Eastleigh · Eastleigh
Launch a Dog Walking Business in Eastleigh
Local licensing, insurance and your first bookings -- covering Eastleigh and the surrounding Eastleigh area.
Before taking on your first client as a dog walking business in Eastleigh, it's worth knowing exactly where plain dog walking ends and licensable day care or home boarding begins, across Eastleigh and Eastleigh.
Eastleigh at a glance
Puppy Owners as a Client Source
New puppy owners across Eastleigh are a realistic, recurring client source, often needing short daytime visits while house-training and routines are established.
Areas covered
Postcodes
Dog Walking in Eastleigh
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 Eastleigh
Do I need a licence to start a dog walking business in Eastleigh?
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 Eastleigh before you start.
Is dog walking the same as dog day care or home boarding for licensing purposes in Eastleigh?
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 Eastleigh. 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 Eastleigh?
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 Eastleigh.
Do I need insurance to start a dog walking business in Eastleigh?
Public liability insurance isn't a legal requirement for a sole trader, but it's close to standard practice across Eastleigh and Eastleigh, 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.
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 calculatorsLeave time for clients
Compare shorter journeys with your available working hours and appointment length.
Your planning calculators