Top 5 Essential dog walking items for new start ups

It’s possible to start with less (we even wrote an article on how to start with nothing) but if I were starting a new dog walking business today then these are my top 5 items that I would classify as essential to get before starting.

Poo Bags

Just the same way you have a favourite burner on the cookertop, you’re going to discover you have a favourite poo bag brand.

None of your cheap nappy sack nonsense for you, no fingernails making holes through cheap brands, no ripped handles as you tie them off. You’re going to find your own, preferred brand and you’ll be loyal to them for years.

For me, you can’t beat an extra strong, extra thick, extra large Tidy Z brand bag. I’m going to be distraught if they ever discontinue them. I know they’re not biodegradable but no one’s perfect (plus the bins you deposit your bags into are rarely lined with compostable bin liners anyway so those expensive compostable poo bags are sat inside a plastic bin liners in landfill unfortunately)

Looking for ideas on how to carry multiple bags at a time, check out our other article here on some of the best ways to carry poo bags.

Footwear

Good footwear is essential to keep your feet and legs healthy as you cover miles on a daily basis, and in addition to the fact that they need to fit, feel comfortable and be affordable, they also need to last.

I must have bought 5 pairs of cheap boots in my first year walking once I’d worn through the trainers I already had. Trying to save money on footwear is futile. It’s much better to find a brand and style that fit you the best. Everyone will be different as everyone walks differently and over different terrain, so although it’s tempting to ask on forums for other pro walkers recommendations, it might not be that helpful to see what 14 stone 6ft2 Kevin wears over the Brecon Beacons when you’re 8 stone, 5 ft and walking in Hyde Park.

Brands you’ll see mentioned a lot are;

MuckBoots

People either love these or hate them, They’re very much a Marmite brand of footwear with mixed reports of them either lasting for years or falling apart in 6 weeks.

Salomon Walking Boots

Not cheap but if they fit you well then you’ll see a lot of positive reviews recommending them.

Merrells

Merrells are another brand you’ll see mentioned a lot especially when asking about summer footwear. Merrell moabs seem to be a firm favourite among walkers.

Whichever you decide to buy, remember to claim *some* of your pairs on expenses (see our allowable expenses guide for more info)

Leads

You might not imagine an owner’s choice of lead to be super important when first starting out but after dealing with a range of extendable leads, uncomfortable nylon leads and ragged, old, about to unravel leads, you’ll be glad to invest in your own.

I’m a big fan of the halti training lead. I think it’s comfortable to hold even if you’re being propelled along by 4 dogs, and being able to change the length of the lead depending on what dog you’re walking is an absolute gift.

They come in 2 sizes, I use the smaller one up to a cockerpoo and then switch to the thicker, larger one.

TOP TIP: buy the red ones, not the black ones, as they’re easier to find if you drop one on a walk 🙂

If you don’t like the halti training leads you can check out our top picks for leads here for alternatives.

Treats

Rewarding behaviour that you want and like is the key to a happy dog walk. When you’re walking dogs that are new, don’t know you and have no history with you, the only way to make sure you have value to the dog and have them listen to you is to reward them, and the best reward for 99% of dogs is FOOD!

Our top choice for treats is the dried sprat. Because it’s natural, dogs on raw diets can have them, easy to carry in a pouch or bag, lightweight, keep for ages and it’s very rare that a dog might be allergic to fish. This makes it ideal for dog walkers. It’s also super high value, I’ve never had a dog turn his nose up at a spray.

Buy sprats on Amazon

Insurance

At around £10 per month, payable monthly, you’d be foolish not to have it in place before you start, or at least use the income from your first client’s dog walk to pay for it.

In our article “Why do dog walkers need insurance?” we cover all aspects of why it’s so important to have in place as a pro dog walker.

TLDR: Pro dog walkers essential dog walking items

1. Poo bags
2. Good footwear
3. Leads
4. Treats
5. Insurance