How Do I Know If I’m Ready To Start A Dog Walking And Pet Sitting Business?

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Hey, Ritchie here.

If you’ve ever found yourself daydreaming about swapping the daily grind for a life working with dogs, cats and other beloved pets, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common dreams I hear from people every week — and I completely understand why.

But here’s the question that always follows:
“How do I know if I’m actually ready to start a dog walking or pet sitting business?”

It’s a brilliant question — because loving animals is essential, but running a pet care business takes much more than that. Let’s explore what “ready” really looks like, and I’ll share how you can find out your readiness score today in just five minutes.

The Short Answer

You’re ready to start a professional dog walking or pet sitting business in the UK if:

You love animals deeply and understand their needs.
You’re reliable, organised, and safety-focused.
You’re physically active and comfortable working outdoors in all weather.
You have good communication skills and care about customer trust.

Still not sure? You can find out your personal readiness level instantly using our free 5-minute PHG Quiz — it’ll show where you’re strong and what to work on before you take the leap.

👉 Take the quiz here

What “Being Ready” Really Means

When people first imagine becoming a professional pet carer, they picture the cuddles, the freedom, and the joy of working with animals — and yes, it’s all of that! But the reality is also about consistency, organisation, and responsibility.

Every client is trusting you with something priceless — their pet and their home. That trust can only exist if you’re dependable to the core. Being “ready” means showing up no matter what — rain or shine, tired or not — because animals rely on you every single day.

It also means being safety-minded and proactive. Prevention is always better than cure in this industry — whether that’s checking leads before a walk, double-locking garden gates, or monitoring group behaviour closely.

So if reliability, care, and attention to detail come naturally to you — you’re already partway there.

The Common Challenges New Starters Face

It’s no secret that running a small business can be challenging — and pet care is no exception. It’s rarely the animal care itself that causes difficulties; it’s everything else that comes with running and maintaining a business.

Getting set up, finding clients, and staying on top of admin can quickly become overwhelming without a clear structure or plan. It’s completely understandable — there’s a lot to think about when you’re doing it all on your own.

That’s why having guidance, systems, and a proven framework can make such a difference. It turns what could feel daunting into a manageable, rewarding process where you can focus on what really matters — the pets in your care.

How PHG Makes the Journey Easier

When I started PHG Southampton back in 2018, I didn’t have to figure everything out alone. The PHG franchise blueprint provided the exact roadmap I needed — step-by-step guidance on setup, training, marketing, and day-to-day operations.

Here’s what made the biggest difference:

Clear roadmap: A checklist for everything — from registering your business to handling enquiries.
Professional marketing: PHG managed our Google Ads, website, and graphics, so I could focus on delivering a great service.
Comprehensive training: Covering animal handling, safety, and operations, all refined over more than 13 years of industry experience.
Support network: The PHG forum gives you instant access to advice from experienced franchisees — people who’ve faced every situation you can imagine.

It’s one thing to start a business. It’s another to have a proven framework and community behind you every step of the way.

The “Ready” Mindset

Even with the best systems, running a pet care business still requires a certain mindset. You’ll need to be:

Reliable: A no-show isn’t an option.
Organised: Keeping your diary, routes, and client updates in perfect order.
Communicative: You can never over-communicate in this industry— owners will always want reassurance.
Safety-first: Your wellbeing and the animals’ safety always come first.
Resilient: There will be muddy days, busy weeks, and unexpected challenges — but if you genuinely love animals, none of this should phase you.

These qualities aren’t innate; they grow with experience and the right support.

Test Your Readiness Today

If you’re serious about starting your own pet care business but want to understand where you stand right now, take our free PHG Readiness Quiz.

It’s quick, insightful, and completely tailored to you. In under 5 minutes, you’ll get a personalised score across five areas:

Pet-handling knowledge
Physical and lifestyle fit
Business readiness
Support and structure preference
Financial preparation

At the end, you’ll see which tier you fall into — from Highly Ready to Needs Development — and get tailored advice on your next steps.

👉 Take the quiz now

Whether your results show you’re raring to go or you’ve got a few gaps to fill, you’ll come away with a clear plan for what to focus on next.

Final Thoughts

Running a dog walking and pet sitting business here in the UK is genuinely life-changing. You get to work with animals, build loyal relationships, and shape a lifestyle that gives you freedom and purpose.

But readiness isn’t about perfection — it’s about preparation.

If you love animals, value structure, and prefer following a proven roadmap rather than trial and error, then PHG could be the perfect fit to help you get started.

You can discover your readiness level today in less than five minutes: