Dog Owners

Professional Dog Businesses UK helps dog owners to find the best care for their beloved dog. 

This service is FREE. 

All the businesses listed on our website are Insured, Licensed, Qualified, Trained and Experienced in relation to the service they are providing. 

The dog industry has exploded with many businesses providing a dog service, however many of these are not professional, for example they are not insured or even qualified. The dog industry is very unregulated. 

I set this business up with the aim of helping to make the canine industry more regulated and therefore to increase dog welfare. 

We are on Facebook and Instagram if you would like to follow us and keep up to date

Below are some guidelines to follow.

For the best care of your dog select one of our reputable professionals on our website. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to send me an email: info@professionaldogbusinessesuk.co.uk. You are also welcome to post on our Facebook page for recommendations/advise and I am sure one of our professionals will be happy to advise. 



Guidelines When Picking a Canine Business to Look After Your Dog

- Ask to see their insurance, licence, and qualifications. All professional businesses would happily show you this information during the consultation.

- Check their reviews on Facebook and google. 

- All professional businesses will do a consultation. During this time, you get to meet each other and you can see how they bond with your dog. Professional business will have paperwork and a contract to be signed, so you both know the terms and conditions of agreement. 

- On Facebook and Instagram have a look at the images they post, this is a great way to see happy hounds and more of an insight into the business.

Dog Boarding

Any business providing Dog Boarding must have a licence with the local council. and be insured. This licence covers both overnight and day care. 

All dogs stay in a home environment, and on the licence the council will have given the premises/business a star rating, the highest being five stars. There is also a limit on the licence of how many dogs they are allowed on the premises at one time this can be found on the Licence certificate. All the businesses listed on our website under Dog Boarding are insured, licensed, qualified, trained and experienced. 



Dog Breeding

Any business providing Dog Breeding must have a licence with the local council and be insured. A professional breeder will let you visit the mum and puppies at their home. They will also be microchipped and vet checked before going to their new home. Ask as many questions as you would like as they will be happy to answer. All the businesses listed on our website under Dog Breeding are insured, licensed, qualified, trained and experienced. 



Doggy Day Care 

A Business providing Doggy Day Care whether at a premises or at their home must have a licence with the local council and be insured. The licence only covers day care. On the licence the council will have given the premises/business a star rating, the highest being five stars. There is also a limit on the licence of how many dogs they are allowed on the premises at one time this can be found on the licence certificate. All the businesses listing on our website under Doggy Day Care are insured, licensed, qualified, trained and experienced. 



Dog Groomers

The dog grooming industry is unregulated. All professional Dog Groomers will have insurance, and they will have qualifications in dog grooming as well as training and experience. Groomers either have a premises, or are mobile and come to you. All the businesses listed on our website under Dog Grooming are insured, qualified, trained and experienced. 



Dog Trainers

The dog trainer's industry is unregulated. All professional Dog Trainers will have insurance, and they will have qualifications in relation to dog training/dog behaviour, as well as training and experience. Dog Trainers offer classes or/and online courses. All the businesses listed on our website under Dog Trainers are insured, qualified, trained and experienced. 



Dog Walkers

The dog walking industry is unregulated. All professional Dog Walkers will have insurance, and they will have qualifications in relation to dog walking/dogs, as well as training and experience. Dog walkers offer individual walks or group walks or both, select which is best for your dog and your requirements. If your dog is being transported with your dog walker, check their van, make sure there are crates for the dog's safety with a comfortable bed. Professional dog walkers will only put one dog in each crate, unless the dogs are from the same family, and they will be happy to show you. Ask how many dogs they will be walking at one time, some councils have now bought in a limit of four dogs at one time. All the businesses listed on our website under Dog Walking are insured and their qualifications are listed. 



How to Pick a Professional Dog Walker


1. Meet and Greet. The dog walker should provide a meet and greet so they can meet your dog and your dog can meet them. During this consultation the dog walker should fill in the paperwork and run through their contract for you to sign. The dog walker should show you their insurance, and their qualifications.

2. Insurance. Any professional dog walker should have dog walking insurance for their business, staff, and their transport. This insurance policy will outline the number of dogs they can walk at one time. This should be shown to the clients by the dog walker during the meet and greet. Make sure the dog walker has sufficient insurance to protect you, your dog and your home. 

3. Contract. Opt for a professional dog walker who has a contract, A contract provides important information about the dog walkers responsibilities and the clients responsibilities. This should be fully explained and signed during the meet and greet. 

4. Qualifications. Dog walking takes more than just passion, there are specialized knowledge and skill sets required to walk a group of dogs, as well as ethical business practises, to ensure the safety of the dogs in their care, and who they may bump into when out. A love of dogs is imperative but not enough on its own. A up to date professional dog walking qualification, evidence-based knowledge of dog behaviour and dog handling, and as a minimum a canine first aid certificate. Canine first aid is a vital minimum requirement as you never know when a medical emergency could arise. Training and experience are also a necessity, ask the dog walker how long she has been dog walking, what breeds have they walked. 

5. Training methods and Equipment. Only positive -reinforcement based training should be used. The dog walker should be able to keep a group of dogs under control and safe without using: choke, prong, shock collars, hitting, yelling or shoving. The dogs are there to have a good time. Join the dog walker with one of their group walks to view their methods. 

6. Suitable Transport. Dogs should be transported in a secure and comfortable manner. View the dog walker's vehicle to check they have a suitable crate and comfortable bed each. It is against the law to travel an unrestrained dog in a vehicle. Dog should not be loose in a vehicle, or multiple dogs sharing a crate, or in crates that are too small for a dog, so discuss with your dog walker their methods of transport. The vehicle should be regularly cleaned and disinfected with good ventilation and temperature control. Dogs should never be left unattended in a vehicle other than for short periods whilst collecting or dropping off dogs. 

7. Number of Dogs. How many dogs are walked at once? The dog walker's insurance will state how many dogs they are allowed to walk at once, view this during the meet and greet consultation. In some areas of the UK the council is now regulating the number of dogs a walker can walk at once. How many dogs in a group do you feel is safe for your dog?  A dog walker should only walk the number of dogs they can safely and securely walk at once all on a lead. View their Facebook page to see how many dogs they walk at once. 

8. Walk Time. Check how much time the dogs have on their walk, the time quoted should be the time out of the vehicle, the transport time should not be included.

9. Reviews/ References. Ask for references or reviews of your dog walker so you can see their level of service they provide from other clients, and if these meet your standards. View their reviews on Google and Facebook. 

10. Professional Dog Businesses UK Member. Are they a member of PDBUK? PDBUK only approves dog walkers who have the necessary insurance, qualifications, training and experience. Check for the Professional Dog Businesses UK logo on their website and social media platforms. 


Disclaimer of Liability. 

The information contained on this website if for general information purposes only. Whilst we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk. Professional Dog Businesses UK is not responsible for what customers do after using the site. Any decisions you make after reading the material is your responsibility and PDBUK can't be held liable for anything you choose to do. Any reliance you place on such material is therefore strictly at your own risk.