We love our dogs, so why put unnecessary and unhealthy demands and expectations on them? By that, I mean forcing them to “hold it in” or “no bathroom break” during the many hours that no one is home to walk them. Please think about it: holding it in for an extended time is a demand we would never force upon or expect of ourselves. Besides the issue of having to “go to the bathroom” while you’re gone, they endure hours of loneliness, boredom, anxiety, and fright or may become ill or injured.
I think having someone reliable, trustworthy, knowledgeable, experienced, and truly caring come to your home during the time you may be gone is a wonderful idea, but are they the person I just described? 
I never felt confident about calling for a reference. Can you be sure that the name of a former employer is a former employer and not a relative helping the prospective dog walker to get a job?
This is what I would do. I would be home the first few days after hiring a new dog walker to see how my dog reacts to this person and how this person handles my dog. Following that, I would have a trial week, during which I would have a neighbor check arrival and departure times and keep an eye on the “walker” during walking time. Nanny cams are your best bet for ensuring the safety and well-being of your pet. I know someone who was home during a first visit by their newly hired dog walker and stayed in a locked bedroom using a baby monitor.
If you have an alarm system using a different code, and depending upon your alarm company, you can get a signal sent to your cell phone to let you know when the walker comes and goes. A good test to see how caring the dog walker is would be to have them come on a day that is expected to be rainy. If the walker asks for a towel to dry your dog, that would be a sign of concern for the dog’s well-being. The questions the prospective dog walker asks about your dog and what you require will indicate how experienced and genuinely interested this person is in your dog.
Another good tip is to find out what kind of dogs the potential dog walker has and what veterinarian they use. I would call that veterinarian to get a reference without discussing it at the interview.
If you feel even the slightest bit unsure or uncomfortable during the interview or if your dog shows signs of mistrust, listen to your instincts and your dog’s.
If you are considering a dog-walking company, there are a few things to find out first. Yes, the owner may be bonded and insured, but how does that help if you are truly worried about your dog’s safety and well-being? I never saw that as a plus in my dog’s well-being column. The people who work for these companies make a fraction of what you are paying the owner. How dedicated are they to doing a great job if they are paid so little that they need to run from job to job to make enough money?
By the way, a dog walker or caregiver who asks if you would like to be texted during their visit to let you know that everything is OK would win points with me.
