Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions from Dog Owners

  • Is it safe to make contact with strangers via the internet?

    We suggest you correspond via the website initially (keeping your email address private) and then build trust from there. When you're ready to meet a walker in person for the first time, consider arranging for a friend or relative to be present.

  • Is it safe to let a stranger walk my dog?

    • Before agreeing to let someone walk your dog meet them in person and ask them to bring some form of photo ID and proof of address the first time you meet. (This website will already have explained to the walker that you'll be expecting to see such evidence.) Make a note of the walkers name and address.
    • Agree with the walker whether and under what conditions the dog should be allowed off the lead. We suggest that the dog remains on a lead for the first few walks at least.
    • Always ensure your dog is wearing a collar with identification when it is out walking. In the UK it is a legal requirement under the Control of Dogs Order 1992 that "every dog while in a highway or in a place of public resort shall wear a collar with the name and address of the owner inscribed on the collar or on a plate or badge attached to it". Leapdog also recommends that your dog is microchipped.
    • If possible, accompany the walker on the first walk.

Frequently Asked Questions from Walkers

  • How can I gain a dog owner's trust?

    You're asking a great deal of a dog owner to let you come to their house and take their dog away for a while, so you need to do the lion's share of building trust. After the initial correspondence (via the website or email) be prepared to give the owner your phone number and your home address. The first time you meet in person take some form of photo ID and proof of address (such as a recent utility bill). Volunteer these when you first meet, rather than making the owner ask for them.

  • What if the dog runs off?

    Here are some tips:
    • Listen to the owner's advice. The owner might not want you to let the dog off the lead, at least for the first few walks.
    • Keep the dog on a lead until you're sure the dog has made friends with you.
    • Ideally, the first time you let the dog off the lead, you should be in a safe, enclosed area such as a large garden with a secure fence.
    • Practise recall in stages: With the dog on a long lead, practise calling the dog to you in return for dog choc treats. Then try the same thing off the lead in an enclosed garden.
    • Most importantly, do not take the dog out unless it is wearing a collar with identification.

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