Tilehouse Green · Solihull
How to Start a Dog Walking Business in Tilehouse Green
What you need to know about local licensing, insurance and getting started -- specific to Tilehouse Green and the wider Solihull area.
Thinking about starting a dog walking business in Tilehouse Green? This guide covers dog walking only -- not day care or home boarding, which sit under separate licensing. Walking has a low barrier to entry, but a few local rules are genuinely worth checking before your first booking in Tilehouse Green and the wider Solihull area.
Tilehouse Green at a glance
Referral Networks Matter Here
Vets, pet shops, groomers and dog trainers across Solihull are realistic referral sources for a new dog walking business, beyond direct advertising.
Areas covered
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Dog Walking in Tilehouse Green
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 Tilehouse Green
How many dogs can I walk at once in Tilehouse Green?
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 Tilehouse Green.
Do I need insurance to start a dog walking business in Tilehouse Green?
Public liability insurance isn't a legal requirement for a sole trader, but it's close to standard practice across Tilehouse Green and Solihull, 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 Tilehouse Green?
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 Tilehouse Green -- it isn't a confirmed legal requirement either way for general dog walking.
How do I find my first dog walking clients in Tilehouse Green?
Many new dog walkers in Tilehouse Green start through personal networks, local dog-owner Facebook groups, a Google Business Profile, and partnerships with local vets, pet shops and groomers.
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