Dog walkers insurance

Protecting dog walkers and their clients’ pets

Having dog walkers’ insurance doesn’t just protect you; it demonstrates your commitment to safety and preparation for the unexpected. This sends the right message to clients, who will want to be sure that their pet is safe in your hands.

Pet Business Insurance specialises in comprehensive insurance for dog walkers. Our cover protects you against third-party claims for injury or damage caused by a dog under your control. You’re also covered for any accidents or injuries that may befall your clients’ pets.

Our dog walking business insurance can also help with the costs involved in the event a dog is lost or stolen, and provides cover for other important liabilities, such as losing a client’s keys if you collect and return dogs from their homes.

Optional cover for circumstances specific to your business are also available, including employer’s liability (if you have staff) and any vet fees arising from animal illness. You can enjoy peace of mind with our personal possessions insurance which means that you'll be covered for damage to your personal belongings by an animal in your care.

Whether you’re starting a new dog walking business or already running a successful one, Pet Business Insurance has the range of coverage and breadth of knowledge you need. For more information, call today on 01284 736 874, or complete our enquiry form.

Dog walking insurance FAQs

What are some risks of dog walking?

The main risks to be aware of (and for which you may be held liable) include:

• a dog under your control injuring a member of the public or damaging another person’s property
• a dog you are walking being injured or involved in an accident
• the possibility of losing a dog

Do you need a qualification to be a dog walker?

You don’t need formal qualifications, but it is important to have the experience to be confident when handling different types of dogs.

How many dogs can you walk?

Under your insurance cover, a maximum of 6 dogs per person can be walked at any one time in public.

Guide to Choosing the Best Dog Walking Insurance in the UK

If you're a dog walker in the UK, getting insurance isn't just a smart move it’s a business essential. Whether you're self-employed or a larger company having the right insurance coverage protects you, your customers and the pets in your care. In our dog waking insurance guide we’ve put together we will break down everything you need to know about choosing the right dog walkers insurance and why Pet Business Insurance is trusted by thousands of independent and small business owners across the UK.

Why Choose Pet Business Insurance?

Pet Business Insurance is a leading UK provider tailored specifically to pet professionals. With flexible plans and comprehensive cover, they’re the go-to choice for dog walkers of all experience levels.

Key Features (Standard Cover):

• Public liability insurance up to £5,000,000
• Accidents & injuries to animals up to £75,000 (max £25,000 per claim)
• Loss of keys cover up to £10,000
• Loss of money up to £1,000
• Equipment cover up to £1,000
• Travel costs up to £2,500
• Loss of licence up to £10,000
• Show cover for events of up to 150 attendees
• Loss of animal cover if a pet in your care is lost or stolen

Optional Cover Available:

• Employers' liability insurance up to £10,000,000
• Professional indemnity up to £1,000,000
• Personal accident cover
• Legal cover
• Additional equipment cover up to £25,000
• Business interruption cover (up to annual turnover)
• Shop glass cover up to £5,000
• Deterioration of chilled stock up to £5,000
• Additional money cover up to £50,000
• Loss of licence extension up to £50,000
• Animal illness cover up to £2,000 per boarder
• Buildings insurance (up to rebuild value)
• Personal possessions insurance
• Employee accident cover

Pricing:

• From just £6.81 per month or £1.57 per week
• Pay monthly or annually
• Get a quote online in minutes

How Much Does Dog Walking Insurance Cost in the UK?

With Pet Business Insurance, you can get started from just £6.81/month or £1.57/week. Your final price depends on:

• Part-time vs full-time work
• Number of employees (if any)
• Additional services like boarding or pet taxi

What’s Included in Dog Walking Insurance?

Pet Business Insurance provides the core cover every dog walker needs:

• Public Liability Insurance: Up to £5 million
• Care, Custody & Control: Covers pet accidents & injuries up to £75,000 (£25,000 per claim)
• Employer’s Liability: Optional, up to £10 million
• Professional Indemnity: Optional, up to £1 million
• Legal Expenses: For claims or disputes
• Loss of Keys: Up to £10,000
• Loss of Money: Up to £1,000 (standard) / Up to £50,000 (optional)
• Equipment Cover: Up to £1,000 (standard) / Up to £25,000 (optional)
• Travel Costs: Up to £2,500
• Loss of Licence: Up to £10,000 (standard) / Up to £50,000 (extension)
• Show/Event Cover: Hold or attend events for up to 150 people
• Loss of Animal Cover: Protection if a pet in your care is lost or stolen
• Animal Illness Cover: Optional, up to £2,000 per boarder
• Pet Transport Add-on: Covers pets while in your vehicle
• Business Interruption: Optional, up to annual turnover
• Shop Glass, Chilled Stock, Buildings & Personal Possessions: Optional specialist add-ons

Pet Business Insurance Reviews

Pet Business Insurance is trusted by thousands of pet professionals across the UK. We have been rated 4.9 out of 5 with over 1089 reviews from customers, this has earned us their ‘Platinum Trusted Service Award’. Based on our excellent customer service and reliable support for claims.

Insurance for Different Types of Dog Walkers

Self-Employed or Freelance Walkers

Get affordable individual cover with public liability and care, custody & control.

Teams or Growing Businesses

Add employer’s liability and ensure all walkers are protected under one policy.

Occasional or Part-Time Dog Walkers

Flexible plans mean you only pay for the coverage you need. Perfect for side-gigs or weekend walkers.

Does Insurance Cover Pet Transport?

Yes - Pet Business Insurance offers pet transport as an optional add-on. This covers:

• Accidents during transit
• Pet injury, illness, or loss while in your vehicle
• Theft from a vehicle

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need public liability or full coverage?

Public liability is essential. Full coverage is recommended for added peace of mind.

Can I get cover for my team?

Yes, policies can be customised to include multiple walkers.

Is insurance required if I only walk dogs occasionally?

It’s not legally required but strongly advised - even one incident could lead to serious claims.

What if I also board or groom pets?

You can add extra cover for those services easily with Pet Business Insurance.

Looking for Broader Pet Business Insurance?

Pet Business Insurance also covers:

• Pet Sitting
• Dog Grooming
• Pet Boarding
• Combined Policies for Multiple Services

Our dog walker insurance is an excellent option for sole traders and independent business owners who are looking for comprehensive insurance coverage and protection.

Choose petbusinessinsurance.co.uk and walk with confidence!

Pet Business Insurance offers small business owners a simple, affordable, flexible, and comprehensive coverage for all dog walkers in the UK. With our comprehensive coverage plans starting from just £6.81/month, there’s no reason to walk unprotected.

Ready to protect your business today? Get a fast online quote from Pet Business Insurance and secure your future today.

Get a Dog Walking Insurance Quote Now from Pet Business Insurance.

Top Rated Insurance for Dog Walkers

Navigating the commercial insurance landscape can be complex, but identifying top rated insurance for dog walkers relies on evaluating specific risk coverages rather than just comparing baseline premiums. A standard, off-the-shelf small business policy rarely accounts for the unique liabilities associated with handling animals in public spaces.

When choosing a provider, the highest-rated policies consistently feature transparent terms regarding off-lead walking, precise definitions of professional custody, and clear limits on the number of animals permitted per handler. The best dog walking insurance providers offer dedicated support teams who understand pet industry legislation, ensuring that your policy remains fully compliant with UK local authority bylaws and animal welfare standards. Specialist providers like Pet Business Insurance consistently earn top ratings because their frameworks are built explicitly for animal handlers rather than general tradespeople.

Best Public Liability Insurance for Pet Sitters

Public Liability insurance forms the absolute foundation of any professional pet care policy. It is designed to protect your business against third-party claims for personal injury or property damage arising from your daily business activities.

For instance, if a dog slips its collar under your supervision and causes a traffic accident, or knocks over a pedestrian resulting in a severe injury, the legal defence costs and subsequent compensation awards can easily reach hundreds of thousands of pounds. The best public liability insurance for pet sitters covers these catastrophic financial risks seamlessly.

At Pet Business Insurance, our standard public liability options provide expansive indemnity limits ranging from £1 million to £10 million. This ensures your pet-sitting business is shielded against severe third-party liability claims, whether you are operating in a public park, a client's home, or transporting animals in a vehicle.

Recommended Dog Walking Business Insurance

Choosing recommended dog walking business insurance involves assessing a provider's reputation, policy flexibility, and claims-handling efficiency. Independent review platforms offer transparent insights into how an insurer performs when an emergency occurs. Pet Business Insurance is widely recognised across the industry for maintaining excellent Trustpilot reviews, reflecting our commitment to transparent communication and rapid claims processing.

Dog Walking Insurance for Multiple Dogs UK

Managing multiple dogs simultaneously requires heightened situational awareness and specific insurance validation. When seeking dog walking insurance for multiple dogs uk, you must ensure your policy explicitly states the maximum number of dogs you are permitted to walk at any one time.

Most standard business policies limit handlers to a maximum of 4 dogs at once to control risk profiles. However, Pet Business Insurance offers extended multiple-dog endorsements that legally permit walking up to 6 dogs simultaneously. To keep this coverage valid, handlers must remain fully compliant with their specific local council's bylaws and environmental park rules. Exceeding your policy's stated dog limit or local authority caps will completely void your coverage in the event of an incident, making explicit multi-dog underwriting from Pet Business Insurance a vital safeguard for your business.

Does Standard Pet Insurance Cover Dog Walking Businesses?

A frequent point of confusion for new businesses is whether standard pet insurance covers dog walking businesses. The short and definitive answer is no. Standard pet insurance is a consumer product taken out by a pet owner to cover the personal veterinary bills and minor personal liabilities of an individual household pet. It explicitly excludes any form of commercial, professional, or business activity.

Business Insurance for Animal Handlers

Operating as a professional animal handler involves interacting with a wide variety of animal temperaments, breeds, and unpredictable outdoor environments. Business insurance for animal handlers is uniquely structured to mitigate these distinct occupational hazards, providing peace of mind across your entire working week.

Small Business Insurance for Animal Services

As an independent business owner, managing your overheads while protecting your corporate identity is a delicate balancing act. Small business insurance for animal services provides a protective safety net that prevents an unexpected accident from completely bankrupting your business.

Insurance for Walking Up to 6 Dogs at Once

For established dog walking companies looking to maximise their hourly revenue, group walking is an incredibly lucrative strategy. Most standard business insurers enforce a strict cap of 4 dogs per handler. PBI recognises the needs of growing businesses and offers extended multi-dog endorsements allowing you to walk up to 6 dogs at once. To keep this coverage completely valid, handlers must ensure they are fully compliant with their local authority’s Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs), which legally mandate dog walking limits in specific regions. Walking more dogs than your policy or local bylaw allows will immediately invalidate your cover in the event of an incident.

Why Choose PBI for Your Dog Walking Venture?

PBI is widely recognised as a premier provider of professional pet business insurance throughout the United Kingdom. We focus exclusively on the animal care sector, which allows us to design policies that offer superior protection compared to generalised small business insurers.