Frequently Asked Questions

You have questions and we have answers! In the event, you don’t see your question answered here, don’t hesitate to contact us!

Getting Started

Are you bonded and insured?
Yes we are! And licensed too. All of our walkers are background checked, CPR and Pet First Aid Trained and are permitted and certified Dog Walkers.
What if my dog has never been off-leash before?

We have options and we love to train! We have trainers who can help you and your dog by offering private training sessions focused on recall. Our trainers can help transition your dog, and you, to be in our off leash walks successfully. We have training recall workshops for clients a few times a year that you and your pup can sign up for. Email us for more info!

Do you offer pick up and drop off?

Yes, if you are in our service area for Adventure Outings. Click this link to see if we cover your neighborhood.

What happens if I know I will be out of town for several weeks?

We can move your pup to the Per Day Walk Rate of $55 for the upcoming month if advance notice is given by the 15th of the previous month. In some cases, a deposit may be required to save your dog’s spot in our small-sized walking groups if you will be gone for more than a month at a time.

How will I be billed for walks?

We work on a pre-billed payment for each month of dog walks. Changes to the schedule need to be made by the 15th of the current month for the next month.

On your first day of walks with us, you will pay for your two-week trial period (10 walks for $500). After the completion of your first two-week trial if all is going well you will then move to the monthly membership in our dog walking software system. Per day walk rate is $55.

What is a doggie ranch?

We have our own private enclosed dog park for just our Top Dog pups! Located right below the city in Pacifica, we head down to our grassy meadow space each day where we romp, socialize, smell, play, chase, fetch galore! Doggie Ranch is a perfect spot for us to allow your dog the freedom and safety to be off leash with other carefully chosen dog friends in a controlled safe environment.

What are your walk times?
Pickups range from 7:45am to 10:30 and drop offs range from 1pm to 3pm depending on group location, dog size and ranch arrival time.

The average out of the house time per day for each dog is approx.. 3.5 hours.

What’s with the monthly prepaid walk packages?
We suggest (and so do our clients) that you use our Monthly Pre-Paid Walk Packages to save you approx. 25% – 30% off of the Per Day Walk Rate. Monthly Pre-Paid Walk Packages also secures your dog’s spot in our small sized pack and allows us to employ local San Francisco Walkers. We require a minimum of 3x a week which saves our clients’ money throughout the year to secure a spot for your dog in our small sized groups, along with reinforcing and maintaining your dog’s behavior and training. Changes to the schedule need to be made by the 15th of the current month for the next month if you would like to change or modify your Monthly Discounted Package.
Will the same person always walk/visit my pet?
Generally, yes. We will assign a primary walker for your dog. If your dog goes on regularly scheduled walks with us 5x a week we have one walker assigned for your dog. We also have a back-up walker trained to substitute for us if the primary walker is sick or on vacation. We communicate with you any walker changes and give you a heads up!
Do the dogs get dirty on walks?
Our walkers are happy to wipe your dog down with a pre-designated towel on rainy days. But if you have areas of your house you are concerned about getting dirty, please make arrangements with us in advance to keep them confined somewhere where a little dirt won’t hurt. Whether your dog gets dirty depends on where the walker takes the dogs, what the weather’s like that day, and whether your dog enjoys getting dirty/ swimming. Most off-leash trails are dirt and sand roads and therefore prone to getting muddy on rainy days. Sometimes there are streams or ponds in the areas where we walk, and although we try to minimize muddy occasions, we can’t guarantee we can always keep playful pups out of puddles!

Clients

Do you offer overnight care?
Yes, we offer overnight care as a special perk for Top Dog SF Clients:
Pet sitting is available, in our home, for $100/night. This includes a morning walk and an evening walk and feeding. Mid-day walks are additional and will be billed separately. We require advance notice, and special Holiday pricing applies for busy periods as we have limited space.
Is there a way to put my account on hold?
If you would like us to hold and guarantee your dog’s spot in our small sized groups we ask for a monthly retainer while you are away. Changes to the schedule need to be made by the 15th of the current month for the next month to cancel or suspend service.

Work for TopDog

I want to work for you as a dog walker. What do I do?

We’re Hiring! Please click here to see what we are looking for and apply.