No single national licence for dog walking was found anywhere in UK law.
However, a number of local councils and specific parks run their own professional dog-walking licence schemes, usually tied to walking on that council's or park's own land rather than a general trading licence.
Real examples
Worth using
Richmond upon Thames's licence covers up to 6 dogs in its designated parks for 2 years at £141.67+VAT, typically requiring proof of public liability insurance and a risk assessment.
Worth using
Tower Hamlets charges £240 per application for a professional licence allowing up to 6 dogs (vs. 4 for the general public).
Hampstead Heath requires a licence to operate commercially there at all, and operating without one is an offence.
This means a dog walker may need zero, one, or several separate local licences depending on exactly where they walk dogs — a privately-owned field might need none, while a popular council-run park in the same town might require one.
There's no single national register of which parks or councils require a licence, so check the specific land you intend to use directly, not just your general local area.
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