How to start a dog walking business: 4 simple steps

With recent figures showing that Brits spent more than £4bn on their beloved pets in 2015, you’d be barking mad to think the recession has impacted on the UK’s pet spend.

Marking a 10% increase on pooch spending from 2010, it’s not only large retailers benefitting, with many entrepreneurs realising there’re opportunities to be had in the pet industry.

The average dog walker charges £14.51 per hour according to Indeed.co.uk, so it’s clearly a viable and profitable business opportunity. In fact, many dog walkers earn more than an average salary.

Of course you’ll need to have a genuine interest in dogs as well as a good knowledge of the various rules and regulations surrounding the industry – and it’s a fairly business marketplace.

Sound interesting? Then read our four simple steps to help you become top dog in the industry.

1.    Experience is essential

It may look leisurely, but the real truth is that dog walking is far from a walk in the park – and experience is simply essential for anyone wanting to get involved in the industry.

While it’s not imperative to have a career background with animals, you should at least be confident around dogs and at the very least have experience in walking a family or friend’s pet.

The Kennel Club’s guidelines for people working with dogs advises:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• A high level of fitness” and, naturally,
• An affinity with, and understanding of dogs

If you’re in need of experience in handling dogs, you might want to consider volunteering at your local kennels or rescue centre. They’ll often house a good range of dogs of various sizes, age and temperament, so you’ll be fit to face whatever comes your way.

Consider attending courses in animal first aid, pet medication or even animal psychology as gaining a diploma or certificate in any of these would showcase your commitment to the dog’s welfare and impress clients.

2.    Remember, it’s a business

While any animal lover might feel like they’ve died and gone to doggy heaven, remind yourself that your dog walking business is just that – a business. As such, you’ll need to possess all the regular entrepreneurial skills required for founding and running a successful company.

Having a basic understanding of bookkeeping is important as you’ll need to be able to balance your own books and fill in your self-assessment tax return. Remember that this is your livelihood and not a hobby, your income should reflect this.

Similarly, a good understanding of marketing and self-promotion will be needed to get your business off the ground.

Flyering is perhaps one of the most effective ways to target clients in your local area and you should be able to get 5,000 flyers professionally printed for around £100.

Finally, an ability to network and negotiate with both your customers and local animal industry is key. Never underestimate the potential for clients to try and negotiate price or you could find yourself working for substantially less than you might have hoped.

3.    Be aware of the rules and regulations

Although there are relatively few regulations specifically targeted at dog walkers, businesses providing a service must get public liability insurance.

If this is the start-up business idea for you, be aware you may have to deal with dogs injuring other dogs or people while in your charge.

It’s vital to have the right insurance cover to deal with legal claims, should they arise. Click here for a step-by-step guide covering everything you need to know about dog walking insurance.

If you will be using premises as part of your service, you may also want to consider broader pet business insurance.

While by no means compulsory, it would also be advantageous to join the trade association, the National Association of Pet Sitters and Dog Walkers (NARPS).

They can help provide you with support and advice on dog walkers’ insurance and training, plus your membership will give your clients confidence.

To ensure you abide by key regulations, NARPS suggests you should:

• Meet owners prior to the first booking
• Restrict the number of dogs walked to no more than four at a time
• Keep records of all work undertaken
• Protect clients’ personal information

All dogs in public must wear a collar with the owners name and address on it and you could be fined up to £1,000 if you fail to clean up its faeces.

While not the most exciting element of running your own business, it’s crucial you keep abreast of the latest rules and regulations to ensure you’re not jeopardising the safety of others or the reputation of your business.

4.    Find a niche in the market

Given the popularity of setting up a dog walking business, it’s very probable you’ll have to find a niche to distinguish yourself from the crowd.

Above all else, carry out market research and see if there’s actually room in your area for another dog walker.

A simple google search or contacting NarpsUK will help a lot in this regard.

Consider offering pet sitting as well as dog walking – pet sitting was one of our top business ideas to start in 2015. Much like babysitting, you’ll mind your client’s pets at their home while they are away, as well as feeding them and attending to any medical needs such as medication or fulfilling dietary requirements.

Having a diploma in pet medication would be advantageous in this instance as it would allow you to cater to a specific group of dogs.

Provided you are properly trained, you could also offer grooming services such as hair cutting or washing.

Offering one-to-one intense sessions with larger dogs could also widen your appeal.

Some dogs simply won’t be satisfied by a trip around the block and will require a more strenuous workout.

For more information, take a look at our in-depth guide on how to start a dog walking business.