3 dog walkers available in Greater Sudbury
| Service | Typical range (CAD) |
|---|---|
| 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 Greater Sudbury 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).
Ontario's Dog Owners' Liability Act imposes STRICT liability for a dog bite or attack — no need to prove the dog was known to be dangerous or that anyone was careless — and the Act defines 'owner' to include a person who possesses or harbours the dog, so a walker in possession can be caught.
These state-level rules apply across Ontario; the local rules that govern day-to-day walking are on the Local bylaws tab.
Under the Dog Owners' Liability Act (DOLA), R.S.O. 1990, c. D.16, section 2, the owner of a dog is liable for damages resulting from a bite or attack by the dog on a person or a domestic animal. This is strict liability: it does not depend on knowledge that the dog was dangerous, nor on any fault or negligence. The injured person does not have to prove the dog had bitten before. Critically, §1 defines 'owner' to include a person who possesses or harbours the dog — so a walker or sitter who has the dog in their possession can be treated as an owner and pursued directly. A common-law negligence claim for careless handling can also run alongside the statutory claim.
The Public Safety Related to Dogs Statute Law Amendment Act, 2005 amended DOLA to ban pit bulls in Ontario. New pit bulls are prohibited; dogs already owned when the ban took effect (and pups born within a short window after) were grandfathered as 'restricted' pit bulls. A restricted pit bull — including a Staffordshire bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier or American pit bull terrier — must at all times be muzzled and on a leash in public (the muzzle/leash rule does not apply inside the owner's own enclosed property). Breeding and transfer are tightly restricted. A walker should confirm whether any pit-bull-type dog in their care is a lawful restricted dog and handle it strictly to the muzzle-and-leash conditions under O. Reg. 157/05 (Pit Bull Controls).
Day-to-day control is set by municipal animal-control bylaws, which vary by city. In Toronto, for example, Municipal Code Chapter 349 (Animals) requires dogs to be leashed in public (leash no more than 2 m) except in a designated off-leash area where the dog must still be under control; requires every dog to be licensed and wear a tag; and requires owners to pick up excrement. Fines apply — commonly around $240 for failing to licence and up to $500 for a dog off-leash outside a permitted area. Chapter 349 also lets the City issue a Dangerous Dog Order (§349-15) with conditions the handler must follow. Because these rules differ between municipalities, a walker must check each area's bylaw.
Ontario has no province-wide dog licence or microchip statute; identification is handled by municipal bylaws. Most cities (Toronto among them) require a current licence and visible tag, and a licence tied to up-to-date contact details is how a lost dog is reunited quickly. Many restricted pit bulls and municipally designated dangerous dogs carry extra identification, sterilization or microchip conditions. A walker should confirm each dog's licence and tag are current and that any dangerous-dog or restricted-dog conditions are met before taking it out.