Best dog walkers in Durham, NC
These are the 13 Durham-area businesses where dog walking is a core, named service rather than an add-on, ranked by their earned composite score (see our methodology) built from ratings, review volume, recency, and sentiment analysis.
Looking for daycare instead of walks? See our separate list of the best dog day care centers. The order here reflects each walker's composite score as of this update, not booking price or availability.
Picks are ranked by score and relevance to dog walker, so a lower overall score can rank higher here.
At a glance
| # | Business | Score | Rating | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pure Love Pet Sitting | 92 | 5 (124) | — | Anxious & shy dogs |
| 2 | Best in Show Pet Sitting | 88 | 5 (138) | — | Long-term relationships & medical needs |
| 3 | Kaitlyn's Kuddles Pet Services | 86 | 5 (54) | — | Last-minute bookings & multi-pet homes |
| 4 | Faithful Friends Pet Care | 85 | 4.9 (70) | — | Nervous dogs & unhurried visits |
| 5 | Bull City Pet Care | 83 | 4.7 (76) | — | Flexible scheduling & extra home tasks |
| 6 | Paws Up Pet Nanny | 81 | 5 (28) | — | Vet coordination & medication management |
| 7 | Walk & Wag | 80 | 4.8 (36) | — | Urgent bookings & multi-animal households |
| 8 | Peak City Puppy | 75 | 5 (15) | — | Consistent walker continuity |
| 9 | Kate's Critter Care | 75 | 4.9 (67) | — | Chapel Hill, Carrboro & South Durham coverage |
| 10 | Pet Butler | 73 | 5 (5) | — | Dogs learning commands on walks |
| 11 | Josie Furry Kids Daycare LLC | 67 | 5 (2) | — | Multi-pet home stays |
| 12 | Nose, Toes & Tails Pet Care, LLC | 65 | 4.7 (10) | — | Long-term returning clients |
| 13 | DogDayAdventure | 54 | 5 (3) | — | Personalized outings & CPR-certified care |
1. Pure Love Pet Sitting
5 (124 reviews)score 92/100
Pure Love posts the highest composite score in Durham, built on a perfect 5.0 average across 124 reviews. Owners consistently point to Robin's team learning each dog's personality and sending same-day photo updates, which matters most for pets who don't warm up to strangers easily.
- Owner and team known by name across long-term clients
- Photo updates sent the same day as every visit
- Meet-and-greet included before the first walk
- Particularly strong with shy or nervous dogs
Services: dog walker, pet sitter, daycare boarding
2. Best in Show Pet Sitting
5 (138 reviews)score 88/100
Hillary has kept some clients for nine-plus years, and the reviews back that up with 138 five-star ratings and repeated mentions of same-day responses. She's a solid pick for dogs with medication schedules or behavioral quirks that need a walker who already knows the routine.
- Daily photo and video updates while owners travel
- Handles anxious, senior, and behaviorally challenging dogs
- Nine-plus-year client relationships in some cases
- Proactive home checks (mail, lights, garbage) alongside walks
Watch out: One reviewer found the online intake process cumbersome to get through.
Services: dog walker, pet sitter
3. Kaitlyn's Kuddles Pet Services
5 (54 reviews)score 86/100
Kaitlyn's Kuddles draws praise in every review for showing up on time, staying the full booked visit, and sending detailed daily photo updates. It's a strong option for households juggling multiple pets or medical routines that need a consistent, documented check-in.
- Daily photo and text updates with each visit
- Pre-visit consultations to learn a dog's routine upfront
- Arrives on schedule and stays the full duration
- Comfortable with medical and behavioral needs
Services: pet sitter, dog walker
4. Faithful Friends Pet Care
4.9 (70 reviews)score 85/100
Faithful Friends stands out for staff, especially Julia, who take their full paid time with each dog rather than rushing through a walk. Reviewers note dogs greeting sitters happily at the door, and owner Julie runs a methodical onboarding process that builds confidence before the first visit.
- Photo and written notes after every single visit
- Staff spend the full paid time, no rushing
- Comfortable handling overnight stays, injections, and medication
- Owner and staff respond promptly to questions
Services: pet sitter, dog walker
5. Bull City Pet Care
4.7 (76 reviews)score 83/100
Bull City's named staff, Melissa, Bonnie, and Ashley, get called out by name for reliability and for going beyond a standard walk, from plant watering to yard cleanup. It's a practical choice for owners who want flexible visit lengths and a bit of house-sitting mixed in.
- Named, consistent staff across visits
- Photo and written updates after each walk
- Flexible visit lengths from short to extended
- Extra services like goldfish and house checks, pet massage, yard care
Services: dog walker, pet sitter
6. Paws Up Pet Nanny
5 (28 reviews)score 81/100
Paws Up Pet Nanny's team, led by Lisa, handles medications and vet coordination alongside daily walks, backed by a scheduling app and a long-tenured staff base. Reviewers describe genuine, family-like care, though it's worth budgeting for a higher price point than some competitors.
- Daily photo updates and detailed after-visit reports
- Staff with years of tenure and deep client relationships
- Handles medications and vet coordination directly
- User-friendly app for scheduling and communication
Watch out: Pricing runs on the higher side of the local market.
Services: dog walker, pet sitter, transportation
7. Walk & Wag
4.8 (36 reviews)score 80/100
Walk & Wag's staff form real bonds with the dogs they walk and handle meals and medication as part of the visit, according to reviewers. They're also known for accommodating urgent, short-notice bookings, which is useful if your schedule shifts often.
- Consistent named staff who build long-term relationships
- Daily photo updates and communication
- Medication and meal management included
- Handles urgent bookings with short notice
Watch out: One prospective client reported being turned away for requesting standard proof-of-insurance documentation.
Services: daycare boarding, dog training, webcam monitoring, puppy daycare
8. Peak City Puppy
5 (15 reviews)score 75/100
Peak City Puppy holds a perfect 5.0 rating, though it's based on 15 reviews so treat the score as an early but positive signal. Clients like that the same walkers and sitters return each time, which keeps a dog's routine familiar.
- Perfect five-star rating across its review base
- Daily photo updates and written notes
- In-home care model preserves a dog's normal routine
- Same walkers and sitters return for continuity
Services: dog walker, transportation, cage free, daycare boarding
9. Kate's Critter Care
4.9 (67 reviews)score 75/100
Kate's Critter Care has been running since 2008 and covers a wider service area than most on this list, with staff like Mariana, Beth, and Rosemary earning individual praise for knowing pets well. Its composite score is pulled down somewhat by less recent review activity relative to top picks, so it's worth confirming current availability.
- Established since 2008 with a long track record
- Sliding-scale pricing available
- Same-day emergency availability
- Online booking portal
Watch out: Some reviewers note limited availability at times.
Services: dog training, webcam monitoring, puppy daycare, dog walker
10. Pet Butler
5 (5 reviews)score 73/100
Pet Butler earns five stars across its reviews and stands out for staff who work on commands during walks and send a "pet journal" style summary afterward. The review base is small at 5 reviews, so treat this as a promising but lower-confidence pick.
- Photo updates and a pet journal after every visit
- Trained and insured staff
Services: pet sitter, dog walker
11. Josie Furry Kids Daycare LLC
5 (2 reviews)score 67/100
Maria Jose at Josie Furry Kids gets credit for calm, confident handling of multi-pet households and for leaving homes and plants in good shape after a stay. Reviews are limited to just 2, so this is more of a promising local option than a proven track record yet.
- Handles multi-pet households confidently
- Trustworthy for extended home stays
Services: daycare boarding, dog walker, pet sitter
12. Nose, Toes & Tails Pet Care, LLC
4.7 (10 reviews)score 65/100
Michelle's team has built a base of returning clients over six years, with regular photo updates and comfort administering medication called out in reviews. One review flagged a communication breakdown during a difficult situation, which is worth weighing against the otherwise steady track record.
- Long-term reliability with returning clients
- Daily photo and text updates
- Handles medication and special needs
Watch out: One reviewer described a communication disagreement during a conflict situation.
Services: pet sitter, dog training, dog walker
13. DogDayAdventure
5 (3 reviews)score 54/100
Scott tailors each walk to a dog's energy level and personality, and his canine CPR and first-aid certification is a genuine differentiator on this list. The review base is small at 3 reviews and skews older, so confirm current scheduling before booking.
- Personalized outings matched to each dog's personality
- Owner certified in canine CPR and first aid
Watch out: Reviews are few and not recent, so recent service quality is less verified than other picks.
Services: dog training, cage free, pet sitter, dog walker
Looking yourself? Describe what you need once and hear from suitable dog day care center in Durham, NC.
Enquiries submitted through our forms may be shared with partner providers who can do the work, and we may receive a referral fee. Our rankings and scores follow our published methodology only and are never affected by referral fees.
Guides before you choose
- How to choose a dog walker in Durham: questions to ask before you hire
What to check before hiring a dog walker in Durham, from GPS tracking and key handling to what happens if your dog is injured on a walk.
- Insurance, bonding, and liability: what to ask before hiring a dog walker or pet sitter
What bonding and liability insurance actually cover for a dog walker or sitter, and the specific questions to ask before someone gets a key to your home.