Start Your Own Dog Walking And Pet Sitting Business

Start Your Own Dog Walking And Pet Sitting Business

Do you want to start your own dog walking and pet sitting business?

Are you considering a career in the pet care business or just looking to gain a better understanding of the subject?

Our dog walking and pet sitting professional course is a good place to start.

PLUS, we’ve included the basic paperwork and templates you need to get your dog walking and pet sitting business off to a good start.

Looking after people’s pets is very rewarding but practicing it professionally is a whole new ball game and an exciting opportunity.

This online course has been especially designed for the aspiring professional dog walker who wants to get a thorough foundation in the fundamentals and to ensure you set yourself apart from the crowd.

In this post pandemic world, it’s even more important you have what it takes to survive and thrive.

Study at your own pace. Check your growing knowledge with our mini quizzes, and build for a brighter future.

Course Creator

Our course designer and leader is the irrepressible Kate Middleton. Kate started her own professional dog walking and pet sitting business in Coggeshall, Essex in April 2014.

She is a former Animal Science university lecturer, and also lectures at Writtle University College and The College of Animal Welfare, teaching City and Guild (C&G) Technical Competence Certificates in both Dog Walking and Pet Sitting.

Kate wrote and delivered the original weekend course in ‘How to start a Dog Walking and Pet Sitting Business (which has been running for 4 years now). She is also training as a Touch Practitioner.

​Kate has a Master’s degree in Animal Behaviour and Welfare, a BSc in Agricultural & Environmental Science (Honours in Animal Science), a PGCE and a Level 2 C&G Certificate in Dog Walking. She also holds certificates in Canine First Aid, Dog Law and Canine Massage. She regularly attends CPD events and conferences to keep her industry knowledge current.

Before becoming a lecturer, she worked for 13 years in the financial sector in London as a Senior Manager for a large European bank and invested cash for Hedge Funds.

So, there is a wealth of experience packed into our course.

Course curriculum, units, modules and what this course covers

Unit 1

Unit 1 is designed to take you step by step through what you need to do to set up a business, and covers everything from evaluating your businesses potential, making decisions, creating documents, insurance requirements and understanding relevant legislation.

Unit 1 : Setting up a Dog Walking Business/Pet Sitting Business
Unit 1 : The Roles and Responsibilities of a Dog Walker/Pet Sitter
Unit 1 : Self Evaluation & Training
Unit 1 : Evaluating Business Potential
Unit 1 : Creating your Business
Unit 1 : Terms and Conditions
Unit 1 : Quiz
Unit 1 : Business Documents
Unit 1 : Accounts
Unit 1 : Insurance
Unit 1 : Marketing
Unit 1 : Equipment
Unit 1 : Quiz
Unit 1 : Some Laws that apply to Dog Walkers
Unit 1 : Important Laws for Small Businesses
Unit 1 : Tax and National Insurance
Unit 1 : Quiz
End of Unit & Summary

Unit 2

Unit 2 of this course will look at the practical day to day running of the business, including client enquiries, day to day procedures, meet and greets, behavioural assessments, mixing dogs from different households, when to let them off lead, your personal health and safety and that of the dogs.

Unit 2 : Running A Dog Walking/Pet Sitting Business
Unit 2 : Initial enquiry and consultation
Unit 2 : Planning walks
Unit 2 : Managing group walks & Behaviour
Unit 2 : Home, Dog and Personal security
Unit 2 : Keeping Yourself Safe and Healthy
Unit 2 : Quiz
Unit 2 : Species, breed, lifestage and age differences
Unit 2 : Use of equipment and first aid
Unit 2 : Seasonal Hazards
Unit 2 : Minimising the spread of disease
Unit 2 : Petting Sitting Visits
Unit 2 : Housesitting
Unit 2 : Quiz
End of Unit & Summary

Forms and Templates

The following forms and templates are included in the forms and templates pack (£125)

• Initial Booking Enquiry Form
• Booking Enquiry Confirmation Check List
• Dog Booking Registration/ Pet Information Form
• Terms & Conditions
• Veterinary Release
• Service Agreement
• Basic Introduction Assessment
• Dog Meet, Greet & Trial Assessment Check List
• Consents Form (to transport your pet, to walk off lead, to share space & walks with other dogs, vet release form, key release, medication, GDPR/Privacy)
• Customer Dog Walking Checklist
• Cat Flap Disclaimer
• End of Stay Report
• Cleaning Schedule
• GDPR Privacy Policy
• Visit Slip
• Medication Permission Form
• Holiday Reminder Slip
• Veterinary Healthcare Agreement
• Pet Sitting Homeowner’s Check List
• Pop-Ins Check list
• Transport Log

Every business is different. Please check the copy in your templates meets your business needs. If not, you can edit the paperwork. Always consult a lawyer for any legally binding copy.

Purchase Options