How do I introduce my dog to a new dog walker?

Have the walker arrive calmly, let your dog approach at its own pace, and go on a short walk together so the walker learns your dog's leash manners, favorite routes, and any specific quirks before doing it alone.

If your schedule allows, have the walker do their first one or two solo visits on a day you are working from home or nearby, so you can hear how the visit goes and step in if your dog seems unusually stressed by the new person.

Keep the walker's arrival low key, similar to how you handle your own departures and returns, rather than making it an exciting event, so the visit becomes a normal, predictable part of your dog's day rather than a source of extra anticipation or anxiety.

A short note covering feeding times, any commands your dog knows, favorite and avoided routes, and what to do if the dog seems reluctant to leave the house helps a new walker settle into your specific routine faster than verbal instructions alone, which are easy to forget details from after just one meeting. Updating this sheet as your dog's needs change keeps the arrangement running smoothly even as a new walker takes over the role from someone else. Keeping a digital copy that can be quickly shared with a backup walker also helps if the regular one is unexpectedly unavailable one day. Reviewing and updating this sheet together with the walker every few months keeps it accurate as your dog's routine naturally evolves.