What Your Insurance Really Covers — and What It Doesn’t
- Tori Lynn Crowther
- Jan 3
- 5 min read
What Your Insurance
Really
Covers — and What It Doesn’t
This is not an anti-insurance post.
Insurance matters. You should have it.
But understanding what it doesn’t protect you from is just as important as knowing what it does.
Most professional dog walkers only find out the limits of their cover after something has gone wrong. By then, it’s too late to change policies — and often too late to change outcomes.
This blog exists so you don’t have to learn the hard way.
The Scenarios Insurers Don’t Advertise
The Reality Most Walkers Discover Too Late
Insurance is not designed to protect you.
It is designed to limit financial exposure for the insurer.
That doesn’t make insurers unethical — but it does mean their interests are not the same as yours once a claim exists.
When something goes wrong, the question is never:
“Is this person a good dog walker?”
It is:
“Does this incident fall squarely within the wording of the policy?”
If the answer is unclear, the outcome becomes negotiable — and not in your favour.
Where Claims Are Actually Won or Lost
Claims rarely fail because of one dramatic error.
They fail in the quiet details:
Ambiguous wording
Unwritten procedures
Decisions you felt were reasonable but can’t evidence
Situations insurers define differently than walkers do
This is why experienced professionals obsess less over price and more over wording.
“Reasonable Care” — The Most Dangerous Phrase in Insurance
Most policies rely heavily on the phrase:
“The policyholder must take all reasonable precautions to prevent injury, loss or damage.”
Sounds fair.
It isn’t neutral.
Why This Matters
“Reasonable” is not defined at the time you buy the policy.
It is defined after the incident, using:
Hindsight
Expert opinion
Industry norms (not your personal standards)
If an insurer can argue that:
Group size was excessive
The environment was unsuitable
The dog should not have been present
…they may argue reasonable care was not taken — even if nothing had ever gone wrong before.
Group Walks: Covered in Theory, Scrutinised in Practice
Even when group walks are “allowed”, insurers often assume:
Small, stable groups
Dogs already assessed
Calm, predictable environments
What they don’t always account for:
Urban complexity
Time pressure
Client-driven scheduling
Last-minute changes
If an incident occurs, insurers may retrospectively ask:
Was this group necessary?
Was the mix defensible?
Would fewer dogs have reduced risk?
If your only answer is “This is how I always do it”, you are vulnerable.
Known History: When Transparency Backfires
You are often told:
“Just be honest about the dog’s behaviour.”
Honesty matters — but documentation matters more.
If a dog has:
Previously snapped
Guarded resources
Reacted on lead
Struggled in groups
…and is later involved in an incident, insurers may argue the risk was foreseeable.
Foreseeable risk shifts responsibility onto you — even if the dog had been stable for months.
Injury to You: The Coverage Gap Walkers Don’t Expect
Many policies:
Exclude handler injury entirely
Offer only limited personal accident cover
Exclude injuries caused by dogs in your care
This means:
Bites to you may not be covered
Lost earnings may not be covered
Long-term impact may not be considered
Walkers often assume public liability equals personal protection.
It doesn’t.
Social Media: The Silent Evidence File
Insurers increasingly review:
Websites
Instagram
Facebook
Marketing language
Photos of:
Large off-lead groups
Dogs playing near roads
High-risk environments
…can be used to argue a pattern of behaviour — even if the incident itself looked isolated.
What you celebrate publicly can undermine you privately.
When “Professional” Raises the Bar
If you describe yourself as:
Experienced
Specialist
Behaviour-aware
Advanced
…you may be held to a higher standard of foresight.
This isn’t written in policies — but it is applied in practice.
Professional status brings credibility and expectation.
Red Flag Wording Guide
What to Watch for in Dog Walking Insurance Policies
This is the section most walkers never read — and the one that matters most.
🚩 “Reasonable Precautions” / “Reasonable Care”
Why it’s risky:
Vague and retrospective. Allows insurers to argue almost anything could have been done differently.
Protect yourself by:
Having written policies
Documenting walk limits
Being consistent
🚩 “Suitable Control” / “Adequate Supervision”
Why it’s risky:
“Suitable” and “adequate” are undefined.
If an incident occurs, insurers may argue:
Fewer dogs were required
Different equipment should have been used
The environment was inappropriate
🚩 “Known Propensities” / “Known Behavioural Issues”
Why it’s risky:
If you knew — or should reasonably have known — about a risk, liability may shift to you.
This includes:
Owner disclosures
Your own observations
Messages or notes
🚩 “Exclusions Relating to Dangerous Dogs”
Why it’s risky:
Some policies exclude:
Certain breeds
Dogs subject to control measures
Dogs with prior incidents
These exclusions may not be highlighted at purchase.
🚩 “Compliance with Industry Standards”
Why it’s risky:
“Industry standard” is not clearly defined in dog walking.
Insurers may rely on:
Expert witnesses
Generalised best practice
Retrospective opinions
🚩 “Failure to Follow Procedures”
Why it’s risky:
If you don’t have written procedures, insurers may argue none were followed.
No procedure = no defence.
🚩 “Acts of Negligence”
Why it’s risky:
Negligence can include:
Overloading walks
Ignoring early warning signs
Continuing with a dog despite concerns
Negligence voids protection.
🚩 “Territorial Limits”
Why it’s risky:
Some policies restrict:
Where dogs can be walked
Certain environments (beaches, farmland, private land)
If you walk outside these limits, cover may lapse.
🚩 “Equipment Requirements”
Why it’s risky:
Policies may require equipment to be:
Fit for purpose
Maintained
Appropriate for the dog
If equipment fails, scrutiny follows.
The Professional Shift That Changes Everything
Experienced walkers don’t ask:
“Am I insured?”
They ask:
“Can I defend this decision if something goes wrong?”
Insurance becomes a supporting document, not the foundation of safety.
Final Thought: Read Your Policy Like an Insurer Would
If you can read your policy and answer:
Why this decision was made
Why this group was appropriate
Why this environment was chosen
…you are far harder to catch out.
Insurance doesn’t protect optimism.
It protects defensible professionalism.
I personally have no experience myself with any company other that Pet Business Insurance and have found them to be excellent, however some of my members have come to me with problems from other insurance companies and I have had vets say “you will be lucky if your insurance covers that, most insurance will expect the owners to pay for that incident!” So just do be aware!
About Tori Lynn C. & The Dog House
Welcome to The Dog House — my cosy corner of the TLC Canine Crusaders Business Hub. I’m Tori Lynn C., the founder of TLC Dog Walking Limited, mentor to professional dog walkers, and lifelong advocate for dogs and the people who care for them. With over 17 years of hands-on experience in the industry, my mission is to guide you through the realities of running a successful, sustainable dog walking business — from client care and safety to wellbeing, confidence, and professional growth.
The Dog House is where I share the honest, behind-the-scenes conversations we all need: the tricky moments, the funny bits, the business lessons, and the mindset work that keeps us thriving rather than merely surviving. Whether you're just starting out or scaling up, you’ll always find support, guidance, and a friendly nudge forward here.
You’re never alone in this journey — you’re part of a community of canine crusaders.
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