HI all,
i have just started my little buisness of dog waling in the s5 area, i started by doing it for my neighbour who is old and unable to walk her dog for a long time, so i thought to myself this could really help some people, i am a reliable and trustworthy person, the minimum walk would be a hour for £5 a hour, block bookings get a discount, all different times avaiable, and i will walk all different breeds of dogs. please get in touch if u have any questions, thank you for looking, :)

I know I'm going to sound like a complete kill joy, but do you have insurance for this business, and are you registered properly?

Are you insured , Have and Crb and Checkable references, ? South yorkshire police advise all people employing dogwalkers/pet carers to make sure that the people you employ have these 3 items.
I don't wish to be a kill joy either but we have had to clean up and help people who have been badly treated by supposedly good pet carersin the past.

I know this might sound slightly antagonistis but can anyone actually direct me to the law regarding dog walking and crb checks etc.?
Obviously i'm aware of the validity of insurance,but everything else seems a bit of a red herring on the net.

I know this might sound slightly antagonistis but can anyone actually direct me to the law regarding dog walking and crb checks etc.?
Obviously i'm aware of the validity of insurance,but everything else seems a bit of a red herring on the net.


There is no law this is to protect your pet and your home and is advised by Soulth yorks police. When we set up 4 years ago the police man we spoke to told us to advise our customers to make sure whom they are letting into their homes etc , he was actually visiting us regaurding another insident i had witnessed but told us of some horror stories of un checked pet carers etc hence why I always warn people. I also have several customers who have had bad experiences with un checked people.
I only wish there was proper legistration for dogwalkers and pet carers like us so we don't have to battle to protect vunrable people.

erm, no, coz it was something I had in a presentation by John Rogerson - a world expert on dog leagals

basically - if you walk your dog, and it bites somebody, you're liable
If your friend walks it and it bites somebody, you're liable
in both cases, even if you don't have pet insurance, your household policy usually covers it

if a dog walker has your dog out, and it bites somebody, THEY are liable

If they lose your dog, they are liable

and besides, we've had a whole heap of people didn't even know you had to register as self employed and fill out annual tax returns for such activities

A crb check give someone empolying you some peace of mind they aren't employing someone who is going to steal from you or who has a criminal record. Would you want a houseburgler walking your dog while looking at your belongings or even looking at your pet thinking he could have him dog napped and get money from that. Believe me its happend , we have been told lots about incidents like this .

So to be a dog walker they LEGALLY only need to be insured,and quite rightly so. Therefore all other details are spuruious and technically untrue.

I know loads of self employed people who didn't know to do tax returns. The worse offenders are window cleaners in my experience.

I find it strange though that you don't insist all people with access to our homes have a crb check done.

How many people do you hand your keys over to though, and that can invalidate your household insurance?

How many people do you hand your keys over to though, and that can invalidate your household insurance?


At present this is a safety warning if you like to people ,employing people to have keys to your home and resposibility to your pets whom are part of your family.
My cleaner has a CRB check through the company she works for but people who are self employed at present don't have to have one however the polic would advise anyone who is handing over keys and giving people access to their homes to act respnsibly by employing those with these credensails, its so important and simple.

I can understand Teeny's point of view. Gone are the days when as kids we walked peoples dogs for a bit of pocket money. There are no laws or training requirements relating to dog grooming either. Anyone can set up, they can train themselves and open a grooming salon. I have all the relevant qualifications and insurance and have only been asked once about this by a customer (she turned out to be the local competition though, scouting for info). I would be very stupid not to have insurance.:o

I would not leave my dogs in anyones care ,who was not experienced but many do.

I can understand Teeny's point of view. Gone are the days when as kids we walked peoples dogs for a bit of pocket money. There are no laws or training requirements relating to dog grooming either. Anyone can set up, they can train themselves and open a grooming salon. I have all the relevant qualifications and insurance and have only been asked once about this by a customer (she turned out to be the local competition though, scouting for info). I would be very stupid not to have insurance.:o

I would not leave my dogs in anyones care ,who was not experienced but many do.

people do and then we end up picking the pieces up of other peoples messes.
here is an example
Max walked by us now for the past 4 years nearly was walked by another dog walkers infact several , didn't walk for the full time and was driven round in a car and let out for 10 moins to wee and poo
Marley who was never walked just let out in back garden!!! should have been walked for an hour also small items and money taken from home.

Katie the cat was suppossed to be fed twice aday was fed every otherday and again small personal items taken from home.

Timmy and Tiptoes taken from home and house emptied from so called house sitters who came with no Crbs and is still a mtter that the police are involved with.

Theres many more little snippits like this I could give but cannot needless to say We now work for these people and have built up trust with them and they now would rather not go away on holiday if we couldn't care for their.animals.

This is one reason i would like to see people like us being regulated there are many out there with no insurance , no police checks and no other credensials, I am not saying everyone who doesn't have these isn't trust worthy but they aren't hard to come by , you can get a basic police check through local police for about £15 the enhanced police checks however are done through an agency ours are through social services and church as we both have 2 each now!
Also some people like us have done basic animal first aid this shows that the carers are committed to the animals they have in their care.

Having said all this, I don't have a problem with people making mutually beneficial arrangements such as a neighbour who can't keep a dog offering to take your's out in the middle of the day

I had Beagle Barmy's two houndlets for the day yesterday, and she's having mine one evening next week. Beagles aren't as cute as they look, and they come with a whole heap of less endearing qualities that really only another beagle owner deals with as though they're 'normal' or a non-issue. I'd be way less inclined to come to a similar arrangement with an owner of a different breed

I've also allowed our hound to go stay at the house of a hotel receptionist... but that was our wedding day, there were no boarding kennels nearby, and as a samoyed breeder I know she and her family can deal with obstinate dogs

Wrt letting somebody have house keys... I've given mine to LitleMermaid and Litha's daughter to allow us to visit Mr Strix's parents whilst we had a rescue dog here. Both are people we already know and trust, and more importantly know are very dog savvy

Too many people think it's a good idea to set up as a dog walker because 'I love dogs', but I'm sorry - if I don't know how you'd deal with a dog fight, I'm don't think leaving my hound in your care is a good idea ;)

Too many people think it's a good idea to set up as a dog walker because 'I love dogs', but I'm sorry - if I don't know how you'd deal with a dog fight, I'm don't think leaving my hound in your care is a good idea ;)[/QUOTE]


Agreed thats just one of the problems and what about if a dog is off the lead and attacks the dog you are walking? etc
This is one reason we asked Peak vets to cover us when dog walking, small animal boarding or pet sitting.
I am very protective of the dogs i walk , I would probably get bitten as i would do all i could to protect the dog/s in my care.
When we set up we talked to lots of Vets / Police/katie Patmore and yolandi Bosman. We welcomed any animal imput possible, some advice was good some wasn't what we were about !
Having Said that Since Peak vets came into existance lots of our policies have changed for the better as we have greater understanding because of their good insights. We know we need to keep updating our knowledge too which is part of our commitment to good animal care.

A crb check give someone empolying you some peace of mind they aren't employing someone who is going to steal from you or who has a criminal record. Would you want a houseburgler walking your dog while looking at your belongings or even looking at your pet thinking he could have him dog napped and get money from that. Believe me its happend , we have been told lots about incidents like this .

I would never ever employ anyone without these as I am the owner of a dog who was illtreated by a so called pet carer.
I use waggytails as they came recommended through the Police when I made a complaint against the pet carer I had . The Police told us that they knew waggytails and had several officers from there unit whom used Waggytails themselves and were more than happy with the good service they offered.
I was nervous after feeling let down by past carers but my confidence was renewed once I had met with Tina and Dave, who 100% trustworthy, they now alk my dog Max and take my 2 boys to school as a favour as I am housebound, they were certainly more trustworthy than those in the past.
The Police were very helpful to me regarding this matter and I have never looked back, My only worry is for when Tina and Dave go on their holidays but I didn't need to as they have told me that Helen at Animal Crakers is just as good as they are and will walk Max for me daily.
Please listen to advise as this is the smaew as the police told me and it pays off.

But you don't have to have any of the above - if a user of a service prefers it, then so be it.
But i find it a little unfair on here that people are continually brow beaten to do things that they don't legally have to. Having a crb check doesnt make you a good person or a good dog walker. It's an attribute for a company to have but little else.

But you don't have to have any of the above - if a user of a service prefers it, then so be it.
But i find it a little unfair on here that people are continually brow beaten to do things that they don't legally have to. Having a crb check doesnt make you a good person or a good dog walker. It's an attribute for a company to have but little else.


No but the police do recomend it and that to me isn't brow beating anyone and is protecting the vunrable out there, I don't wish to be a kill joy to anyone i just don't want the problems others have had. Also I don't want someone at the police neighbourhood unit ringing us to tell us someone has been taken advantage of again and can we go and fix the mess. To be fair this has happend several times to us and we have had to go and clean up others messes.

No but the police do recomend it and that to me isn't brow beating anyone and is protecting the vunrable out there, I don't wish to be a kill joy to anyone i just don't want the problems others have had. Also I don't want someone at the police neighbourhood unit ringing us to tell us someone has been taken advantage of again and can we go and fix the mess. To be fair this has happend several times to us and we have had to go and clean up others messes.


warning and advising isn't brow beating. Its being resposible to people on here and protecting them.

But you don't have to have any of the above - if a user of a service prefers it, then so be it.
But i find it a little unfair on here that people are continually brow beaten to do things that they don't legally have to. Having a crb check doesnt make you a good person or a good dog walker. It's an attribute for a company to have but little else.

Gets right on my nerves too, every single time someone comes on here advertising animal sitting or walking. I used to board rabbits, people came from as far as York to board their rabbits with me, without asking for any of this. Surely people are intelligent enough to not just let "anyone" into their houses, without having to be warned on here like children! I have 2 current CRB checks, but does that mean you'd give me the keys to your house, or ask me to care for your children without asking further questions or getting to know me first? Credit these forum readers with a little intelligence before you jump on peoples backs, please!

Gets right on my nerves too, every single time someone comes on here advertising animal sitting or walking. I used to board rabbits, people came from as far as York to board their rabbits with me, without asking for any of this. Surely people are intelligent enough to not just let "anyone" into their houses, without having to be warned on here like children! I have 2 current CRB checks, but does that mean you'd give me the keys to your house, or ask me to care for your children without asking further questions or getting to know me first? Credit these forum readers with a little intelligence before you jump on peoples backs, please!


One of the reasons we do this is to protect not have ago , you would be totally surprised how many people do just hand over keys to strangers who don't have any credesails just ring woodseats police and ask for all the incidents they have on record for the last few months which makes interesting reading but really its just a warning nothing else and its not meant to be brow beating or bullying just plain simple protection and I have to say my friend who is a police woman who is a SF person is saying that his thread and others with the same warning is fine.

I guess I'll just have to give up reading them then, cos it just winds me up when these replies appear every single time we have a thread like this. I'm sure I'm not the only one either. Of course the thread is "fine" without having permission from a police officer. It's not against forum rules, as far as I'm aware, just totally looks to me (and I'm sure to others) like a "are you sure you know what you're doing" thread, which appears to me, (and the people who advertise their services probably) to be extremely patronising.

No but the police do recomend it and that to me isn't brow beating anyone and is protecting the vunrable out there, I don't wish to be a kill joy to anyone i just don't want the problems others have had. Also I don't want someone at the police neighbourhood unit ringing us to tell us someone has been taken advantage of again and can we go and fix the mess. To be fair this has happend several times to us and we have had to go and clean up others messes.

The police recommend not allowing someone unknown to have the keys for your house. Officially crb checks offer no protection at all(their words not mine), any theft etc from a crb checked person with keys will invalidate insurance inn some instances.
Being taken advantage of - happens even by nice acceptable and approved people. Just look at the lady with 98 St Bernards.

SpeedDemon: I don't know why this post is annoying you. I think we can commend the current (and very friendly) sitters for their responsibility. It doesn't seem at all like they're trying to wheedle out the competition, but help people to form responsible choices.

I made phone calls and talked to various people before I gave up Zach to Waggy Tails. And I looked at their documentation to prove they were who they said they were. Why, because I love my dog and I can just imagine the things that could happen if they weren't as good as they are.

Not being fed, not being walked, not being properly cared for - these are just the least of bad things that could happen.

True, CRB checks don't mean a lot in the grand scheme of things, but I think they do show a bit more commitment to the job and give you maybe another smidgen of peace of mind.

The police recommend not allowing someone unknown to have the keys for your house. Officially crb checks offer no protection at all(their words not mine), any theft etc from a crb checked person with keys will invalidate insurance inn some instances.
Being taken advantage of - happens even by nice acceptable and approved people. Just look at the lady with 98 St Bernards.


The police advised us when we began looking at this kind of buisness ,that we should have relevant insurance, CRB checks and 100% checkable references. (CRB enhanced checks offer more which my husband andI both have as we work with children also.)
what i am saying to people here these are ways in which to ensure that you employ the right kind of people who you can trust in your home. Its protection for the employers and their pets.
If a CRB isn't worth the paper its written on why is it that every child care worker has to have one, Most nanny agencies will not send a candidate for jobs without a CRB. Police advised again !

We are in the same business as others on here but I have to say I agree with Speed Demon on this one - why treat potential customers like kids and patronise them by assuming they haven't got the brains to think for themselves to ask for these things or make the necessary checks. Every time someone posts that they are setting up a new pet walking or boarding service there is always a set few people who jump on them like a dog with a bone.
If it is of such great concern maybe Admin could lock the thread and ask the OP to post in the pet services section first with their credentials and then unlock the thread enclosing a link.

Yes they are great things to have for peace of mind, though still not a sure fire guarantee you are not going to have problems, but they are not a legal requirement and people dont need it shoving down their throats every time there is a post of this nature. Credit people with some intelligence.

Not been to look yet, but isn't there a sticky in the pet section relating to the employment of people offering their pet services? If so I dont see the need to reiterate it every time someone posts about offering a service.
JMO

Absolutely, you can NEVER guarantee you're going to be problem free. That would be living in cuckoo land.

Thankyou Holidayhutch - I did notice you don't jump in with all these questions. It's always the same people. Incidently, I also think the CRB checks aren't worth the paper they're written on. Didn't Ian Huntley have one? As also, would Beverley Allitt......

When I asked Woodseats police for advice on finding a good dogwalker making a complaint against him for defrauding me and lieing to me about the whereabouts of my dog Max. The desk sargent said to me make sure they have a Insurance,CRB and references which you can check. Incidently the lady behind the desk went onto the police Intrenet which is internal for police use only and gave me waggytails and another walker,
When later went to victim support they also told me the same information . so what does that tell you?

As for Ian huntly having one I am not so sure that CRBs were done like they are now back then? I think you will find that changes to CRB checks were made as a result of what he had done.

Good luck to Bella&alfie I hope you will be very happy wioth your new venture and that all goes well for you in the future.

As for Ian huntly having one I am not so sure that CRBs were done like they are now back then? I think you will find that changes to CRB checks were made as a result of what he had done.Only where children are concerned it would seem. If allegations of theft have been made but unproven, there will be no record

Of course the thread is "fine" without having permission from a police officer. It's not against forum rules, as far as I'm aware, ...Well technically this thread shouldn't exist at all anyway

advertising on sf isn't permitted without going through Geoff, unless all you've done is put your business in your signature

the thread for pets services was started to enable the many forumers here who didn't have websites to carry a signature which explained who they are, as this group used to be a place to find pet advice, which was provided by our knowledgeable members

We used to get random new people posting such things as 'who do you think you are?', or 'how do you know?', so members' sigs linked to the explanation of who they are, and how they know :thumbsup:

That's interesting, I didn't know that. This place can be great for advice, I know I've had some great ideas from here. But some does not appear to be advice, more patronising petty badgering. Not with real badgers of course :suspect:
Also, wrt CRB checks, they can only point out what you've been CAUGHT doing, not what you've actually done, even if you may have burgled hundreds of houses..... by no means are these a safeguard. I have enhanced checks myself, but really don't see the point in them at all.
wrt another thread about this, because i don't agree with the badgering, does that mean i don't care about animals welfare? No, of course it doesn't. It means I think people should be allowed to make their own decisions about who walks their dog (by all means use recomendations) without being brain washed. People should be allowed to start their own businesses if they want to, and good luck to them. Advice to new businesses can always be done by PM, if you REALLY want to help them out - maybe then it would not look like they are being patronised or made to feel small.

If people abided by the rules (which they should have read when they joined) then we wouldn't be having this discussion :rolleyes:

Some of us have very poor memories wrt rules tho - you read thru them and then forget most of them anyway.

That doesn't mean you get to do as you please, which leaves the rest of us irritated at the posts which need to be reported for removal repeatedly

there are no rules against asking for more details from somebody who's advertising on a thread

there are no rules against offering advice to other forumers

Some of us have very poor memories wrt rules tho - you read thru them and then forget most of them anyway.


I have MS what your excuse? forgetting is something that i now do without thinking:)

Strix, i do NOT just "do as i please" as you put it. I find it quite rude of you to imply that. I don't believe I've had posts removed as I'm generally not an antagonistic person. I rarely say anything to wind people up, just sit here whinging at the computer if something bugs me, simply as I don't like to knowingly upset people. So on this occasion I've dared to open my mouth and disagree with those who are "always right" and that's a bad thing? I don't need an excuse to forget, I just don't have a photographic memory for rules, as some people obviously do. Wasn't aware I was breaking any, but as mentioned on other posts in the past (not mine) this forum is only allowed a discussion if you agree with the few people who are always right. That's not "allowing healthy discussion" as far as I'm concerned. Enough said I think. Maybe the mods will close the thread now.

:(I have MS what your excuse? forgetting is something that i now do without thinking:)


Well I could tell you but i don't think it makes this thread anybetter lol
All i was trying to do was rely a message I had been given by the PC i spoke too

Strix, i do NOT just "do as i please" as you put it. I find it quite rude of you to imply that.And I've found your snipes about 'the same people' and 'patronising petty badgering' rather offensive, but chose not accuse you of being 'rude', even though your following assertions were inaccurate to say the least

If you wish to 'enter into debate' then please ensure the 'facts' you are debating are correct, or be prepared to have them challenged

Now if the mod team were enforcing the forum rules, none of this squabbling would be necessary :rolleyes:

Hi everyone, my names Steph. I recently started my own dog walking & pet sitting services up I am insured and CBR checked, as my family also foster children. At the moment I am only able to transport dogs as large as a lab as I am working from my car (new business not a lot of money and don’t want to invest in equipped van just in case this doesn’t take off) although I could walk larger dogs within your local area. I am very passionate about animals I own 3 Springer Spaniels, 2 Jacks, a cat a parrot, rats & ferrets so I have lots of experience with a variety of animals. If there are any services I can provide please do not hesitate to contact me.

I also breed English Springer Spaniels.

www.brambrackspringerspaniels.co.uk
s.crooks@brambrackspringerspaniels.co.uk

Hi everyone, my names Steph. I recently started my own dog walking & pet sitting services up I am insured and CBR checked, as my family also foster children. At the moment I am only able to transport dogs as large as a lab as I am working from my car (new business not a lot of money and don’t want to invest in equipped van just in case this doesn’t take off) although I could walk larger dogs within your local area. I am very passionate about animals I own 3 Springer Spaniels, 2 Jacks, a cat a parrot, rats & ferrets so I have lots of experience with a variety of animals. If there are any services I can provide please do not hesitate to contact me.

I also breed English Springer Spaniels.

www.brambrackspringerspaniels.co.uk
s.crooks@brambrackspringerspaniels.co.uk
Please stop spamming the group now I have given you your own thread, one is enough please do not keep posting duplicate posts!

Please stop spamming the group now I have given you your own thread, one is enough please do not keep posting duplicate posts!

Sorry new to sheffield forum, didnt mean to cause ya bother it wont happen again =-l

Sorry new to sheffield forum, didnt mean to cause ya bother it wont happen again =-l

I know that you are new no worries we all have to learn :)

Hi everyone, just a quick price update and doing loads for new stuff.

Dog walking £7 per hour not including travel thats for one dog £3 per every dog added.
Doggy Day Care £12 per day £50 per week (12 hour days)
Pet Sitting 24 hour £22 per 24 hour, Home Boarding £17 per 24 hour day & Home Visits £10 2x visits.

Fully insured with cliverton, CRB checked due to parents being foster carers & have many references.

Check out my website www.brambrackspringerspaniels.co.uk

Ta Steph