What should a dog walking booking form include?

A complete dog walking booking form should capture: client name, address, phone, email, dog name, breed, age, weight, spayed or neutered status, vaccination status, vet name and phone, emergency contact, behavioral notes (reactive, anxious, leash aggression), medication information, and preferred walk schedule. Optional: gate codes or access instructions, and a photo of the dog.

Should I use a paper form or a digital form for dog walking bookings?

Digital forms are more practical for most independent walkers. They're easier to search, update, and access during a walk if something comes up. A booking link (like a DogWalkr page) handles intake automatically when the client requests a walk — you don't have to send a separate form.

Do I need a signed agreement with dog walking clients?

A written service agreement is strongly recommended. It doesn't need to be a formal legal document, but it should cover: cancellation policy, what happens in a pet emergency, payment terms, and liability limits. A simple signed agreement (even by email or digital acknowledgment) gives both parties clarity and protects you if a dispute arises.

How do I collect dog walking booking forms without texting back and forth?

Use a booking link that includes an intake form as part of the request process. Tools like DogWalkr let clients submit their walk request and dog information in one flow — you receive a complete intake without a single back-and-forth text.

Dog Walking Booking Form Template

Why You Need a Booking Form (vs. Texting)

Most dog walkers start by taking bookings through text. It works for one or two clients, but it breaks down fast. You're texting the same questions to every new client, answers arrive at random times, and the information you collected three months ago is buried in a message thread.

A booking form solves three real problems:

You get consistent information every time. No more texting back "What's your address again?" or realizing you don't have the vet's number when you need it.
It signals professionalism. A walker who sends a booking form looks different from one who just texts back and forth. This matters when clients are deciding whether to trust you with their dog.
You have a record. When something unexpected happens on a walk, you need the emergency contact number and vet information immediately — not buried in a chat thread.

The Complete Booking Form Template

This is a copy-ready template. Use it as a Google Form, a printed paper form, or as the basis for your booking system intake.

Dog Walking New Client Form — Template

Client Information

Full name

Home addressStreet, city, zip — where walks begin

Best phone numberFor walk-day updates and emergencies

Email addressFor booking confirmations and reminders

Gate or access codeIf applicable

Preferred walk days/times

Dog Information

Dog's name

Breed

Age

Weight (approximate)

SexMale / Female

Spayed / Neutered?Yes / No

Vaccinations up to date?Yes / No / In progress

Current medications?Name, dose, schedule — "none" if none

Any health conditions or allergies?

Behavior Notes

Leash reactive? (other dogs)Yes / No / Sometimes

Reactive to strangers?Yes / No / Sometimes

Pulls on leash?Yes / No

Good with other dogs?Yes / No / Depends

Any escape attempts?Fence climber, door dasher, etc.

Anything else I should know?Open text — let them tell you

Emergency Contact

Emergency contact nameDifferent from client where possible

Emergency contact phone

Relationship to clientSpouse, family member, neighbor, etc.

Vet Information

Vet clinic name

Vet phone number

Emergency vet authorization"I authorize [walker name] to seek emergency vet care if needed. I accept financial responsibility." — Yes / No

That last field — emergency vet authorization — is the most important one most walkers skip. If something happens on a walk and you can't reach the owner, this tells you whether you have permission to take the dog to the vet. Without it, you're guessing.

Optional Fields Worth Considering

Not every walker needs all of these, but depending on your setup they're worth adding:

Photo of the dog — Useful if you walk multiple dogs in a neighborhood and need to confirm you've got the right one. Also useful for your records if the dog ever goes missing during a walk.
Key/access instructions — Where is the key hidden, which door do you use, is the garage code different from the gate code.
Preferred route or restrictions — Some clients have strong opinions. Better to know upfront than mid-walk.
Feeding instructions — Relevant for drop-in visits or longer stays.
How did you hear about me? — Useful for understanding which of your acquisition channels are working.

What Not to Include on Your Form

Keep the form focused. Fields that don't affect the walk or the safety of the dog create friction without benefit.

Social Security numbers or ID numbers — no reason to collect this
Income or payment prequalification fields — you're not a bank
More than one place to enter the same information
Questions about other pets unless you also care for them
Fields you won't actually read before the first walk

A form that takes five minutes to fill out is a form clients will fill out. A form that takes fifteen minutes is a form clients abandon and call you about instead.

How to Receive Forms Professionally

Three practical options for collecting client intake information:

Method	How it works	Tradeoff
Google Forms + Google Sheets	Free, sends responses to a spreadsheet. Share the link anywhere.	Works but looks generic. No automated confirmation email to the client. You manage scheduling separately.
Paper form	Print and have clients fill out at the meet-and-greet.	Physical only, not searchable, can't be sent in advance. Only reasonable as a backup.
Booking software with built-in intake	Client submits request + dog information in one flow. You receive a structured record.	Costs money but saves time every single booking. Automated confirmation + reminders included.

The goal is to collect complete, consistent information without it feeling like homework. A booking system that includes the form as part of the request flow is the cleanest approach — by the time you confirm a booking, you already have everything you need.

How DogWalkr Handles Intake Automatically

DogWalkr's booking page includes a client intake form as part of every walk request. When someone submits a booking through your DogWalkr link, they fill out their information and dog details as part of the process — you don't send a separate form, and they don't have to fill anything out twice.

The information lands in your dashboard, attached to that client's record. If you need their emergency contact number or vet info mid-walk, it's one tap away in your phone.

No extra tools. No spreadsheet management. The form is the booking flow.

What should you charge per walk? Use the free DogWalkr rate calculator to turn your market, schedule, and costs into a simple rate card.

Free rate calculator →

Ready to run bookings after your rate card is clear? Start your free 14-day trial.