites and injuries to the public, to animals escaping or being injured while in your care. The right business insurance protects your pet care business, the animals you look after, and your livelihood. Compare cover options from Australia's leading business insurance providers below.
BizCover is one of Australia's leading online business insurance providers, offering fast quotes and flexible cover options suited to pet care professionals. Popular with dog walkers and pet sitters for its straightforward online process and competitive pricing.
The pet care industry in Australia is growing rapidly, with increasing numbers of dog walkers, pet sitters, pet boarding operators, and doggy daycare providers working across the country. Whether you walk dogs in local parks, offer overnight pet sitting in clients' homes, run a home-based boarding service, or operate a commercial doggy daycare facility, the right insurance is essential to protect against the physical and financial risks involved in caring for other people's animals.
The most common insurance claims from pet care businesses relate to dog bites and animal-related injuries. A dog in your care may bite a member of the public, injure another dog, or cause property damage while on a walk. Public liability claims from dog bite incidents can range from $5,000 to $200,000+, making public liability insurance the essential foundation of any dog walking or pet sitting business.
Beyond public liability, pet care businesses face specific risks including injury, illness, or death of animals in their care (care, custody, and control liability), damage to clients' homes during pet sitting visits, loss or escape of animals, vehicle accidents while transporting pets, and claims from Dept of Agriculture (Department of Agriculture) if animal welfare standards are not met.
All major Australian business insurance providers offer policies suited to pet care professionals. See our full Australian business insurance comparison for provider details.
Understanding which cover types are essential, and which are optional, helps you build the right insurance package without paying for cover you don't need.
| Cover Type | Relevance | Why It Matters | Typical Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Liability | Essential | Covers injury to third parties and damage to property caused by animals in your care. Dog bites, a dog knocking over a pedestrian, or damage to a public park or private property are common risks. Many clients, parks, and venues require proof of public liability cover before allowing commercial dog walking on their premises. | $1M - $10M |
| Care, Custody & Control | Essential | Standard public liability policies often exclude animals in your care, custody, or control. This extension covers injury, illness, or death of client animals while you are looking after them - a dog escaping and being hit by a car, two dogs fighting while on a group walk, or a pet falling ill during an overnight stay. This is arguably the most important cover for any pet care business. | $25K - $100K per animal |
| Professional Indemnity | Recommended | Covers claims arising from your professional services - failure to follow a pet owner's specific care instructions, administering medication incorrectly, or providing advice about animal behaviour that leads to injury. Particularly relevant for pet sitters who handle animals with medical conditions or specific dietary needs. | $250K - $1M |
| Statutory Liability | Essential | Covers fines and legal defence costs if you are prosecuted under the Animal Welfare Act 1999, the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, or local council dog control bylaws. Animal welfare investigations can result in significant fines. | $500K - $1M |
| Material Damage / Contents | Recommended | Covers your business equipment - leads, harnesses, crates, kennels, fencing, grooming tools, and any facility fitout - against fire, theft, flood, and accidental damage. More important for boarding and daycare operators with dedicated premises and significant infrastructure. | $10K - $100K |
| Commercial Motor Vehicle | Recommended | If you use a vehicle to transport dogs or travel between client locations, standard personal car insurance may not cover business use. A commercial motor policy covers your vehicle for business activities, including transporting animals. Consider cover for any custom fitout like crates or barriers installed in your vehicle. | Market value of vehicle |
| Business Interruption | Optional | Replaces lost income if your business cannot operate due to an insured event. More relevant for boarding and daycare operators with fixed premises that could be damaged by fire, flood, or storm. Less relevant for mobile dog walkers who can typically continue operating after most incidents. | 12 months revenue |
| Employer's Liability | Optional | If you employ other dog walkers or pet care staff, this covers claims from employees for workplace injury beyond what workers compensation provides. Staff face risks including dog bites, slips and falls, and injuries from handling large or aggressive animals. | $1M - $2M |
Disclaimer: Cover types and limits shown are general guidance based on typical pet care business needs. Your specific requirements depend on your business type, services offered, number and types of animals in your care, and risk profile. Always discuss your needs with your insurer or broker.
These Australian business insurance providers offer policies suited to dog walkers, pet sitters, and pet care professionals.
One of Australia's leading online business insurance providers. BizCover offers fast online quotes and policies suited to pet care professionals and dog walking businesses. Known for competitive pricing and a straightforward digital process.
One of Australia's oldest and largest commercial insurers, part of the IAG group. NZI offers comprehensive packages through brokers, suited to both sole-trader dog walkers and commercial boarding or daycare facilities.
Major Australian commercial insurer (part of Suncorp Group) offering flexible packages for pet care businesses. Vero can tailor cover to suit everything from a sole-trader dog walker to a multi-facility boarding operation.
International insurer with a dedicated Australian commercial division. QBE offers liability and property packages well-suited to pet care businesses with comprehensive cover options.
Global insurance leader with Australian operations. Chubb offers premium commercial insurance products suited to established pet care businesses, particularly larger boarding and daycare operations.
Well-known Australian insurer offering small business insurance packages. AA Insurance provides straightforward cover suited to sole-trader dog walkers and small pet sitting businesses.
Disclaimer: Provider information, features, and pricing are based on publicly available data as of early 2026 and may change without notice. Coverage limits, exclusions, and terms vary between policy tiers - always read the policy wording before purchasing. Compare.com.au may earn referral fees from some providers listed above.
Several factors influence how much you'll pay for business insurance as a dog walker or pet sitter.
Walking dogs on leash in parks is generally lower risk than off-leash group walks, home boarding, overnight pet sitting, or doggy daycare. The range of services you offer - including any grooming, training, or transporting of animals - directly affects your premium.
Insurers use your annual turnover and the number of animals you care for as key pricing factors. A part-time dog walker handling 3 - 4 dogs per day will pay less than a busy operator managing 15+ dogs daily or a boarding facility housing dozens of animals.
Some insurers factor in the breeds of dogs you handle. Working with breeds classified as menacing or dangerous under local council bylaws may increase your premium. Handling other types of animals (cats, rabbits, birds) alongside dogs may also affect pricing.
A clean claims history over 3 - 5 years typically results in lower premiums. Dog bite claims, lost animal incidents, or property damage claims will increase your premium at renewal. Even claims that are not your fault can affect your pricing.
A mobile dog walker with no fixed premises pays less than a home-based boarding operator or a commercial doggy daycare facility. The value of your premises, fencing, kennels, and equipment all affect your premium. Facilities must meet local council and animal welfare standards.
More staff means greater employer's liability exposure and more animal interactions per day. Holding relevant qualifications - such as animal first aid certification or industry training - may help demonstrate competence and could support lower premiums.
These common scenarios illustrate why the right insurance matters for pet care businesses.
While walking a group of four dogs in a local park, one of the dogs lunges and bites a jogger on the leg. The jogger requires stitches, antibiotics, and misses two weeks of work. They file a claim against your business for their medical costs and lost income.
A dog escapes from your care during an off-leash walk session when it bolts through an open gate. The dog runs onto a road and is hit by a car. The dog requires emergency veterinary surgery costing $8,000 and the car owner's vehicle sustains $3,000 in damage.
A client's elderly dog dies overnight while in your home boarding care. The owner claims the dog was not adequately monitored and that you failed to follow specific care instructions regarding the dog's medication schedule. The owner seeks compensation for the value of the dog and emotional distress.
Practical tips to help you get the right cover at a fair price.
Standard public liability policies often exclude animals in your care, custody, or control. This means if a dog you are walking gets injured, your public liability policy may not respond. Ensure your policy includes a care, custody, and control extension - this is the most important cover distinction for pet care businesses.
Meet each dog before agreeing to walk or care for it. Assess temperament, behaviour around other dogs, recall reliability, and any known aggression issues. Require owners to disclose vaccination status, medical conditions, and behavioural history. Declining high-risk animals is a valid business decision that reduces your insurance exposure.
Walking too many dogs at once increases the risk of dog fights, bites, escapes, and loss of control. Most local councils set maximum numbers for commercial dog walking - commonly 4 to 6 dogs per walker. Keeping to smaller groups, even if council rules allow more, reduces incidents and demonstrates responsible practice to your insurer.
A written agreement should cover the services provided, fees, emergency contact details, veterinary authorisation, medication instructions, behavioural disclosures, and your liability limitations. While agreements do not replace insurance, they clarify responsibilities and can support your defence if a claim arises.
Use quality leads, harnesses, and secure crates or barriers in your vehicle. For boarding operators, ensure fencing is secure, escape-proof, and regularly inspected. Many claims arise from animals escaping due to faulty equipment or inadequate fencing. Investing in proper equipment is both a safety measure and a premium management strategy.
Your business changes over time - more clients, new services, additional staff, or a move to dedicated premises. Review your insurance at each renewal to ensure cover still matches your actual business. If you expand from dog walking into boarding or daycare, your insurance needs will change significantly.
Common questions about business insurance for dog walkers and pet sitters in Australia.
Disclaimer: The information on this page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, insurance, or legal advice. All pricing shown is indicative and based on publicly available data as of early 2026. Actual premiums will vary based on your business type, revenue, number of animals in your care, staff, claims history, and chosen cover levels. These figures are not quotes - always obtain a personalised quote directly from the provider. Compare.com.au may earn referral fees from some providers featured on this page. This does not affect the completeness or order of our comparisons. For personalised financial guidance, consider consulting a licensed financial adviser.
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