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Dog Walker / Doggy Playcare Specialist

First things first and in case you didn't know...

A dog walking and playcare business caters for busy or indeed sick pet owners by providing much needed exercise and companionship for their furry friends. Dog walkers - and playcare specialists, like Emma - typically pick up the dogs from the owner's home, take them for walks and plays, tailored to their needs, and return them happy and exercised back to their owners. This service ensures dogs get the physical activity and mental stimulation they crave, even when their owners can't be there.

Key skills/talents

Here are some essential skills and areas of knowledge that should help you to be successful in this role:

  • Canine Knowledge and Experience: A deep love for dogs and a strong understanding of canine behaviour are crucial. Experience handling various breeds is a plus. Consider volunteering at shelters or kennels to gain experience.

  • Animal Care: Being able to identify signs of illness or injury in dogs and knowing how to react appropriately is important.

  • Physical Fitness: Dog walking often involves walking for extended periods, so good physical fitness is necessary. As is strength, if you need to control an unruly dog on a lead.

  • Time Management: Juggling multiple walks/plays, clients, and scheduling requires strong organisational skills, as Emma touches on in the chat.

  • Reliability and Responsibility: Clients entrust their furry companions to you, so reliability and a responsible attitude are essential, in order to build and keep much needed trust.

  • Communication: Excellent communication builds trust with clients and ensures you understand their pet's needs.

  • Patience: Dogs have different personalities and may require A LOT of patience during walks.

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​Qualifications required

There are no formal qualifications required to become a dog walker or playcare specialist. However, some clients might prefer walkers with certifications like:

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Rules and regs

Familiarise yourself with local council regulations on dog walking, such as the number of dogs you can handle at once and leash requirements etc.The RSPCA published this guide which lists the full details of all the legislation & regulations you need to adhere to: https://www.rspca.org.uk/webContent/staticImages/Downloads/DogWalkingGuide.pdf 

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Insurance: Get pet business insurance to protect yourself from liability in case of accidents or injuries. Below are 2 companies that have specific insurances for dog walkers: 

https://www.petbusinessinsurance.co.uk/dog-walking-insurance.aspx

https://www.directlineforbusiness.co.uk/small-business-insurance/dog-walking


DBS Check: If you'll be entering client homes, a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check is recommended. Be sure to use the government DBS link, as follows, as agencies can charge you a lot more. The current cost is £18 per annum: https://www.gov.uk/request-copy-criminal-record

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Remuneration framework

As with all variable jobs like this, earnings will depend on the amount of dogs and walks you do a day, and how many you want to do. And of course, where you live (London dog walkers will charge a lot more).

 

Emma charges £12.50 per dog for 1.5hours, or £24 per dog for 3 hours and with her staff and her vans can take up to 15 dogs per session, so for a 1.5 hour session, that’s £187.50 and if she does 2 of those a day, that’s £375. 3 days a week, that’s £1,125 a week. For a 3-hour session that’s £360 per session and Emma only does 1 of those per day. 3 days a week, that’s £1,080 a week.

 

However, Emma has van costs, insurance costs, staff costs and field hire costs, so this is not profit.

 

This kind of business is about lifestyle and work-life balance as much as it is about money, so perhaps don’t expect to make huge profits, and instead focus on the fact that you’ll be doing something you love, whilst getting lots of fresh air and Vitamin D!

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How to get started

If you’re going to do any of the courses we’ve suggested, then of course, do those first, so that you have some creds to ‘launch’ with. Thereafter, focus on your local-local area first, and either message in any local whatsapp groups, or simply speak to neighbours that you know have dogs and perhaps offer to walk some dogs for free as a trial… Someone walking with 2-3, even 4 dogs will be noticed very easily and those owners (once you’ve proven you can be trusted) may well pay you for future walks.

 

Now that you’re partially up and running, think about developing a business plan: Outline your services (what they will and won’t be), target market, pricing strategy (which includes lots of competitor research), and a basic (low-cost) marketing plan. NARPS UK has some good information on their website about starting out: https://www.narpsuk.co.uk/static/pet-sitting-business-course

 

Market Your Services: Utilise online platforms and local advertising, especially Facebook, to reach potential clients. Advertising on FaceBook and Instagram doesn’t cost much if the geo-reach is small, so it’s likely worth spending £20-50 (per post) on some advertising with these when you start.

 

Bark is an app where you can upload the details of your business for local people to find you: https://signup.bark.com/dog-walking, so might be worth a look.

 

Network! Attend dog-related events or connect with local pet stores or veterinary clinics to build your network and advertise your services. Getting out and about is the best way to get noticed and word of mouth with anything pet (and child) related always spreads quickly.

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Associations or official bodies to register with

Registration with an association isn't mandatory, but it can demonstrate professionalism and access to resources. Here are a few options:

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Job site links

While dog walking isn't typically advertised through traditional job boards, you might find occasional openings on pet sitting platforms like:

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Progression pathway​

We only need to look to Emma herself for this section, who has gradually, and organically employed staff and gradually and organically bought (and now leased) vehicles for those staff to use. And she has done this in line with growing demand, because as she says in the chat, she’s never had to advertise, because word of mouth - and social media - have thus far been enough.

 

So if you do it right, and you stay consistent, the progression will likely come naturally.

 

And in Emma’s case, the next step for progression is to buy her own field / her own ‘playcare’ premises, so that she can manage her costs better, and offer more services to her clients (and with that, charge more). It also means she can diversify and expand at her own will.

 

Another possible progression route, is of course, franchising; and now that Emma has a sound business model, and a known brand, she could set-up and sell franchise holdings in other locations across the UK, whereby she takes a % cut from all profits. As we’ve said before, franchising isn’t for everyone, so if this is something you’re interested in, REALLY do your research here and speak to and visit other, different franchise businesses for the full low-down.

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Additional Information/links

How to Start a Dog Walking Business | Costs, legals & equipment - CPD Online College: https://cpdonline.co.uk/business-guides/setting-up-dog-walking-business


How To Start A Dog Walking Business - We Walk Woofs: https://www.wewalkwoofs.co.uk/how-to-start-a-dog-walking-business

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