Dog walking is a mobile, appointment-based service
Collecting or meeting a client's dog and walking it, usually on a recurring basis.
There's no general licence required to walk dogs for money, and no fixed-premises version of this trade.
The one boundary that matters most from day one
Plain dog walking is not a licensable activity, but dog day care and home boarding are, under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 — this guide, and this Kit, cover dog walking only.
Worth using
The sensible starting sequence is
Decide whether you'll offer group walks as well as solo walks, register with HMRC once you earn over £1,000/year, check the specific local council or park licence requirements for the exact locations you'll use, sort out insurance, and build your pricing approach before your first quote goes out.
See our other guides below for the detail on each step.
Home Help Hub
Meet clients who need you
General business guidance, not legal, financial or professional advice. Requirements change — check the official source or a qualified professional before relying on it.
Official sources
Home Help Hub Business is not a government or regulatory body. Labels describe the type of source we used; always check the latest version on the source's own site.