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When it comes to dealing with other peoples pets, the owner is trusting you to be responsible and to care and protect their pet to the best of your ability. In addition the owner will expect your walking business to have the correct level of dog walker insurance to cover any unforeseen costs resulting from an incident involving their dog. As such you should consider the benefits of taking out insurance for dog walkers.
What qualifications do I need to be a dog walker?
You do not need an actual certificate to prove that you are able to walk dogs. If you love dogs and have time you can start on your path as a part time dog walker.
However, a certificate will play to your advantage, showing that you have taken the time to qualify yourself as a professional dog walker. Remember, pets are treated as family members and the owner must have complete trust and confidence in you. Having a professional qualification will provide just that. We have listed some of the more obvious advantages below.
Can I get dog walking insurance if I am only 16?
Some companies in this insurance sector set the minimum age at 18, for example Petplan Sanctuary. However, the good news is most companies will provide dog walking insurance if you are 16 or over. Cliverton, Pet Business and Protective are all well known names that can provide cover for walkers 16 and over within the UK
Do I need a license to walk dogs in a park?
The short answer is that it depends on the rules of your local authority and the park owner. Most councils will require that walkers that are being paid to exercise dogs will need to obtain a dog walking license. The application process will normally take about 2 weeks. The cost of insurance will depend on how many dogs that you will be walking. To give you an idea of likely costs the following are the prices for Lamberth council as of 2020.
In summary a license is required if you take payment for providing an exercising service and makes use of a local park or open space.
The license will detail your obligations for example, each dog must have a collar with a name tag with the name and address of the owner. Violation of any of these rules will result in a fine and possible loss of license.
Most councils will recognise that an operator of a dog walking business will require multiple licenses and will provide a discount on multiple applications.
Do I need a dog walking license to walk dogs in a UK royal park?
It has been a legal requirement since April 2013 that you must have a valid license to walk dogs in any of the 8 royal parks in the UK.
Dog walking insurance is not a legal requirement, but it makes sense if you value your business. Public liability for dog-walkers, should be given serious consideration. This will protect you from third party claims should a dog in your custody, decides to nip or bite a member of the public. Other insurance elements are available, for example, cover for vet fees. These can be selected during the online quote process.
On average insurance will cost in the region of GBP125 upwards, depending on the type and level of cover that you choose to include.
There are a few key factors that can influence the premium price quoted. Postal code is one of these, as some areas of the UK are more prone to crime than others, take city centers for an example. The other key factors are listed below.
If you provide additional pet services other than simple dog walking expect to pay an additional amount. Some examples of additional services are listed below.
Tailor your dog walker insurance policy to your needs?
All the policies can be tailored to your business requirements. If you only work part time, a dog walking insurance policy can be constructed for part time work only.
Do not invalidate your Policy - Fully disclose any past claims
If by chance you have previously made a claim on any dog walker insurance policy, or any legal action has been undertaken against you or your pet walking business in the past, this may affect your quote. Failure to fully disclose any pertinent details to your broker may invalidate any claim that you subsequently may make.
How you can avoid making claims against your UK dog walking insurance policy
Most claims involve pedestrians that are walking or running and taking the animal by surprise. The fast reactions of the dog can result in the nipping or biting the poor pedestrian. Here are some tips to reduce your risk
Bites are not the only reason for making insurance claims, animals are unpredictable and even the most experienced handler can find themselves in a situation that they could never have anticipated, as such it is vital that you have a good policy in place.
Dog walker van insurance
If you are investing in a van as part of your pet business, you will need insurance that covers you for business use. Please also note of you have or will be making any modifications to the van you must notify your insurance broker. Not informing will likely invalidate your policy.
If you already have a van that is insured, but will now be used for your business, again check with your broker that you are covered for the proposed use.
Compare dog walking insurance
To find a policy that meets with your requirements, you need to get multiple quotes from a range of different providers. Comparative sites can help at this stage, but also go directly to the brokers web site to see the latest deals that they have on offer for dog walkers Insurance.
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