21/06/2026
🐾 An honest look at the dog services industry right now…
This post isn’t aimed at the person looking for help in the screenshot. They’re simply trying to find care for their dog, which is completely fair.
But the screenshot does highlight something very real: the dog walking and pet care industry is now extremely saturated.
One local post asking for a dog walker received 73 replies. Yes, some of those replies will be people tagging other businesses, but it still puts the current situation into perspective.
When I first started in this industry, there were already plenty of dog walkers and pet service providers around. But it is nothing like it is today.
The demand is definitely there. According to PDSA’s 2025 Animal Wellbeing data, 30% of UK adults own a dog, with an estimated 11.1 million pet dogs in the UK — a record high.
More dogs, busier households, and people returning to work have all helped grow the need for dog care.
But more demand has also meant more providers entering the market.
On paper, more choice sounds great for dog owners. But when dozens of services are competing for the same enquiry, it can create real problems for the industry.
Price can become the main focus instead of suitability, safety, experience, structure and welfare.
New providers may feel forced to charge less just to get bookings.
Established professional services can end up being compared against hobby-level prices.
Owners can feel overwhelmed and may choose based on immediate availability rather than the best fit for their dog.
And businesses cutting prices too far still have to cover fuel, insurance, vehicle costs, secure field hire, training, equipment, cleaning, admin time, cancellations, and the huge responsibility of caring for someone else’s dog.
The UK average dog walking price is often quoted around £10–£20 per hour, but that figure doesn’t tell the full story.
A basic local walk, a structured group session, a solo session, secure-field exercise, transport, behaviour management, and a professionally run dog service are not all the same thing.
This is why pricing in this industry can’t become a race to the bottom.
The Scottish Government has already recognised that the growth in commercial dog walking has brought concerns around dog numbers, transport, experience, control, welfare, and accountability.
That alone shows how much the industry has changed — and why standards matter more than ever.
Dog care isn’t just “taking dogs out for a run”.
It’s responsibility.
It’s safety.
It’s judgement.
It’s understanding dogs as individuals.
It’s knowing when to step in, when to give space, and when a dog needs something different.
Competition itself isn’t a bad thing. There are many good dog professionals out there doing things properly.
But oversaturation can become a problem when it pushes prices down, lowers standards, or makes professional dog care look like something anyone can just throw together overnight.
For owners, our advice is simple:
Ask questions.
Ask about insurance, transport, group sizes, introductions, behaviour knowledge, emergency plans, cancellation policies, and where your dog is actually being exercised.
The cheapest option isn’t always the safest.
And the most available option isn’t always the right fit.
The future of dog care should be about higher standards, not lower prices.
🐾
