39 dog walkers available in London
| Service | Typical range (GBP) |
|---|---|
| 30-minute solo walk | £12–£18 |
| 60-minute solo walk | £18–£28 |
| Group walk | £10–£16 |
| Drop-in visit | £12–£18 |
| Overnight sit | £30–£55 |
These are national guideline ranges — local rates in London vary with solo vs group walks, peak after-work times, and the number of dogs.
Treat the meet-and-greet like an interview. Ask to see proof of insurance and any pet first-aid certification, ask for two client references you can actually call, and confirm how keys are handled (a written key agreement is the professional standard). Watch how the walker greets your dog — a good one gets low and lets the dog approach. Agree in writing on the exact service, rate, cancellation policy, and the emergency plan (which vet, who they call).
Wales is part of the England & Wales legal system, so its dog law is shared with England. Under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 s.3 it is a criminal offence to let a dog be dangerously out of control anywhere — and the offence falls on the owner AND on any person for the time being in charge of the dog, which is the walker.
These state-level rules apply across Wales; the local rules that govern day-to-day walking are on the Local bylaws tab.
Under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, section 3, if a dog is dangerously out of control in any place in England or Wales (whether or not a public place, so private property is included) it is a criminal offence. Crucially the offence falls on the owner; and if different, the person for the time being in charge of the dog — that is the walker's direct exposure. A dog is dangerously out of control wherever there are grounds for reasonable apprehension that it will injure a person (or an assistance dog), whether or not it actually does. It is a summary offence carrying up to 6 months imprisonment and a fine; where the dog injures a person it is an aggravated offence triable on indictment with up to 5 years (life where a person dies). This is criminal liability that sits on top of any civil claim.
Wales follows the England & Wales prohibited-type regime under DDA 1991 section 1: it is illegal to own, breed, sell, or give away a banned type — Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, and now the XL Bully. Type is judged on physical characteristics, not breed papers. For the XL Bully the two E&W dates apply in Wales: from 31 December 2023 it must be muzzled and kept on a lead in public; from 1 February 2024 it is a criminal offence to own one without a Certificate of Exemption. Exemption requires the dog to be microchipped, neutered, muzzled and leashed in public, and covered by third-party liability insurance. A walker should confirm any XL Bully in their care is exempted and handled to those conditions.
Alongside the criminal law, the Animals Act 1971 (section 2) governs civil compensation across England & Wales and imposes strict liability on the keeper of an animal for damage it does — the injured person need not prove negligence. A keeper is a person who owns the animal or has it in their possession, and there can be more than one keeper at a time: the owner does not stop being a keeper by handing the dog over, and the walker in possession is also a keeper. So both owner and walker can be pursued. A separate common-law negligence route is also available where careless handling causes injury.
Microchipping is compulsory for dogs in Wales (Microchipping of Dogs (Wales) Regulations 2015), and under the Control of Dogs Order 1992 a dog in a public place must wear a collar with the owner's name and address (a tag). There is no dog licence in Wales (abolished 1987). Local control runs through Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) made by Welsh local authorities: dogs-on-leads areas, lead-on-direction powers, exclusion zones (playgrounds, sports pitches, beaches seasonally), poo pick-up, a requirement to carry a bag, and in some councils a maximum number of dogs per walker (commonly proposed at four to six). Signage is bilingual (Welsh and English), and breaches draw Fixed Penalty Notices. PSPOs vary by council, so a walker must check each area's order.