Owning a dog isn’t a qualification. And 'guaranteed results' are a joke.
Being professional in the UK dog world means more than loving dogs or shouting the loudest.
You hear it all the time:
- “I’ve had dogs all my life.”
- “I just love them.”
- “I’ve got a natural way with animals.”
Great. But none of that makes you a professional.
On one side, we’ve got hobbyists charging for walks, sits, and training sessions with nothing backing them up except affection. On the other side, we’ve got the self-declared experts promising miracle fixes and guaranteed behaviour turnarounds. Both are a problem. Neither is what the industry needs.
Being around dogs isn’t dog work.
You might have grown up with dogs. You might have six of your own. Doesn’t mean you know how to handle someone else’s dog, on lead, in public, with all the risk that comes with that. If you’re being paid, you’re liable. That means insurance, proper paperwork, understanding the law, and knowing what to do when something goes wrong. Not if. When. Love doesn’t help when a dog bolts into a road, or bites a stranger, or snaps at another dog in the park. You need to know what you're doing. That’s the difference between a pro and an enthusiast.
Training is one thing. Behavioural work is another.
This gets mixed up constantly. Even by people charging for it.
Training is teaching a dog what to do. Sit, stay, recall, lead walking, leave it, settle. It’s structured, usually done with rewards, and suits dogs who are mentally and physically sound. It’s about skills.
Behavioural work is different. It deals with fear, aggression, anxiety, reactivity, guarding, phobias. The big emotional stuff. Dogs that lunge, growl, bite, tremble, panic, shut down. This isn’t about teaching a cue. It’s about helping a dog feel safe in the world again. That’s much harder.
Most of the time, if someone’s advertising behaviour services and they’re not vet-backed, not insured for behavioural work, and not working with a clinical understanding of stress or trauma. They’re winging it. You can’t "train out" trauma. You can’t fix deep behaviour issues with sit, down, stay. And no, your dog doesn’t need to “respect” you more.
Let’s talk about “guaranteed results”.
Here’s a red flag. Any trainer or behaviourist promising guaranteed results isn’t telling the truth.
Behaviour is influenced by:
- Genetics
- Trauma
- Pain
- Environment
- Stress
- The human
- How often the training’s reinforced
- Whether the dog’s even capable of doing what’s asked
There are no guarantees. A good trainer will be honest about that. Behaviour takes time. Sometimes, it doesn’t resolve. Sometimes, it’s about management. Not a cure. So when you see “Guaranteed Results” on a website or Facebook page?
Scroll on. That’s marketing, not reality.
If you're charging, you're accountable.
Doesn’t matter if you’re walking, sitting, training, or handling behavioural cases. If you’re taking money, you owe people a professional service. That means:
Public liability insurance
Relevant qualifications
DBS if entering homes
First aid training
Council licence (in some cases)
Knowing when to refer to a vet or qualified behaviourist
Working within your scope
You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to stop winging it.
This isn’t the new “Can I wash your car?”
Dog walking. Sitting. Training. Behaviour work. It’s become the casual job for people who want a change of pace. Something outdoorsy. With animals. Bit of extra cash. Easy, right?
Wrong.
This isn’t washing someone’s car or watering plants while they’re away. It’s not just popping in for cuddles and a stroll. These are living animals, with risk, emotion, stress, teeth. And a legal liability. You’re not doing someone a favour. You’re being trusted with their dog’s safety and wellbeing.
If you wouldn’t hire a plumber with no tools, no training, and no insurance. Why trust someone with a lead and a smile to handle dogs professionally? This isn’t a side hustle. It’s real work. And if you’re not treating it like that, stop charging people.
What the industry really needs
More people who know when to say, “That’s not my area.”
More walkers who are insured, careful, and transparent.
More trainers who focus on learning, not selling.
More behaviourists who work alongside vets and know their limits.
Less of the amateur fluff. Less of the macho quick-fix nonsense. Dog work is real work. It’s not a hobby. Not a break from burnout. Not something you do because your mates say you’re good with animals. And if you’re promising miracles… stop it. That’s not professionalism. It’s just sales with a dog on a lead.
How to Find a Proper Behaviourist in the UK
If your dog’s struggling with serious issues such as fear, aggression, anxiety, reactivity, guarding, anything complex or emotional. You need more than a trainer. You need a behaviourist. And not just someone calling themselves one. Look for a behaviourist registered with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC). These people meet national standards, work alongside vets, and are trained to handle complex behavioural cases.
You can check the register here: www.abtc.org.uk. If they’re not on that list, ask why. And if they guarantee results? Walk away.
How to Check if a Dog Sitter or Boarder Is Council Registered
Anyone offering dog boarding, day care, or home sitting in their own home must be licensed by their local council. It’s the law under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) Regulations 2018.
Here’s how to check:
Ask them for their council licence number and which council issued it. If they’re legit, they’ll show you.
Go to the website of their local council. Most have a searchable register of licensed animal activities.
Contact the council directly if you can't find it online. They can confirm whether the person is licensed.
Check the rating. Councils rate businesses 1 to 5 stars based on welfare standards.
No licence then walk away. Doesn’t matter how nice their house looks or how many clients say they’re great. No licence means they’re not operating legally. And insurance won’t cover you if something goes wrong…
Conclusion
Loving dogs is a great place to start. But if you're charging for dog walking, sitting, training, or behaviour work, there’s more to it than good intentions. Clients are putting their trust in you and that comes with responsibility.
Likewise, if you're offering training or behaviour services, it's important to stay honest about what’s possible. Dogs are individuals. There are no quick fixes and no guarantees.
The UK dog industry is full of people doing things properly. Learning, improving, staying accountable. That’s what the dogs need. That’s what the clients deserve. So whether you're just starting out or you've been doing it for years, take the work seriously.
Keep learning. Know your limits. And do right by the dogs in your care.
A bit about me - Author Bio
Dog trainer in active practice, fully insured and a professional member of the Pet Professional Guild (PPG). Currently working towards ABTC accreditation, gundog training qualification, and City & Guilds scent detection certification, with some assessments still to complete. I focus on practical, ethical methods rooted in real experience. No hype, no guarantees, just honest ongoing work with dogs and their humans.
