What is dog walking & pet sitting?

The UK has 13 million dog owners, the majority of whom work full-time and need help with their pets. Dog walkers earn £10–£20 per 60-minute walk. Group walks of 4–6 dogs earn £60–£100 for the same hour. Pet sitting adds another income stream. Start with neighbours and build via word of mouth — this business snowballs quickly once you have a few happy clients.

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How to start dog walking & pet sitting in 4 steps

  1. 1
    Get insured first
    Pet business insurance costs £80–£120/year and is essential. Clients increasingly ask for proof of insurance before booking, especially for overnight sits.
  2. 2
    Start with neighbours
    Post on Nextdoor, local Facebook groups, and talk to neighbours. Word of mouth from 3–4 happy clients will fill your calendar faster than any platform.
  3. 3
    List on pet platforms
    Create profiles on Rover.com and Tailster. These bring in new clients and let you build verified public reviews that accelerate growth.
  4. 4
    Build to group walks
    Once you have 4–6 regular dogs, switch to group walks for the same time investment at 4–6x the income. This is where the real money is.
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Pros and cons

✓ Pros

  • Local work
  • Earn £300–£2,000 per month
  • Start within 1–2 weeks
  • Startup cost: £100
  • Low effort required

× Cons

  • Requires consistent effort to build
  • Income may be variable initially
  • Competition exists in this space
  • Takes time to reach full earnings
  • Requires self-motivation

Frequently asked questions

No formal qualifications are required for dog walking in the UK. A canine first aid course (£50–£100) is a great selling point and genuinely useful.
Yes. Early morning and lunchtime walks fit around most jobs. Many dog walkers successfully combine this with full-time employment.
This is exactly why insurance is essential. Good pet business insurance covers injury to animals in your care, public liability, and your equipment.