Can Dog Walkers Deduct Weatherproof Gear, Waivers, and Walking Accessories?
Yes — weatherproof gear, legal waiver templates, and equipment like phone holders or harnesses used specifically for client walks are deductible business expenses for independent dog walkers, as long as they're tied to the job rather than everyday personal wear.
Weatherproof gear: Rain boots, waterproof jackets, and winter coats bought specifically so you can work through bad weather are deductible, since the expense exists because of the job — you wouldn't need heavy-duty outdoor gear at this frequency without a route to walk regardless of conditions. The line the IRS draws is exclusivity: a general winter coat you'd wear anyway is personal, but gear bought and used primarily for walking routes in the rain or snow is a legitimate business cost.
Liability waivers and legal templates: If you have a lawyer draft a client liability waiver, or you purchase a legal template service to create one, that cost is deductible as a professional or legal service expense. This extends to any legal document templates you use to formalize client agreements, since they're a required part of protecting your business.
Phone holders and walking harnesses: A dedicated phone holder, hands-free leash system, or walking harness used specifically to manage multiple dogs on a route is deductible as work equipment. As with weatherproof gear, the key is whether it's used for the job specifically — a personal dog leash for your own pet doesn't qualify, but a hands-free system you bought to safely manage four client dogs at once does.
Other commonly deductible dog walking expenses:
Leashes, waste bags, treats, and pet first-aid supplies used for clients
Mileage between client homes for visits and walks
Booking platform and payment processing fees
Pet sitter or dog walker insurance and bonding
Marketing costs (business cards, social media, referral platforms)
A common mistake: dog walkers assume gear has to be "boring" or job-specific-looking to count — rain boots and a warm coat are still deductible even though they look like everyday clothing, as long as the primary reason you bought them was to keep working through the weather.
BossTax's free app categorizes gear, legal, and equipment purchases automatically as they come in, so seasonal and one-off expenses like these don't get missed at tax time.
Curious what other gear and legal costs you can write off? Book a free intro call and we'll walk through it together. Click here.
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