09/02/2026
Evening all,
As many of you have been aware for some time the proposed Bristol Dog Walking Licensing is coming into effect. Although the specifics of this license has been changed multiple times they are planning to go ahead and rolling it out on April 1st (admittedly the whole thing feels like an ill tasted poorly executed April Fool prank).
The Council will be introducing a licensing system that will apply to commercial dog walking services. This means that, if walking dogs in Bristol City Council parks or green spaces is part of how we operate, we will need to hold a licence to continue working there. As well as the additional cost of the actual licence there is also a requirement to unnecessarily increase our liability insurance ten fold!!
Even more concerning, there are changes to the maximum number of dogs allowed per group walk — now moving toward a limit of 4 dogs per walker instead of the previous 6 we are currently insured for. Unbelievably the council have also said we aren’t to use the public bins, they have said we are to dispose of the p**p ourselves.
To be upfront — we’re are obviously not happy about the increased cost and reduced group size. These changes make running a small dog walking business more expensive and potentially reduce flexibility for our clients... you!!
Here’s what it means for you and your dog:
• Smaller group walks — up to 4 dogs together, not 6
• We will be limited to 7 parks per year that we must allocate at the time of applying.
• Walks will still be enjoyable and well-structured — but may be scheduled differently to allow your dog the walks they’re used to.
• There may be changes to pricing or availability later in the year, depending on how licensing fees are set.
These decisions were made without consulting Bristol City Councils, Animal Health team. The dog wardens were not included in any discussions or decisions regarding this new dog walking license.
I genuinely love walking your dogs, and I’m committed to continuing reliable, safe service. I’ll also keep you updated if the council confirms final licence fees and details.
Thank you so much for your patience and support — we’re doing our best to adapt while keeping costs and disruption to a minimum. If you have any questions or concerns, please do get in touch.
Alternatively If you would like to contact Bristol City Council regarding this matter please send concerns to [email protected];
Head of parks and green spaces or/ and
[email protected]
If you would like to read up about this madness
https://www.bristol.gov.uk/residents/museums-parks-sports-and-culture/parks-and-open-spaces/what-you-can-do-in-our-parks-and-green-spaces/business-activities-parks-green-spaces/business-licensing-outdoor-activities-dog-walking
Best wishes,
Sam
Poochie Adventures
❤️🐾💙
