When researching how to get started as a dog sitter, Amelia Jewels of St. Albans discovered Barking Mad and bought a franchise
Are you feeling disillusioned by the corporate world and would love to work with dogs? Would you like to know how to get started as a dog sitter? As the UK & Ireland’s leading dog care franchise, we know a thing or two about dog sitting and have a large business community who love dogs as much as you do. We look at where to begin and what you should consider below.
What qualifications do you need to be a dog sitter?
You may love dogs and be a responsible/caring person, but is that enough? In the UK you don’t currently have to have qualifications to be a pet sitter but they can be advantageous! Qualifications and training in areas such as pet first aid, dog behaviour or animal care will all improve your professional standing and reputation. They will also help you to stand out from the competition. At Barking Mad, our new franchise business owners complete an initial training course. This includes sessions taught by our in-house APDT accredited dog behaviourist and a vet administered dog first aid course.
Do you need a license to dog sit?
The introduction of the Animal Activities Licensing Regulations happened in October 2018 in England. If you wish to dog sit away from the dog’s own home, it is vital that you make contact with your local council’s licensing team. Make sure that you know what is legally required where you live, to provide this service. You should also consider the support you’ll need to ensure that all the dogs you care for enjoy a happy and healthy stay.
Barking Mad and all our independently owned and managed branches across the UK and Ireland are fully compliant. We continue to provide the very highest quality service and have worked since 2000 to professional unrivalled standards to ensure dogs in our care are happy, healthy and safe. Barking Mad’s systems and operations are also ISO9001 accredited, ensuring compliance to our excellent Quality Management System (QMS).
Do I need insurance to be a dog sitter?
Having public liability insurance is vital in case a dog in your care is injured, causes injury to someone else or damages someone’s property. If you employ other workers, you must also include employer’s liability cover in your policy. Dog sitting insurance provides important peace of mind for both you and your customers.
How much does a dog sitter earn?
The services provided by dog sitters differ greatly and so do the amounts which they earn. As an independent dog sitter, your earnings will be limited by the number of dogs you can look after under licensing regulations. However, as a dog sitting franchise owner with an organisation like Barking Mad, you would recruit a team of carefully chosen host families to care for dogs, coordinating transport and dog holidays.
Working with dogs can be a dream come true for animal lovers
Getting started as a dog sitter with Barking Mad
Would you like a career with flexibility, a growing income and a rewarding business which allows you to make a really positive difference to the lives of dogs and their human companions? If so, a Barking Mad franchise could be just the solution for you! Why not let us help you get started as a dog sitter? We have nearly 20 years of experience in the industry, a respected brand name and multi award-winning systems and support. This all makes it much easier than starting out alone!
Our website has a dedicated section all about buying a Barking Mad dog sitting franchise. Why not take a look and find out if we can make the dream of owning your own dog business a reality? We would be delighted to welcome you to one of our free discovery open days, where you can meet our team. The Lake District and the Midlands are regular venues for these informal events.
Book a slot to talk to Rachel Stewart and confirm your place
