How To Start A Dog Walking Business in 2025?
- We Walk Woofs
- Mar 27
- 11 min read
Updated: Apr 1
Our step-by-step guide on how to start a dog walking business and how to become a dog walker in your local area. From choosing your name to pricing, marketing, and much more.
At the moment, it seems like everyone in the UK has a dog or is considering getting a dog, and with over three million animals obtained during lockdown, good dog walkers are in high demand and so there has never been a better time to set yourself up as a dog walker by starting your very own dog walking business offering dog walking services and dog sitting services in your local area. Pet ownership has rocketed since 2019, increasing from around 10,000,000 dogs to around 13,500,000 in the space of five years. In 2025, becoming a professional dog walker can be a very relaxed yet lucrative career.
Whilst the idea of launching your business and walking and chatting to people whilst out with your furry friends might seem like the perfect job, you might be asking yourself: How on earth do I set up a dog walking business? Well, rest easy, as our step-by-step comprehensive guide will explain each part of setting up your own local dog walking business so that you’ll be walking, woofing, and earning in no time!
And as a bonus, if the thought of going through the process of setting up your dog walking business from scratch fills you with dread, we have a range of ready-made dog walking businesses and websites for sale that will allow you to start dog walking almost straight away and be the proud owner of your very own local and independent dog walking business in no time. Read on and learn how to start your own dog walking business.
So, What Do We Know About How To Set Up A Dog Walking Business You May be Asking?
Before starting We Walk Woofs, we had both spent the past twenty-five years as estate agents, being involved in various aspects of the UK property market. In late 2017, we had what we like to think of as our epiphany (which was, in fact, more of a massive nudge!), and we suddenly realised that we had spent way too long sitting on a chair in an office, wearing a tie!
So, one Friday night just before Christmas 2017, we settled down with a curry and a glass of wine in front of the wood burner to set about planning the next stage of our working lives. We had always loved the outdoors, had always had dogs and enjoyed massive walks with them, had always been very sociable (some may say annoyingly chatty!), and are what some may call a little unconventional, liking to put things on the line for a bit of excitement and a challenge. And so, after around ten minutes, a bowl of daal and rice, and a couple of swigs of good Malbec, we decided that we were going to reinvent ourselves as dog walkers, and in that very moment, We Walk Woofs was born!
The very next day, we set about registering the domain name We Walk Woofs, working out what we would charge and what areas we would cover. We then cobbled together a website so that we had an online presence and quickly designed some business cards and we were off!
The next six to twelve months were a massive learning curve, and we learned a lot very quickly! It wasn't easy, but getting the business up and running was very enjoyable. Once the teething period was over, we realised that with our systems, procedures, and timetables in place, it was fairly easy to run and keep on top of it.
By the end of the first year, we were running a thriving, viable, and fairly profitable dog walking and cat sitting business, working the hours that we wanted and were the market leader and go-to company not only in our local area but in Birmingham. We were listed at the top of Google search results, were getting around twenty enquiries per month, and were as busy as we wanted to be.
Eight years on, and we are still happily trotting out with the dogs every day! What's changed is that we’ve totally streamlined the business to run exactly how we want it to, made it more profitable, nailed our advertising, and are now receiving anywhere from thirty to sixty enquiries per month from our marketing, as well as a seemingly never-ending stream of word of mouth recommendations.
Why Start A Dog Walking Business?
If you enjoy working with animals, being outdoors (in all weathers—remember!), spending most of your day with lovely dogs, and chatting to lovely people then starting a dog walking business could be the ideal job to start for you as it can be a very flexible and profitable way to work. The UK love their pooches and pet care is a high priority for most owners so your new dog walking business will provide dogs with the care and attention required when their owners are away whilst allowing you to earn whilst working hours that suit your lifestyle.
Although you do not require formal qualifications to start a dog walking business it is advisable to have experience in dog walking and dog behavior.
A dog walking business will give you the flexibility to work as and when you want and will allow you to fit your hours around your existing commitments like school drop-offs and pickups and once set up your dog walking business can provide you with flexible working alongside a profitable income, while giving clients peace of mind that their pets are in safe hands.
Is Dog Walking & Pet Sitting For You?
Although on paper the idea of running a dog walking business conjures up images of days spent frolicking in summer meadows with your band of furry friends, the reality can be somewhat different! These are things you should consider. If you wake up and it’s raining from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., the dogs will still need walking. If you wake up with a sniffle, the dogs will still need walking. If it’s minus ten, icy, and snowing, the dogs will still need walking!! And don’t forget picking up poo—there’s a good chance there will be quite a lot of this during your average day!
Many people want their dogs to be walked by someone who is reliable, trustworthy, and comfortable around dogs, so it’s important that you feel confident taking on the responsibility that comes with the job.
Important items to obtain when you start your dog walking business are: good-quality dog walking waterproofs, a pair of sturdy walking boots, a high-quality dog drying bag to clean the muddy mutts, and a positive mental attitude!
Will I Need Training, Qualifications, & Dog Walking Insurance?
You won’t need any formal qualifications or training to start your dog walking business initially. However, depending on how you wish to progress, especially if you plan to specialise in areas such as dog behaviour and training, then qualifications might be worth considering further down the line.
Some may advise that holding a professional qualification can give your new business more credibility when first starting out. In our opinion, building rapport with potential clients, especially with their pets, counts for far, far more. Unfortunately, we’ve lost count of the so-called professionals we’ve met who have very poor animal and people skills.
If you genuinely love animals, that will come across in your interactions with both pets and their owners.
If you feel that you’d like to gain a qualification and some experience before starting your dog walking business, the resources below offer both free and paid training: First Aid For Pets provides online training courses in dog first aid, dog CPR and dog choking.
IMDT offers a huge range of paid for courses including canine body language, perfect puppy training, advanced dog training & behaviour, separation anxiety in dogs & dealing with dog to human aggression with courses ranging from £80 to £650.
When first starting out it is advisable to obtain pet business insurance and in particular insurance that specifically covers pet sitters and dog walkers.
Understand The National & Local Dog Walking Rules & Regulations Required When Starting A Dog Walking Business. The Do's & Don'ts & How Many Dogs You Can Walk
There are certain rules that need to be followed when starting your dog walking business. Some of these rules are common sense when starting any business, but others are compulsory and imposed regionally or nationally—either by the government or local authorities—and include regulations set to ensure safety and professionalism:
Always meet owners and dogs before the first booking
Restricting the number of dogs walked to no more than four at a time, although two is preferable
Keeping records of all walks and work undertaken
Protecting your clients’ personal information
Making sure that all dogs out in public are wearing a collar with the owner's name and address on it
Cleaning up doggy doo (if you don’t do this, you could be fined up to £1,000)
Keeping dogs on leads in designated areas
Following restrictions on which open spaces dogs are allowed on, including beaches
Knowing how to manage dogs around livestock
Research Your Local Market & Other Dog Walkers & Pet Sitting Businesses
In most areas, there will already be other dog walking businesses operating, so now is the time for you to carry out your research on other local dog care companies. Using Google and directories like Yellow Pages, you can quickly find a list of local companies with links to their websites.
Make a note of how much your competitors charge per walk, what areas they cover, what their branding and marketing are like, and what kind of reviews they have. This will help you decide how you want to set your own prices and services.
With most businesses, there is absolutely no point in trying to reinvent the wheel. Find out what your competitors are doing, look at the best aspects of their business, and aim to do it better!
Your aim when starting your dog walking business is to establish yourself as quickly as possible as the leading, go-to dog walking company in your local area. Make sure you market your business effectively and professionally to build trust and reassure your clients that their beloved pets are in safe, capable hands.
Start-Up Costs For Starting A Dog Walking Business
Start-up costs for starting a dog walking business can usually be kept to a minimum, although there are some essential costs that you will need to factor in.
Insurance for a dog walking business is important, as are a website and a social media presence. Business cards and leaflets can either be printed at home to keep costs down or sent to reasonably priced printers. Transport costs when starting your dog walking business will also need to be factored in—whether they are vehicle running costs or fares on public transport. You will also need to purchase a couple of leads and HALTIs.
If you really want to provide a professional service, we recommend investing in a high-quality dog walking bag to store all of your equipment whilst walking, a portable dog shower to clean those muddy paws, and a good-quality dog drying bag to dry off your wet dogs.
Registration, Licences, Forms and Contracts & Setup of Your Dog Walking Business
You can register your new dog walking business either as a sole trader, a company, or a partnership. How you set up your dog walking business depends on your personal and current financial situation, so it might be advisable to obtain advice on the best way to structure your new dog walking business.
Although a dog walking business might not sound like a traditional business—such as an accountant, electrician, or solicitor—it is still a business and, as such, needs to be run and set up properly by following a few simple regulations. You will need to notify certain bodies that you are self-employed in your new dog walking business and stay on top of the day-to-day running of the business.
Notify HMRC of your new business and that you are self-employed, and choose a suitable legal structure for your business.
You will be required to keep accurate records and receipts, and will need to file your Self Assessment tax return when requested each year.
You will also be required to stay on top of your business accounting—including income, outgoings, and costs—to enable you to submit your annual Self Assessment return. You will also need to set up a business bank account to process customer payments and receipts.
Register Your Dog Walking Business, Brand Name & Domain Name
Having a great business and domain name for your new dog walking business is pretty important, as a memorable business and domain name can be used in conjunction with your website to cheaply advertise your dog walking business to new customers.
To find out whether the business name you would like to use is available, simply type it into Google and look at the results. If you are looking to set up a limited company for your new dog walking business, you can check name availability at Companies House. For your website address, you can check domain name availability and register your new dog walking business name at 123 Reg.
Promoting Your New Dog Walking Business
A decent website, along with a little SEO, is one of the cheapest ways of promoting your new dog walking business on a budget by ensuring that your website appears in local search results when people search on Google. Wix.com allows you to build your own website for a small fee and helps with SEO for your new dog walking business. We also offer guidance and support for building a site that meets your business needs. We can show you how to maximise your Google presence for very little cost and just a few hours of work. In our opinion, this is the key to building a solid brand, and we will share the tips and tricks that we have learned while taking We Walk Woofs to the top of Google in our local area. If you know nothing about building dog walking company websites, we can help—as we have a range of ready-made, off-the-shelf dog walking websites available for sale, and can even create a bespoke site designed around your ideas and your local area.
Facebook and social media—including Instagram and TikTok—are a fantastic way of reaching new clients, and are a great way to promote your new dog walking business by setting up a company page and posting in local community groups. There are many free ways to build awareness and get your name out there!
Leafleting and handing out flyers might seem a little old-fashioned, but it can be an effective way to reach your local dog owners. You can get leaflets printed cheaply, and then put them up in local shops, pet shops, and vets' surgeries—and even hand your dog walking company flyers out to prospective customers in local parks.
Looking For A Ready Made Dog Walking Business?
If you are looking for a ready-made dog walking business, then we have a range of dog walking businesses for sale that include everything you need to start your very own dog walking business immediately, including:
A fully functional website that is ranking on Google for your particular area and that is fully SEO-optimised, is easy to edit, and comes with a ready-made blog for you to start adding site content.
All social media channels set up and ready to start posting and sharing to attract new clients.
Branded marketing materials to include business cards, leaflets, and flyers to promote your business.
A comprehensive 'How To' manual with full instructions on how to set up, promote, and run your new dog walking business.
Help and support to set up and run your business, tailored to your specific business needs.
Access to many free resources, tools, and templates to help get you started efficiently and professionally.
We also offer continued support and advice as your business grows.
If you would be interested in your own dog walking business, then please take a look at our Dog Walking Businesses for Sale page to see the areas that we currently have available. If your area is not currently listed, please get in touch and we would be happy to chat about setting you up in your chosen area.
Click on the images above to read our reviews of the must have accessories that all dog walkers should buy when starting their dog walking business! The game changing dog drying bag and dog drying towels from Pawdaw Of London and the outstanding Mud Daddy portable dog shower.
Happy dog walking business setup!
D&S@WeWalkWoofs
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