Starting a dog walking business is not difficult, but to become successful you need to prove to clients that you are knowledgeable, experienced, and are trustworthy. After all, they are trusting you with their beloved pets and need to know that they are in safe hands and that you are covered for all eventualities.
In this post, we will cover 5 things you need to know before starting a dog walking business that will include:
- Local Authorities (see below)
- UK Legislation
- DBS Check
- Qualifications
- Insurance
1. Local Authorities
It is important to contact your local authority if you intend to operate a dog walking business, as each council can have different by-laws. Obtain details of:
- Current restrictions of where you can walk dogs (maps are helpful).
- Whether any time limits apply (eg. between months of May to September).
- Restrictions on the number of dogs one person can walk at a time (this can be set by a local council).
With this information, you can map out several different, safe and legal dog walking routes in advance.
2. UK Legislation for dog walking
Running a dog walking business is mostly unregulated with no professional bodies attached to the profession, however, you do need to be up to date with all the UK regulations and those set by your local authority.
There are many laws in place for the care of animals, and failing to observe those laws could land you with a hefty fine, and even a ban against owning or caring for animals again. You can read more about current laws relating to handling dangerous dogs, walking dogs in public places, cleaning up dog excrement, and transporting dogs for walking in our post about laws that apply to dog walking and pet sitting.
3. Get a DBS check for your dog walking business
Everyone operating a professional dog walking business should have a DBS check. A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is an investigation into whether or not someone has a criminal record. It was previously known as a Criminal Record Check (CRB).
A DBS certificate is quick, easy, and fairly cheap to obtain and will give your clients additional peace of mind. To find out more about getting a DBS check including pitfalls to avoid, read our What is a DBS Check? post.
4. Qualifications for Dog Walking
Currently, you do not need to have qualifications in animal care to operate a dog walking business, but think of how much more desirable you will be to clients if you show an understanding and qualification in the various aspects of animal behaviour and management, particularly in first aid.
Not only will your clients be more inclined to hire and trust you, but you can feel confident dealing with any accident or emergency that may occur during your dog walks.
There are many free and chargeable ways to gain knowledge and qualifications that you can read about in our Dog Walking Qualifications post.
5. Dog Walking Business Insurance
Perhaps one of the most important things you should arrange before starting your dog walking business is taking out adequate insurance to cover dog walking or pet sitting. Public liability insurance will protect you, your business, the client, and the dog.
Taking out insurance doesn’t always mean incurring a hefty cost for your dog walking business either and can be a tax-deductible expense.
Whilst it is currently not a legal requirement to have insurance to walk a dog, it is illegal to transport a dog in your vehicle without both vehicle insurance and public liability insurance. Read more in our post: Pet Sitter Insurance.
Our app makes starting your pet business stress-free
Our free app helps you manage your appointments, balance sheets, invoicing, payment tracking, and has many useful features to help you make your dog walking business a success. Head over to our features page to find out what the pet sitter dashboard app can do for you and your dog walking business.
Get set, go!
This post has explained 5 of the things you need to know before starting a dog walking business. Now that you are ready to get started, be sure to download our free pet sitter dashboard app. It will make running a dog walking or pet sitting business so much easier.
Happy dog walking!
This is not legal advice but a guide to starting your pet sitting business within UK law. It does not apply to commercial cattery or kennels, where stricter regulations applicable and a licence is required. If outside the UK, legislation may vary (including Scotland and Northern Ireland.) so always check your local regulations. A license is required for home boarding of pets and additional insurance applies.
Get Set Grow
Free news and advice for dog walkers, cat sitters and other pet business owners.
Small original articles which only take a minute to read.
Subscribe for free and start growing your business today.
Get Set, Grow!
📣 Do you need to attract more customers for your pet business? Join Pet Sitter Club for access to tons of resources specifically for pet businesses like yours, including: