3 dog walkers available in Richfield
| 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 Richfield 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).
Minnesota imposes "absolute liability" — even comparative fault is not a defense — and it names pet-sitters and walkers as statutory "owners".
These state-level rules apply across Minnesota; the local rules that govern day-to-day walking are on the Local bylaws tab.
Minnesota (Minn. Stat. § 347.22) is one of the most victim-favorable statutes in the country — courts call it absolute liability (Seim v. Garavalia; Lewellin v. Huber). If a dog without provocation attacks or injures a person acting peaceably in a lawful place, the owner is liable for the full amount — and neither common-law defenses nor statutory comparative fault are available. It covers non-bite injuries. The only defenses are provocation and the victim not acting peaceably in a lawful place.
Owner includes any person harboring or keeping a dog (the legal owner stays primarily liable) — Minnesota courts are explicit that the law applies to anyone watching, walking, or pet-sitting a dog, so a walker is a statutory owner. The flip side: a caretaker, groomer, or pet-sitter who voluntarily accepts the dog and is then bitten cannot recover under the statute (Carlson v. Friday) — assumption of risk survives there. So the statute protects third parties from a dog in your care, but not you if that dog bites you.
The dangerous-dog law (§§ 347.50–347.565) requires registration, muzzle or enclosure, microchip, insurance, and warning signage. There is no statewide leash law — rules are local. The statute of limitations is an unusually long six years.