Under 18s Guide to Starting a Pet Care Business
- Tori Lynn Crowther
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
🐾 So You Want to Start a Pet Care Business (Under 18s UK Guide)
Starting a pet care business can be an amazing way to earn money, build skills, and spend time with animals—but there are extra rules and safety steps when you’re under 18.
This guide will help you do it safely, legally, and professionally.
🌟 1. What kind of pet jobs can you do?
You don’t have to jump straight into dog walking. Here are some great options:
🐶 Dog-related
• Dog walking (with permission/support)
• Puppy visits (short home visits)
• Helping a professional walker
• Garden Dog Poo Pick up
• Brushing
🐾 Other pets
• Pet sitting (feeding cats, rabbits, etc.)
• Small animal care (hamsters, guinea pigs)
• Cleaning hutches/cages
🏡 At-home services
• Pet check-ins while owners are away
• Watering plants + post collection (with pet visits)
👉 These are often safer and easier to start with than group dog walking
⚠️ 2. Important: your age matters
If you’re under 18:
• You are not fully legally responsible on your own
• A parent or guardian is usually responsible if something goes wrong
• Most insurance companies require you to be 18+
👉 This means:
You should always involve a parent/guardian in your business
Best setup:
• Parent helps set things up
• Parent is your emergency contact
• Parent may need to handle insurance
🐕 3. When you’re “in charge” of a dog
If you are:
• Walking a dog
• Looking after it
• Being paid
👉 You are considered “in charge” of that dog
This means:
• You must keep them safe
• You must keep others safe
• You must stay in control at all times
If something goes wrong (bite, escape, accident):
• You could be blamed
• The owner could be blamed
• Your parent/guardian could be involved
🛡️ 4. Your safety (THIS COMES FIRST)
🚫 Never ignore this
Personal safety rules:
• Always tell someone where you are
• Share your schedule with a parent
• Keep your phone charged
• Trust your instincts — if something feels off, leave
🏡 Going into clients’ homes:
• Only go if your parent knows
• First visit should be with a parent if possible
• Don’t accept last-minute unknown clients
• Know how to exit quickly if needed
🐶 Dog safety rules:
• Don’t walk dogs that:
• Pull too hard
• Are bigger/stronger than you
• Have bitten before
• Only walk a number of dogs you can safely control
👉 (Often 1–2 for young people)
• Keep dogs:
• On lead unless agreed AND safe
• Away from risky situations
🔑 5. Key safety (VERY important)
If a client gives you a key to their house, this is a big responsibility.
Rules to follow:
🔐 Protect the key
• Never label it with the address
• Keep it in a safe place
• Don’t show it to friends
🚫 Never:
• Share the key
• Post photos with it
• Tell people whose house it is
🏡 When entering/leaving:
• Lock doors properly
• Double check windows
• Don’t invite anyone inside
❗ If you lose a key:
• Tell the owner immediately
• Tell your parent
• This could be a serious issue (and costly)
📋 6. What you must tell your clients
Be honest and clear—it builds trust and keeps you safe.
Tell them:
• Your age
• Your experience
• That a parent is involved
• What you can and can’t do
Ask them:
• Has your dog ever bitten?
• How do they behave on lead?
• Any triggers or fears?
• Emergency vet details
• Feeding instructions
👉 Always do a meet-and-greet first
📝 7. Simple rules for your business
Set boundaries early:
• Max number of dogs (keep it low)
• No aggressive dogs
• Dogs must wear ID tags
• Clear pricing
• Payment agreed in advance
🧾 8. Do you need insurance?
Short answer: Yes (but tricky under 18)
Most important:
• Public Liability Insurance
→ Covers injury or damage
Problem:
• Most companies only insure 18+
Solution:
• Parent takes out insurance
• You work under them
⚖️ 9. Basic laws you still need to follow
Even as a young person:
• Dogs must be under control at all times
• Dogs must wear ID tags in public
• You must clean up poo
• You must meet animals’ welfare needs
💡 10. Smart ways to start safely
Instead of jumping straight into a full business:
✅ Good beginner options:
• Help a professional dog walker
• Work with family/friends first
• Do pet visits instead of group walks
• Build experience slowly
🌈 Final advice
Starting young is amazing—but doing it safely and properly matters more than rushing.
👉 The safest way to do this:
• Work with a parent
• Start small
• Be honest
• Put safety first (always)
🐾 Remember:
You are not “just a kid” doing a favour
👉 You are responsible for:
• Someone’s pet
• Someone’s home
• Your own safety
Take that seriously—and you’ll stand out for all the right reasons.
See The Dog House Resources for templates you can use.
The Whole Hound and Human by Tori Lynn Crowther teaches dog owners and professional dog walkers how to understand dog behaviour, communication, and emotional needs. Using positive reinforcement, predictable routines, and science-backed methods, it shows how to train dogs through fulfilment, not force, creating calm, confident, and well-behaved dogs.
Take your dog care skills to the next level with The Dog House, Tori Lynn Crowther’s exclusive community for dog walkers, pet care professionals, and trainers. The Dog House gives you ongoing support, templates, expert advice, practical tips, and real-world strategies to work confidently with dogs of all breeds and behaviours. Learn how to apply science-backed training, positive reinforcement, and emotional awareness in everyday walks, group sessions, and professional dog care. Connect with like-minded professionals, improve client satisfaction, and create calm, happy, and well-managed dogs under your care.
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.
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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