Why Plan Vacation Coverage Ahead of Time
One of the trade-offs of running a solo dog walking business is that when you're out, the business is out too — unless you've planned for it. For clients with daily recurring visits, even a few days without coverage is a real problem, not just an inconvenience.
Having a plan in place — even a simple one — means time off doesn't become a scramble, and clients aren't left wondering what's happening with their dog's care while you're away.
Coverage Options to Consider
| Option | What It Looks Like |
|---|---|
| Backup walker (trusted contact) | Another independent walker or someone you trust covers your route while you're away |
| Client arranges their own coverage | You give clients notice, and they handle it themselves (friend, family, boarding) |
| Pause service | You let clients know you're unavailable for a set period and resume afterward |
| Reduced schedule | You handle a smaller number of essential visits yourself, pause the rest |
Which option makes sense often depends on how long you'll be away, how many clients you have, and whether you have someone you trust to bring in.
A Simple Vacation Coverage Policy Template
[Your Business Name] takes occasional time off. When this happens, clients will be notified at least [X weeks/days] in advance whenever possible.
During this time, [a trusted backup walker will cover scheduled visits / clients are encouraged to arrange alternative care / service will be paused for the affected dates].
If a backup walker is used, [Your Business Name] will share relevant access and care details in advance, and the backup walker will follow the same routine and notes used for regular visits.
Set this expectation early. Mentioning your general approach to time off during onboarding means clients aren't caught off guard the first time it comes up.
What to Give a Backup Walker
If you're bringing in a backup walker, the goal is for the visit to go as close to normal as possible — which means they need the same information you'd rely on yourself. This is exactly what a good client notes template is for: access details, routine, behavior notes, health considerations, and emergency contacts, all written down rather than explained verbally at the last minute.
- Access details — codes, keys, parking, anything specific to getting in
- Routine — usual walk length, route, gear location
- Behavior and health notes — anything the backup walker needs to know to handle the dog safely
- Emergency contacts — vet info, owner's emergency contact, your own contact info while away (if reachable)
Announcing Time Off to Clients
If you can't find coverage, give clients as much notice as possible so they can make their own arrangements. Being upfront about a gap in service — even if it's not the answer clients want — is usually better received than a last-minute scramble.
Keeping Your Schedule Straight While You're Away
Whether you're using a backup walker or pausing service, your recurring schedule doesn't disappear — it just needs to reflect what's actually happening for those dates. Trying to remember which clients are paused, which have a backup covering them, and which dates everything resumes can get confusing fast, especially across multiple clients.
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For your regular week-to-week schedule, see our recurring schedule template — having it mapped out makes it much easier to see exactly what needs covering while you're away.