If you are searching for dog walking jobs in the UK, you may be looking for employment with an established dog walking or pet care company.
But there is another option worth considering:
Could you start your own dog walking business instead?
For someone who loves dogs, enjoys being outdoors and would like more control over their working hours, running a professional dog walking business can offer an alternative to finding a traditional dog walking job.
However, professional dog walking involves much more than simply taking dogs for a walk.
In this guide, we look at what dog walking work really involves, the difference between working for somebody else and working for yourself, and what you need to consider if you decide to start your own business.
A professional dog walker's responsibilities extend far beyond exercise.
Pet owners are trusting you with the safety and wellbeing of their dogs and, in many cases, giving you access to their homes and keys.
A typical working day may involve:
If you run your own dog walking business, you will also be responsible for marketing, administration, insurance, customer service and keeping accurate business records.
There are advantages to both.
If you work for an established pet care company, the business may find the customers, arrange bookings and take care of much of the administration.
However, running your own dog walking business gives you greater control.
You can decide:
Instead of being paid by another business to walk its customers' dogs, you are building a customer base and reputation of your own.
If this appeals to you, read our step-by-step guide to starting a dog walking business.
There is no single formal qualification that you must hold simply to offer ordinary dog walking services in the UK.
However, that doesn't mean training and knowledge aren't important.
Professional dog walkers should understand areas such as:
Remember that customers may be comparing you with several other dog walkers.
Being able to demonstrate training, insurance, professional membership and good business practices can help reassure a potential customer that their dog will be in responsible hands.
NarpsUK offers a Pet Sitting & Dog Walking Business Course covering both the practical pet-care and business knowledge needed to establish and run a professional service.
Loving dogs is obviously important, but it isn't enough on its own.
Successful professional dog walkers also need to be:
Reliable – customers need to know you will turn up when expected.
Responsible – you are being trusted with someone's pet, property and often their house keys.
Confident around dogs – you may encounter different breeds, sizes, personalities and behaviours.
Physically capable – dog walking can mean several hours outside each day in rain, cold and hot weather.
Organised – customers, dogs, bookings, keys, invoices and schedules all need managing.
Good with people – although you work with dogs, your customers are people. Good communication is essential.
Business-minded – if you work for yourself, you need to think about pricing, expenses, marketing, paperwork and profitability as well as animal care.
Everyone has to start somewhere.
If you have limited professional experience, you could begin by gaining practical experience with dogs belonging to friends and family or through appropriate volunteering opportunities.
This can help you become accustomed to handling dogs with different personalities rather than only dogs you already know well.
Training can then help fill gaps in your knowledge and give you a better understanding of professional pet care and business responsibilities.
NarpsUK has a detailed guide to getting started in pet sitting and dog walking which covers the practical steps involved.
You don't necessarily need expensive premises or large amounts of equipment to get started, which is one reason dog walking appeals to people looking for a career change.
However, you should approach it as a genuine business from the beginning.
Things to consider include:
NarpsUK provides resources specifically for people starting and running professional pet sitting and dog walking businesses, including training, business guidance, forms and contracts, membership credentials and business management tools.
Appropriate insurance is an important part of running a professional dog walking business.
You need to consider the risks involved when somebody else's dog is in your care, as well as issues such as public liability and key holding.
Insurance can also be an important trust signal when attracting customers. A potential client may feel much more comfortable handing over their dog and house keys to somebody who can demonstrate that they operate as a properly insured professional business.
NarpsUK members can access a discount with its affiliated specialist pet business insurer.
When you're starting out, it can be tempting to make informal arrangements with customers.
But once money, pets, keys and access to homes are involved, clear written agreements become extremely important.
Professional paperwork can cover areas such as:
This protects both the business and the customer and helps prevent misunderstandings.
This is often the biggest concern for someone considering self-employment.
You don't need hundreds of customers. A dog walking business can build gradually, with regular weekly customers creating repeat income.
Ways to promote a new dog walking business include:
The key is not simply being visible.
You also need to give pet owners a reason to choose you when they compare you with other dog walkers.
Professional membership, training, insurance, reviews, good communication and professional branding can all help build trust.
In some areas there may already be many established dog walkers.
That doesn't automatically mean there isn't room for another good business.
Rather than trying to compete purely by offering the cheapest walks, think about what will reassure a customer that you are professional and trustworthy.
For example:
Being great with dogs is important.
Being great with dogs AND running your service professionally is what can help turn dog walking into a successful business.
One advantage of running your own business is that you don't have to restrict yourself to dog walking.
Depending on your experience, insurance and circumstances, you might eventually offer complementary services such as:
A dog walking customer may later need holiday pet care, while a pet sitting customer may eventually need regular dog walks.
Offering complementary services can therefore create additional income from your existing customer base.
There is an important difference between creating a job for yourself and building a business.
As your customer base grows, administration increases too.
You may eventually be managing dozens of customers and pets alongside bookings, invoices, schedules and possibly employees.
Having professional systems in place early can make growth much easier.
NarpsUK's pet sitting and dog walking software and app is designed to help pet-care businesses manage clients, pets, bookings, schedules, invoices and everyday administration.
Selected NarpsUK membership packages include access to the software and app alongside other business resources.
When someone searches online for a dog walker, they may find many people apparently offering a similar service.
Professional membership can help differentiate your business.
NarpsUK – the National Association of Registered Pet Sitters & Dog Walkers – has been supporting pet-care businesses for many years and provides resources for both new and established businesses.
Depending on the membership selected, benefits can include:
You can explore NarpsUK membership options here.
If you've arrived at this article because you were searching for dog walking jobs, it's worth considering both options.
Working for an established business may suit you perfectly.
But if you would like greater independence, the opportunity to set your own prices and working hours, and the chance to build something of your own, starting a dog walking business could be worth exploring.
Ask yourself:
If the answers are yes, your search for a dog walking job might actually be the beginning of your own business.
If you would like to explore starting your own professional dog walking business, NarpsUK can help you with the training, tools, credibility and business resources needed to get started.
Read the Complete Guide to Starting a Dog Walking Business →
Or, if you're ready to look at professional membership:
Explore NarpsUK Membership Options →
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