New Dog Walking Client Onboarding Checklist
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A one-page checklist to run through at the meet and greet and again after the first visit, so every new dog, home, and owner is documented before the recurring schedule starts.

[ ] A meet and greet is scheduled at the client's home, with the dog present, before any paid visit is booked.
[ ] The dog profile is written down: name, breed or mix, age, approximate weight, spay or neuter status, and the veterinarian's name and phone number.
[ ] Walking equipment is inspected: collar or harness fit, leash condition, a legible ID tag, and a note on whether the dog has ever slipped a collar.
[ ] Behavior notes cover reactivity to dogs, people, bikes, and squirrels, plus leash pulling, resource guarding, and any bite history the owner discloses.
[ ] Medical notes cover medications and timing, allergies, mobility limits, recent surgeries, and the signs that mean stop the walk and call the owner.
[ ] The service selected (drop-in, short visit, standard walk, or long walk) is named in writing with its exact duration and what it includes.
[ ] Solo or group placement is decided honestly, and a dog going into a group has been screened against the specific pack it will join.
[ ] Days, arrival windows, and the recurring schedule are agreed, and each window is realistic for the neighborhood cluster it falls in.
[ ] The address is checked against your service area and current route so the new stop does not break an existing client's arrival window.
[ ] Home access is documented: lockbox code, key, garage keypad, alarm code and disarm procedure, and which door to use on the way in and out.
[ ] Keys are labeled with a code rather than the address, and the client knows where keys are stored between visits and what happens if one is lost.
[ ] House rules are captured: gates to close, rooms that stay shut, other pets in the home, towels for muddy paws, and where the leash and treats live.
[ ] Emergency contacts include the owner, a backup local contact, and the vet, and the owner has signed a veterinary authorization with a spending limit.
[ ] The service agreement is signed and covers services, pricing, billing dates, cancellations, holidays, key handling, photo permission, and liability.
[ ] Billing is set up: rate confirmed, invoice date agreed, payment method on file, and any recurring discount stated in writing rather than implied.
[ ] Update preferences are agreed: what the owner wants to hear (arrival, bathroom, water, mood, notes) and the channel they actually read.
[ ] Photo permission is confirmed separately, including whether the dog may appear on your website or social media.
[ ] Weather and cancellation rules are explained: heat, ice, storms, and how the client is told when a walk is shortened, moved, or skipped.
[ ] The first visit is booked in a slightly longer slot so there is time to find the lockbox, read the notes, and let the dog settle before leaving.
[ ] After the first visit, the check-in record, notes, and photo are reviewed and any surprise (sticky lock, loose gate latch, a nervous dog) is added to the client file.
[ ] The recurring slot is placed into the weekly route only after the first visit confirms the transition time you estimated.