Dog Walker and Pet Sitter Insurance in Tennessee

Common risks for dog walkers and pet sitters

• A dog in your care bites someone
• A pet gets lost or injured
• Damage to clients&rsquo
• homes
• Lost house keys
• Theft accusations

Coverages dog walkers and pet sitters often consider

• General liability Helps if your business is blamed for injuring someone or damaging their property, and usually pays for a legal defense.
• Animal bailee (care, custody, and control) Covers injury to or loss of pets in your care, which general liability often excludes.
• Surety bonds Guarantee you’ll meet license rules or finish a job. Some licenses and contracts require them.
• Hired and non-owned auto Liability for when you or employees drive personal or rented cars on business errands.

Not every business needs every coverage. The right mix depends on your work, your contracts, and your budget. All coverage is subject to underwriting and the terms of the policy.

What a claim could look like

For example, imagine a dog you’re walking in East Nashville slips its leash and is hit by a car. The owner asks you to pay vet bills. Animal bailee coverage may help, subject to policy terms.

This is a hypothetical example for education only. Whether any claim is covered depends on the facts and your policy terms.

Tennessee rules to know

Workers’ comp. Most Tennessee employers outside construction and coal mining must carry workers’ compensation once they have five or more employees, full- or part-time, per the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Even below that number, many owners choose to carry it.

We can review your requirements and help you shop workers’ compensation and the other coverages above with carriers that write dog walkers and pet sitters, subject to underwriting.

Certificates of insurance

Some clients and apartment complexes ask pet sitters for proof of insurance.

A certificate of insurance shows your coverage on the day it’s issued. If a contract asks for additional insured status or a waiver of subrogation, the policy usually needs an endorsement, not just a line on the certificate. Our certificate of insurance checklist walks through what to check.

What affects the cost

• The type of work you do and how it’s classified
• Annual revenue and payroll
• Number of employees and any subcontractors
• Where you work and the value of your equipment or property
• The limits and deductibles you choose
• Your claims history and years in business

We can’t promise a price ahead of time, but we can compare options and explain the trade-offs in plain English.

How Eric can help dog walkers and pet sitters

Pet pros in Nashville, Franklin, Hendersonville, and Mt. Juliet often work in clients’ homes, at parks, and from vans. As an independent agent affiliated with Hutsenpiller Insurance, Eric can review what you have, read your contract requirements with you, and help you shop options with more than one carrier. See how an independent agent works for you.

Related guides

• Pet Business Insurance in Tennessee
• All business types we can help
• Business insurance in Middle Tennessee
• General liability insurance
• Certificates and additional insureds explained
• Small business insurance checklist (PDF)
• Certificate of insurance checklist (PDF)