To ask if there are any self employed dog walkers/sitters here?

[DogsTheWord]

I'm really interested in setting up a dog walking / pet sitting service but I am struggling to start.

The only experience I have is that I own my own pets and have done for a number of years. I've set up a BorrowMyDoggy page to do volunteer dog walking so I can build up experience that way.

Do you have any other recommendations or suggestions?

My dogs are my life and I'm so passionate about making them my job too but I'm finding it difficult to get off the ground!

Have you approached your local council for registration/licensing advice and applied?

I have looked into licensing and it isn't required for dog walking.

I am looking into taking a course for a professional dog walking and canine first aid certificate.

You might want to look into liability insurance in case anything happens. Good luck!

You'll need insurance.
You will also need to find out how many dogs your local council limit one person to walking and make sure your insurance covers it.

In addition to the qualifications you are doing, it would also be good to do something on canine psychology and behaviour. Personally I would not use a dog walker who hadn't done this because I have seen dog walkers not correctly reading a dog's body language, and behaviour escalating where it could have been prevented.

I’ve been thinking the same for a while as I’m taking time out of my career, probably permanently. I did a Mumsnet search and there were some old threads with some really good advice, dos and don’t’s, pitfalls and expectations of earning potential. I found them really useful.

I’ve also chatted to some local dog walkers when out and about with my dog. Not taken the plunge yet though!

Thanks AngelDust, I've already got the insurance just in case!

Yes insurance a must I’d say.

Thanks Sliced. Was considering a behaviour course too. Was going to see how these two courses go before committing to a third as its not cheap really! (But worth it if it brings business of course).

Have enrolled on the psychology and behaviour course!