If You’re a Solo Dog Walker, What Are Your Options When You’re Sick, Need a Holiday, or Something Goes Wrong?
- Tori Lynn Crowther
- Dec 13, 2025
- 4 min read
What Are Your Options When You’re Sick, Need a Holiday, or Something Goes Wrong?
One of the biggest challenges of being a solo dog walker is this:
You are the entire business. If you stop, everything stops.
And while working alone can be wonderful—no staff to manage, full control, no payroll—there will be days when life throws you a curveball.
So what can you do when you’re:
Sick
Needing a holiday
Overloaded with bookings
Stuck without a car
Facing an emergency
Completely burnt out
Here are your REAL options as a solo walker, along with what’s realistic and what’s risky.
1. Cancel the Walks
This is the option most solo walkers end up taking because it’s often the only one available.
✔ The pros:
You prioritise your health and safety.
It keeps you from pushing too hard and risking injury.
It avoids walking when you’re not fit to handle the dogs safely.
✘ The cons:
You lose income.
Clients may become frustrated or anxious.
Repeated cancellations can impact your reputation.
Emergencies highlight how fragile a solo business can be.
2. Reschedule Clients
If your clients are flexible, this can work beautifully.
✔ The pros:
Keeps the income.
Strengthens client loyalty.
Allows you to catch up when you’re better.
✘ The cons:
Not all clients can move times—many rely on you for work hours.
If you’re fully booked, rescheduling can create a chaotic backlog.
Doesn’t work well during exceptionally busy periods.
3. Have a Trusted Backup Walker
This is the BEST option—but also the hardest for solo walkers.
This could be:
A fellow dog walker you trust
Someone in your local network
A friend in the industry
An arrangement where you cover each other’s holidays/sick days
✔ The pros:
Keeps clients happy.
Keeps dogs walked safely.
Protects your income.
Gives you peace of mind.
✘ The cons:
Difficult to find someone with the same standards.
Requires careful insurance and client agreement.
You still carry risk if they make a mistake.
Legally they cannot be “self-employed” for you unless the relationship fits HMRC rules.
What if they are full the day you need them?
But for many solo walkers, a mutual-support partnership can be a lifesaver.
4. Book Dogs Into Daycare (As a Last Resort)
Some walkers choose to recommend daycare for a couple of days.
✔ The pros:
Dogs still get care.
Clients appreciate the effort.
Helps when the walker is VERY unwell or completely stuck.
✘ The cons:
Not suitable for all dogs (especially reactive or anxious ones).
Not a long-term or regular solution.
You lose the income from the walk.
5. Communicate Clearly and Early with Clients
Even if you can’t offer a backup option, clients appreciate honesty.
The earlier you communicate, the smoother it will be for everyone.
✔ The pros:
Builds trust.
Reduces stress.
Helps clients organise their own backup solutions.
✘ The cons:
Doesn’t solve coverage issues—but it DOES protect your reputation.
6. Create an Emergency Fund for Sick Days or Vehicle Issues
Many solo walkers forget this part, but it’s crucial.
Set aside:
A small % of every walk
Enough to cover holidays
Enough to cover repairs, MOT, and breakdowns
✔ The pros:
Financial stability
Holidays become possible
Breakdowns don’t destroy your income
✘ The cons:
Requires discipline
Doesn’t solve the issue of cancelled walks—just softens the blow
7. Plan Regular Holidays — Not “If They Happen,” but “When They Happen”
Many solo walkers never take holidays, because they feel guilty or worry clients will leave.
But burnout is REAL.
✔ The pros:
You come back refreshed
Better mental health
Better service long-term
✘ The cons:
Requires advance notice
Requires saving money
Requires a backup plan (or acceptance of no income during that time)
8. Accept the Limitations of Staying Solo
This is the part many walkers struggle to admit.
If you choose to stay solo:
You WILL lose income at times
You WILL lose clients occasionally
You WILL have days where walks must be cancelled
You WILL face more pressure during emergencies
You WILL feel stuck at peak capacity
This isn’t to discourage staying solo—plenty of people prefer it.
It’s simply the reality of a one-person business.
9. The Honest Bottom Line
Being a solo dog walker comes with a lot of freedom…
…but it also comes with fragility.
Your entire business relies on:
your health
your car
your schedule
your energy
your availability
When something goes wrong, the only options are:
Cancel
Reschedule
Find temporary cover
Lose income
Let clients down
This is why so many walkers eventually consider taking on help—because it’s the only way to create stability.
But staying solo is absolutely valid if you build systems around it, and if you are realistic about what happens when life gets in the way.
NEXT SATURDAY Employing Dog Walkers vs. Using Self-Employed Walkers
PLUS: Should You Franchise Your Dog Walking Business?
About Tori & TLC Canine Crusaders Business Hub
I’m Tori, founder of TLC Canine Crusaders Business Hub and The Dog House, where I help dog walkers and dog owners build confidence, clarity, and success. With years of hands-on experience running a busy dog walking company and training academy, my mission is to make the industry easier to navigate. Whether you're growing your business or supporting your dog at home, you’ll find practical guidance, community support, and resources designed to help you thrive.
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