Hi.
As I am going to be out of work shortly I have been thinking of trying to start up a dog walking service in my area and have been wondering about the pros and cons of this line of work. I am looking for advice from anyone who has any knowlege at all about what may be involved with this venture.
Thanks in anticipation.

if you do go ahead id suggest you take out enough insurance to cover all sorts!!!! good luck,

Hi Cher,
I know in the US, they are usually licensed and bonded because of entering people's houses while they are absent. Sometimes dog-walkers also do pet sitting where they check on pets while owners are gone away for a day, two, or even three.
good luck,
toodles

I think a lot depends on where you are - there was some press coverage earlier this year that Dog Walkers in London are going to have to be licensed, and limit the number of dogs that can have out with them at any one time. I think in the rest of the country you can pretty much make your own rules, but the post about the insurance is SO right- you will have to have also sorts of liability cover.
Gwen

Hi Cher, just to reiterate what some of the others have said about insurance. You need to cover yourself for third party liabilities (if dogs in your control cause damage to others' property), plus cover yourself against claims from the owners themselves if you damage/lose one of the dogs. Your vehicle will have to be properly insured, and the insurance company may well want to know that it has been modified and is suitable for the purpose of carrying dogs etc. They may well also want to know what experience you have before setting the premium, and will load it heavily if you can't show a track record, much like a new car driver.

It's only when one considers all the 'extras' that are required for what seems like a fairly safe, innocent business, that you realise why we have to pay what seems like a lot of money for what seems like a simple task like dog walking.

Don't want to put a downer on your plans, as I'm self employed myself, just want you to see it from all angles before you jump :) In business today, you have to cover your a**e big time, as what seem like nice pleasant people can turn extremely nasty when something goes wrong, even if you are in no way to blame.