St Dunstan's · Canterbury
How to Start a Dog Walking Business in St Dunstan's
What you need to know about local licensing, insurance and getting started -- specific to St Dunstan's and the wider Canterbury area.
A dog walking business means collecting and walking dogs rather than looking after them overnight -- and St Dunstan's, like every UK council, may have its own local licence or park rules worth checking before you start in Canterbury.
St Dunstan's at a glance
A Nation of Dog Owners
The UK is home to well over 12 million pet dogs -- a population that, across Canterbury as much as anywhere, keeps generating steady demand for reliable daytime dog walking.
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Dog Walking in St Dunstan's
What the rules say
There's no general national licence for plain dog walking in the UK. Dog day care and home boarding are different -- both are licensable activities under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, and sit outside what this guide covers. What does vary locally is real: some councils and parks run their own professional dog-walking licence or permit schemes, and any 'number of dogs per walker' limit is set locally too, usually via a Public Spaces Protection Order -- check the specific council or park you intend to use rather than assuming a single UK-wide rule. Every dog you walk in public must wear a collar showing the owner's name and address (Control of Dogs Order 1992), and you're responsible for clearing up after every dog in your care. Public liability insurance isn't a legal requirement for a sole trader, but employers' liability insurance becomes a legal requirement the moment you take on non-family staff.
Questions about starting in St Dunstan's
Is dog walking the same as dog day care or home boarding for licensing purposes in St Dunstan's?
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 St Dunstan's. 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 St Dunstan's?
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 St Dunstan's.
Do I need insurance to start a dog walking business in St Dunstan's?
Public liability insurance isn't a legal requirement for a sole trader, but it's close to standard practice across St Dunstan's and Canterbury, 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 St Dunstan's?
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 St Dunstan's -- it isn't a confirmed legal requirement either way for general dog walking.
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