Are Dog Walkers a New Model of Pet Care?

     What Is a Dog Walker?

     In some Asian countries such as Japan, as well as in Europe and North America, it has become familiar to see people walking dozens of dogs at once in city streets. These people are known as dog walkers—professionals who take dogs for walks on behalf of their owners. While this occupation does not yet exist in Korea, it has long been established in several other countries. In large cities such as New York City and London, platforms connect clients with dog walkers, and many operate under conditions that require training and insurance. This represents a notable example of how pet care has expanded from a private responsibility into a service industry. In Japan, dog walking has also become recognized as an occupation. This is largely due to population aging, the rise of single-person households, and long working hours, which make it difficult for many owners to walk their dogs daily. Japan’s relatively welldeveloped system of private certifications and insurance for pet-related services contributes to the perception of dog walking as a professional service. This stands in contrast to Korea, where walking a dog is still widely regarded as a basic duty of the owner.

     Problem 1: Ethical Controversies

     However, dog walking is not viewed solely as a convenient service. The most frequent ethical criticism concerns the “outsourcing of care.” Walking a dog is not only a form of physical exercise but also a key moment for building a bond between the pet and its owner. Delegating this task to a third party may conflict with the social notion of treating pets as family members. Moreover, walking multiple dogs at once makes it difficult to reflect each dog’s individual temperament and condition, increasing the risk of treating animals as objects of management rather than emotional beings. This debate leads to a fundamental question: to what extent should responsibility for pet care remain a personal obligation?

     Problem 2: Unclear Legal Responsibility

     Alongside ethical issues, dog walking raises questions of legal responsibility. If a dog bites a person or causes a traffic accident during a walk, who should be held liable? Article 759(1) of the Korean Civil Act states that the person who possesses an animal is responsible for damages caused by it, and paragraph(2) provides that the owner is liable only when the possessor proves that due care was exercised. Under this framework, a dog walker is likely to be considered the legal possessor. In addition, the Animal Protection Act penalizes dangerous management of animals. If an accident occurs while multiple dogs are difficult to control, criminal liability may also arise.

     Possibility of Introduction in Korea and Necessary Conditions

     Can dog walking be introduced in Korea? Given the increase in dual-income households and single-person households, there is clear demand for services that take responsibility for dog walking. The spread of dog daycare centers and pet hotels already shows that pet care is becoming commercialized. However, in Korea’s dense urban environment—where pedestrian space is limited and complaints related to pets are frequent—walking multiple dogs at once could intensify social conflict. Furthermore, Korea currently lacks a legal definition or qualification system for dog walkers. While some regions in the United States and the United Kingdom regulate the activity through insurance and operational standards, Korea would likely face disputes over liability in the event of accidents. For successful adoption, institutional measures must come first. Standards for qualifications and training, clarification of liability in accidents, and mandatory insurance should be established. Regulations on where dog walkers may operate and how many dogs they can handle at once are also necessary. Once care becomes a service, trust alone is insufficient; legal and institutional frameworks must intervene.

     A Question Raised by Pet Culture

     The debate over dog walkers goes beyond the emergence of a new occupation. It raises broader questions about how far pet care should be socialized and who should bear responsibility for it. Dog walking symbolizes a shift in pet culture from “personal affection” toward “contracts and institutions.”

Kim Hee-nu(Planning Editor)

heennx@soongsil.ac.kr