Dog walking insurance

Public liability insurance

In case your dog walking business causes an injury or property damage.

What’s typically covered by public liability insurance for dog walkers?

Claims against your business for:

• damage to someone’s property, because of your dog walking business
• an injury caused by your business activities
• accidental damage or injury caused by your employee, if you have one

If you do employ anyone, you’re usually required by law to have employers’ liability insurance too.

For example:

• while out on a walk a horse kicks the dog in your care, causing serious stomach injuries
• you’re rushing to get to the next client and shut a dog’s paw in the door while loading them into the car

Read more about public liability insurance

Employers’ liability insurance

In case something happens to an employee while they’re working for your dog walking business.

What’s typically covered by employers’ liability insurance?

Claims against your business for:

• an injury or illness that comes as a result of working for you (including temps and casual workers)

**Employers’ liability insurance is required by law if you have people working for you. Without it, you could be fined up to £2,500 a day for each employee.**

For example:

• one of your employees trips over a pothole while out on a walk, breaking their foot
• a temp you’ve hired traps their hand in a dog cage while loading the car, causing a deep cut that requires stitches

Stock insurance

In case the supplies you rely on are lost, stolen or damaged.

What’s typically covered by stock insurance?

• loss, damage or theft of the essentials you keep in stock, like dog food, spare leads and cleaning supplies

For example:

• a flood in your storeroom destroys six months’ worth of specialist dog food, which you’ve just picked up from the vet

Read more about stock insurance

Business and office equipment insurance

In case something happens to equipment like your laptop.

What’s typically covered by business and office equipment insurance?

• theft of the equipment you use to run your business, like your phone or laptop
• accidental loss of your equipment
• flood, fire or accidental damage

For example:

• someone breaks into your home office and steals your laptop
• your client spills coffee on your phone during an at-home orientation

Read more about business and office equipment insurance

Legal expenses insurance

In case you’re faced with legal costs while running your dog walking business.

What’s typically covered by legal expenses insurance?

• legal costs associated with day-to-day operations, like an employee dispute
• property damage, nuisance or trespass and associated legal costs
• HMRC, tax and compliance issues, if they come up
• includes a tax advice helpline, a 24/7 confidential legal helpline and crisis support to help you protect your reputation, as a highly recommended dog walker

For example:

• you run into a dispute with your client, who is refusing to pay an invoice
• a Christmas temp you’ve hired brings a case against you for unfair dismissal

Read more about legal expenses insurance

Personal accident insurance

In case you or anyone you’ve covered has an accident at work, or elsewhere..

What’s typically covered by personal accident insurance?

• injury or death of anyone you’ve chosen to cover in your policy – whether this happens at work or elsewhere
• lost income, hospital bills or other medical costs associated with the accident

For example:

• you trip over one of the dogs at work and break your wrist
• two dogs in your care are fighting, and you break several bones in your hand trying to separate them

Read more about personal accident insurance

Which type of workers do I need insurance for?

Employers’ liability insurance is a legal requirement if you employ people.

If you have people working for you, including bona fide subcontractors (BFSC), labour-only subcontractors (LOSC), part-timers, or full-time staff, employers’ liability insurance is required by law.

Read on for our simplified guide to the difference between labour-only subcontractors and bona fide subcontractors.

Does dog walking insurance cover my work correctly?

Make sure you’re picking the right cover to protect you properly. It’s important to know that if you have another trade or job, you’ll need additional cover. For example, do you need to consider pet business insurance or cleaning insurance?

Do I need cover for other types of work?

If you provide these services alongside your work, make sure you’re covered:

• Dog breeders insurance
• Dog grooming insurance
• [Dog beautician](https://Quote form only)
• Pet shop insurance

Other types of insurance

• Limited company insurance
• Self-employed insurance
• Freelance insurance
• Consultant insurance
• Sole trader insurance

Which public liability cover limit should I choose?

Think about the maximum possible loss your business could face in the event of a claim, and make sure you take legal fees and damages into consideration. You can choose from three levels of coverage – £1 million, £2 million, or up to £5 million.