Craggan · Highland

Launch a Dog Walking Business in Craggan

Local licensing, insurance and your first bookings -- covering Craggan and the surrounding Highland area.

Starting a dog walking business in Craggan? There's no single national licence for plain dog walking, but local councils and parks across Highland often set their own rules -- here's what genuinely matters before your first walk.

Register your interest in the Dog Walking Business Launch Kit — £31

Craggan at a glance

A Trade Built on Trust and Repeat Business

Clients tend to stick with the same dog walker for years once trust is established -- across Highland, that loyalty gives a new business a genuinely stable base to grow from.

Areas covered

CragganAviemore and Grantown-on-Spey

Postcodes

PH26
Dog Walking at work, photo 1Dog Walking at work, photo 2Dog Walking at work, photo 3Dog Walking at work, photo 4

Dog Walking in Craggan

Solo Dog WalksGroup Dog WalksOne-to-One WalksRegular Walking Rounds

What the rules say

Plain dog walking carries no general UK-wide licence. The line to watch is day care and home boarding -- both are licensable under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, unlike walking itself, and neither is covered by this guide. Separately, and genuinely locally: some councils and specific parks run their own dog-walking licence or permit schemes, and dogs-per-walker limits (where they exist at all) are set locally, often via a Public Spaces Protection Order -- there's no single national number, so check the specific area you plan to walk in. Every dog must wear a collar showing the owner's name and address under the Control of Dogs Order 1992, and clearing up after your dogs is a legal duty enforced through local PSPOs. Public liability insurance stays optional in law for a sole trader; employers' liability insurance is a legal requirement from your first non-family employee onward.

Questions about starting in Craggan

Do I need a licence to start a dog walking business in Craggan?

No general national licence covers plain dog walking. Some councils and specific parks run their own professional dog-walking licence or permit schemes, so check directly with the council or parks team covering Craggan before you start.

Is dog walking the same as dog day care or home boarding for licensing purposes in Craggan?

No -- day care and home boarding are licensable activities under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, wherever you're based, including Craggan. Plain dog walking with no overnight stay generally isn't, which is why this guide covers walking only.

How many dogs can I walk at once in Craggan?

There's no UK-wide limit. Some councils set a cap via a Public Spaces Protection Order, commonly for use on their own land or parks, but plenty have no limit at all -- check the specific council or park you plan to use in Craggan.

Do I need insurance to start a dog walking business in Craggan?

Public liability insurance isn't a legal requirement for a sole trader, but it's close to standard practice across Craggan and Highland, and some local licences require proof of it as a condition. Employers' liability insurance is a legal requirement once you take on any staff.

Make your working area work for you

More client time.
Less driving.

Practitioner driving between client visits

A compact service area can leave more room for appointments. Check your travel time before committing to another booking.

Define your service radius

Decide how far you'll travel and account for the journey in your prices.

Your calculators

Leave time for clients

Compare shorter journeys with your available working hours and appointment length.

Your planning calculators