Setting Up as a Professional Dog Walker: A UK Deep Dive for Beginners
- Tori Lynn Crowther
- Mar 31, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: Jan 11
Setting Up as a Professional Dog Walker: A UK Deep Dive for Beginners
Starting a dog walking business can look deceptively simple from the outside. You love dogs, you enjoy being outdoors, and people are willing to pay you to help care for their pets. However, professional dog walking is not a casual side hobby—it is a regulated, insured service business with legal, financial, and welfare responsibilities.
This guide walks you through the essential foundations you need in place before you take on your first client, helping you set up properly, protect yourself, and build a business that is credible, compliant, and sustainable.
1. Do I Need Insurance – and What Type?
Yes. Insurance is non-negotiable.
If you are charging for dog walking services, you are operating as a business, and insurance is essential both legally and professionally.
Core Insurance You Should Have
Public Liability Insurance This is the most important policy. It covers you if:
A dog in your care injures a person or another animal
Property is damaged (for example, a dog causes an accident or damages someone’s belongings)
Most councils, landowners, and professional bodies require this as a minimum.
Care, Custody & Control (CCC)
This covers veterinary costs if a dog is injured, becomes ill, or dies while in your care—even if it’s not strictly your fault. Many basic policies do not include this automatically, so check carefully.
Key Cover
If you hold clients’ house keys, this covers replacement locks and keys if they are lost or stolen.
Professional Indemnity (Optional but Recommended)
Useful if you offer advice, training support, or structured services beyond simple walks.
What to Look for in a Policy
Clear wording that covers commercial dog walking
Adequate cover limits (often £1–5 million for public liability)
Cover for multiple dogs at once
No exclusions that undermine real-world walking scenarios
Insurance is not just protection—it is credibility. Many clients will ask about it before trusting you with their dog.
2. Do I Need Qualifications or Training?
There is no single legal qualification required to become a dog walker in the UK.
However, lack of training is one of the biggest risks in the industry.
Professional dog walking requires:
Canine body language awareness
Understanding of group dynamics
Risk assessment and situational awareness
Knowledge of breed traits, reactivity, and stress signals
Emergency handling skills
Recommended Training Areas
While not legally required, these significantly improve safety and professionalism:
Canine behaviour and communication
Dog first aid
Loose lead and safe group handling
Recall foundations and lead management
Health, welfare, and safeguarding principles
Training protects you, the dogs, and your business. It also reduces insurance claims, incidents, and burnout.
Clients are increasingly informed and will often choose trained professionals over unqualified walkers.
3. Self-Employed or Limited Company?
This is one of the most common questions—and the answer depends on your goals, income, and risk appetite.
Self-Employed (Sole Trader)
Most new dog walkers start here.
Pros
Simple and quick to set up
Fewer admin requirements
You keep all profits after tax
Ideal for solo operators
Cons
You are personally liable for the business
Less tax flexibility as income grows
You register with HMRC and complete a Self Assessment tax return each year.
Limited Company
More suitable as the business grows.
Pros
Business is a separate legal entity
Potential tax efficiencies at higher income levels
More professional perception in some markets
Cons
More admin, accounting, and reporting
Director responsibilities
Additional costs
Many walkers begin as sole traders and later incorporate once income and scale justify it. An accountant can advise when that tipping point is reached.
4. What Paperwork Should I Have Before Taking Clients?
Paperwork is not bureaucracy—it is risk management.
Essential Documents
Client Agreement / Contract
This should clearly outline:
Services provided
Responsibilities and liabilities
Emergency procedures
Cancellation terms
Veterinary consent
Dog Profile Form
Collect detailed information on:
Vet details
Medical conditions
Behavioural history
Triggers and fears
Feeding and exercise restrictions
Emergency Contact Details
Always have at least one alternative contact.
Key Log If holding keys, record:
Key numbers (not names/addresses)
Issue and return dates
From experience, I have found the best thing to do is to ask for ALL clients to provide a key safe like care companies do.
Insurance Certificate
Have this available digitally and on request.
Policies (Recommended)
Data protection / GDPR statement
Health and safety policy
Incident and accident reporting procedure
Professional paperwork reassures clients and protects you if anything goes wrong.
5. Local Council Rules and Licensing
This is an area where many new dog walkers get caught out.
Dog Walking Is Not Licensed in the Same Way as Boarding
Unlike boarding or day care, dog walking does not usually require a formal licence. However, local councils can impose rules that affect how you operate.
Common Council Restrictions
Limits on the number of dogs walked at once
Restrictions in public parks or nature reserves
Commercial permits for certain land
Requirements for waste disposal and control
Some councils cap group sizes (often 4–6 dogs), while others require permission to operate commercially in public spaces.
What You Should Do
Check your local council website
Look for “commercial dog walking” or “professional dog walkers”
Contact the parks or environmental department if unclear
Failure to comply can result in fines or bans from walking areas.
Final Thoughts: Setting Yourself Up Properly Matters
Dog walking is a responsibility-heavy profession built on trust. Clients are not just paying for exercise—they are handing over a living, sentient family member.
Taking the time to:
Insure correctly
Learn properly
Register appropriately
Put paperwork in place
Understand local rules
sets you apart immediately from hobbyists and under-prepared walkers.
A solid setup protects your reputation, your income, and the dogs you care for—while allowing you to grow with confidence rather than constantly firefighting problems.
Starting properly is not about being perfect. It’s about being professional from day one.
About Tori Lynn C. & The Dog House
Welcome to The Dog House — my cosy corner of the TLC Canine Crusaders Business Hub. I’m Tori Lynn C., the founder of TLC Dog Walking Limited, mentor to professional dog walkers, and lifelong advocate for dogs and the people who care for them. Before building my own dog walking company, I worked as a dog trainer and held corporate roles at Pizza Hut’s Head Office in London and at PricewaterhouseCoopers, based at Embankment Place. Business, structure, and people management have been part of my life for a very long time.
With full time, hands-on experience in the dog industry since 2007, my mission is to guide you through the realities of running a successful, sustainable dog walking business — from client care and safety to wellbeing, confidence, and professional growth.
The Dog House is where I share the honest, behind-the-scenes conversations we all need: the tricky moments, the funny bits, the business lessons, and the mindset work that keeps us thriving rather than merely surviving. Whether you're just starting out or scaling up, you’ll always find support, guidance, and a friendly nudge forward here.
You’re never alone in this journey — you’re part of a community of canine crusaders.
Legal Disclaimer
The information provided on this website is for general information and educational purposes only. It is intended to support pet care professionals in understanding common legal considerations when operating a dog walking or pet care business in the UK.
This content does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for advice from a qualified solicitor or legal professional. Laws, regulations and local authority requirements may change over time and can vary depending on location and individual circumstances.
While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date at the time of publication, no guarantees are made regarding completeness or applicability to your specific situation.
By using this website, you acknowledge that:
✓ You are responsible for ensuring your own business complies with all relevant UK laws and local authority rules
✓ You should seek professional legal advice before drafting, using or relying on any contract or legal document
✓ The website owner accepts no liability for loss, damage or legal issues arising from the use of this information
If you are unsure about any legal obligations, contractual terms or liabilities, it is strongly recommended that you consult a solicitor experienced in small business or consumer law.
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