12 dog walkers available in Decatur
| Service | Typical range (USD) |
|---|---|
| 30-minute solo walk | $20–$30 |
| 60-minute solo walk | $30–$45 |
| Group walk | $16–$25 |
| Drop-in visit | $20–$32 |
| Overnight sit | $55–$95 |
These are national guideline ranges — local rates in Decatur vary with solo vs group walks, peak after-work times, and the number of dogs.
Treat the meet-and-greet like an interview. Ask to see proof of insurance and any pet first-aid certification, ask for two client references you can actually call, and confirm how keys are handled (a written key agreement is the professional standard). Watch how the walker greets your dog — a good one gets low and lets the dog approach. Agree in writing on the exact service, rate, cancellation policy, and the emergency plan (which vet, who they call).
Georgia is a modified one-bite state with a powerful shortcut — if a leash ordinance applied and the dog wasn't leashed, a bite victim skips the "knew it was dangerous" requirement entirely.
These state-level rules apply across Georgia; the local rules that govern day-to-day walking are on the Local bylaws tab.
Georgia (O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7) is a modified one-bite state with a powerful shortcut. Normally a victim must prove the dog had a vicious propensity the owner knew about — but the statute says it is sufficient to show the dog was required to be at heel or on a leash by a local ordinance and was not. So if a leash ordinance applied and the dog was off-leash, the victim skips the knew-it-was-dangerous requirement entirely (Johnston v. Warendh) — an off-leash bite in a leash-law area is a near-automatic liability path. The victim must not have provoked the dog, and Georgia courts start from the premise that dogs are presumed harmless regardless of breed (Steagald v. Eason).
There is no statewide leash law — local ordinances govern (for example, Cobb County requires a 6-ft leash off-property), and their violation triggers the shortcut above. The statewide Responsible Dog Ownership Law (O.C.G.A. §§ 4-8-20 to 4-8-33) is the dangerous and vicious-dog classification framework, with felony exposure for knowing violations that cause severe injury or death. The trend is away from breed bans.
Georgia applies modified comparative negligence with a 50% bar (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33). The personal-injury limit is two years (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33).