Caterham · Tandridge
How to Start a Dog Walking Business in Caterham
What you need to know about local licensing, insurance and getting started -- specific to Caterham and the wider Tandridge area.
Caterham is as reasonable a place as any to start a dog walking business -- just be aware that local councils and parks across Tandridge can set their own professional dog-walking rules, which vary from area to area.
Caterham at a glance
Puppy Owners as a Client Source
New puppy owners across Tandridge are a realistic, recurring client source, often needing short daytime visits while house-training and routines are established.
Areas covered
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Dog Walking in Caterham
What the rules say
No general licence governs dog walking itself in the UK -- but don't confuse that with day care or overnight home boarding, both of which do require a licence under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 and sit outside this guide's scope. The real local variation sits elsewhere: certain councils and parks license professional dog walkers on their land, and any cap on dogs per walker is set locally via Public Spaces Protection Orders where one exists at all -- always confirm with the specific council or park, not a general rule. Every dog walked in public needs a collar with the owner's name and address (Control of Dogs Order 1992), and fouling clean-up is a legal duty. As a sole trader, public liability insurance remains optional in law; employers' liability insurance is a legal requirement once you employ anyone outside your family.
Questions about starting in Caterham
Do I need insurance to start a dog walking business in Caterham?
Public liability insurance isn't a legal requirement for a sole trader, but it's close to standard practice across Caterham and Tandridge, and some local licences require proof of it as a condition. Employers' liability insurance is a legal requirement once you take on any staff.
Do I need a DBS check to walk dogs in Caterham?
Not as a blanket rule. It's a commercial trust-building choice, most relevant if you'll be holding a client's house keys in Caterham -- it isn't a confirmed legal requirement either way for general dog walking.
How do I find my first dog walking clients in Caterham?
Many new dog walkers in Caterham start through personal networks, local dog-owner Facebook groups, a Google Business Profile, and partnerships with local vets, pet shops and groomers.
What happens if a dog in my care fouls in public in Caterham?
You're responsible for clearing up after every dog in your care, every time -- it's an offence not to, enforced through the Public Spaces Protection Order covering Caterham.
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