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Dog Walking Risk Assessment — Generated Instantly for £29
A dog walking risk assessment is legally required under UK health and safety law if you walk dogs professionally — whether self-employed or employing others. Describe your dog walking operation and we generate a fully written, compliant assessment covering animal behaviour, lone working, traffic hazards, and public liability in minutes.
Used by self-employed dog walkers, pet care businesses, and franchised dog walking companies across the UK
🐕 Walking multiple dogs at once? Mention how many you handle on a single walk and we'll include group control measures, lead management protocols, and the specific risks of handling multiple animals in public spaces and near traffic.
Legal requirements for dog walkers
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 applies to all self-employed people and employers. If you walk dogs for payment, you have a legal duty to assess the risks to yourself, any employees, and members of the public. Section 3(1) of the Act specifically extends this duty to protecting people not in your employment — including dog owners, other pedestrians, and anyone who may be affected by your work.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require every employer and self-employed person to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks. Regulation 3(1) states that this assessment must identify the measures needed to comply with health and safety law. For dog walkers, this means documenting how you manage risks from lone working, animal behaviour, traffic, weather exposure, and physical injury.
Many local authorities require a written risk assessment as part of your dog walking business licence. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 places a duty of care on anyone responsible for an animal, and councils interpret this to include demonstrating that you have assessed and controlled risks during dog walking activities. Public liability insurers also routinely request sight of your risk assessment when underwriting cover.
The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and subsequent amendments create criminal liability if a dog is dangerously out of control in a public place. While the Act primarily addresses dog owners, professional dog walkers have been prosecuted under Section 3 where they failed to maintain adequate control. A written risk assessment demonstrating your control measures — lead protocols, muzzling requirements, recall training — provides critical evidence of due diligence.
How it works
1. Describe your operation
Tell us how many dogs you walk at once, the locations you use (parks, streets, countryside, beaches), whether you work alone, whether you use a vehicle, and any specific risks such as off-lead walking, water access, or proximity to livestock. The more detail you provide, the more specific your assessment will be.
2. Let the app take the strain
Anyrisks produces a fully written, UK-compliant dog walking risk assessment referencing the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and other relevant legislation including the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
3. Instant download and use
Download as PDF and Word. Submit it to your local council for licensing, share it with clients, provide it to your insurer, or file it for compliance purposes. £29, no subscription, money-back guarantee within 24 hours if you're not satisfied.
What it covers
Every dog walking risk assessment is written in full — covering all animal, environmental, and public safety hazards relevant to your business.
Dog aggression — towards other dogs, people, or wildlife
Dog escape and failure to recall when off-lead
Traffic hazards — walking near roads, crossing streets, urban environments
Lone working — check-in procedures, mobile phone access, emergency contacts
Manual handling — lifting dogs into vehicles, restraining large or aggressive animals
Slips, trips and falls — uneven terrain, mud, ice, leads tangling
Water hazards — rivers, ponds, beaches, canals
Adverse weather — heat exhaustion in summer, hypothermia in winter
Bites and scratches to the dog walker or members of the public
Zoonotic disease — leptospirosis, ringworm, parasites
Interaction with livestock — sheep, cattle, horses in rural areas
Public liability — damage to property, injury to third parties
Vehicle use — transporting dogs, loading and unloading safely
First aid — for dog walkers and emergency care for injured dogs
Works for
From sole traders walking two or three dogs at a time to franchised businesses with multiple employees, Anyrisks covers every type of dog walking operation.
What customers say
"I needed a risk assessment for my council licence application. Anyrisks covered lone working, group control, and traffic hazards — exactly what the licensing officer asked for. Saved me hours."
Emma L.
Self-employed dog walker, Bristol
"We walk up to six dogs at a time in Richmond Park. The assessment covered off-lead risks, deer interaction, and emergency procedures. My insurer accepted it immediately."
James T.
Dog walking business owner, London
"I walk reactive dogs one-to-one, often muzzled. The assessment included specific controls for aggressive behaviour and lone working. Clients appreciate the professionalism."
Sophie M.
Specialist dog walker, Manchester
Anyrisks vs DIY templates
| Anyrisks | DIY / Templates | |
|---|---|---|
| Written in full — not a blank form | ✓ | ✗ |
| Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 referenced | ✓ | ✗ |
| Covers lone working, traffic, and animal behaviour | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tailored to your number of dogs and locations | ✓ | ✗ |
| Accepted by councils for licensing | ✓ | Sometimes |
| Public liability and insurance-ready | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ready in under 2 minutes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Instant PDF and Word download | ✓ | Sometimes |
Frequently asked questions
Do I legally need a dog walking risk assessment?
Yes — if you're self-employed as a dog walker or run a dog walking business, the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires you to assess the risks to yourself, your employees, and the public. Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requires a suitable and sufficient written risk assessment for all work activities.
Does it cover lone working as a dog walker?
Yes — mention that you work alone and the assessment will include lone working controls such as check-in procedures, mobile phone access, first aid provision, and emergency contact arrangements. Lone working is a significant risk in dog walking and must be documented.
What about multiple dogs on one walk?
Describe how many dogs you typically walk together and the assessment will address group control measures, lead management, recall training requirements, and the risks of dog aggression or escape when handling multiple animals simultaneously.
Does it cover different walk locations — parks, streets, countryside?
Yes — describe the locations where you walk dogs (urban streets, public parks, woodland, beaches, farmland) and the assessment will cover location-specific hazards including traffic, water hazards, livestock, uneven terrain, and public interaction risks.
Is it accepted by local councils and pet insurance companies?
Anyrisks produces a professional, regulation-referenced risk assessment in the format expected by local authority licensing teams, pet insurance underwriters, and clients. Many councils require a written risk assessment as part of your dog walking business licence application.
Can I edit it after I download it?
Yes — you receive both PDF and editable Word formats. You can add your business branding, adjust controls to reflect your specific procedures, or update it as your business or working practices change.
Does it cover public liability and insurance requirements?
The risk assessment documents the hazards and controls that reduce your liability exposure — dog bites, property damage, traffic incidents, and injury to yourself or others. Insurers often request sight of your risk assessment when underwriting public liability cover for dog walkers.
How long does it take to generate?
Under 2 minutes. Describe your dog walking operation — number of dogs, locations, whether you work alone, vehicle use — and Anyrisks produces a complete, UK-compliant dog walking risk assessment instantly.
Also see: The Ultimate Guide to Risk Assessment · Do I Need a Risk Assessment? · Risk Assessment Legal Requirements · Risk Assessment Generator