What should I name my dog walking business?

If you’re just starting up and wondering “What should I name my dog walking business?” you may be thinking that all the best dog walking business names have been taken. (Hairy Poppins might be my personal all-time favourite although caNine to Five comes a close second…)

You may want to incorporate your own name, your town/village name into the business, or even your dog’s name. You’ve probably got a few options that you’re thinking about already.

What should I check?

Local area

The first thing to check is your competition and local network. Check that no one locally has called themselves a similar name to the one you’re considering. Not everyone has a Facebook page so check websites and google maps for other local walkers too. 

Very few people trademark their business name but staying friends with your local competitors can lead to networking opportunities that will benefit everyone. So if you, Mr White, wanted to call yourself White’s walkies but 3 miles away there are a Whyte’s walkies, then maybe it’s time for a rethink.

If, however, Whyte’s walkies were 50 miles away then it’s unlikely you’ll be mistaken for each other and it’ll be safe to use (unless trademarked).

Trademarks

You can check if a name has been trademarked here: https://www.gov.uk/search-for-trademark 

Domain name

Is it available? Studies have shown that if a client remembers your name but not your website they’re more likely to search yourname.com first even if they’re in the UK, so you’ll reach more clients if the .com is available than you would by taking the co.uk

I use Namecheap to search and buy my domain names. If you’re not confident with website building and just want a simpler drag and drop website Weebly is excellent for beginners.

Social Media accounts

Is the name available on all the social media platforms you want to use to promote your business? Facebook use might be on the decline but lots of people still use it, especially for local groups and recommendations. 

Instagram is still popular for daily photos of your walks but TikTok is king of the video, despite Instagram reels and youtube shorts.

Marketing 

Google

The most common way that a client finds a dog walking service online is to google “dog walker near me” so making sure your location is set on every social media account and website will be key to being found.

Google’s algorithms are far more advanced than they were even ten years ago so it’s no longer as important to include your area in your business name or website address. This actually helps you if, in the future, you expand into another area.

Spelling

The average reading age in the Uk is 9 years old so ensuring your business name is easy to remember and easy to spell if someone searches for it is essential. Having to explain it’s K9 rather than canine (or the other way around) can get old really fast.

Vehicles

If you’re planning on signwriting your van for some mobile advertising then ensure your business name fits on the van, along with the website name or Facebook page details. ‘Whytes wicked walks’ is better than ‘Ron Whytes wonderfully wicked walking services, Winchester’

Most marketers advise no more than three words in a business name and shorter is better so that people can remember it, the letters can be bigger on the van if there are fewer of them and if you’re paying per letter at the signwriters then it’ll be cheaper too!

What about a logo?

If you’re just looking for a simple outline or pawprint to go alongside your business name then free vector images for commercial use can be found at pixabay.com

If you’re after something more unique and bespoke then I’d recommend looking at Fiverr. Here you can search for a logo designer who will create something just for you and it won’t cost a fortune. Fiverr is also a great place to find someone to write ‘copy’ for your website (all the words) or even design and build your entire website. Be sure to check out the seller’s reviews before you contact them and their expected timescales to supply the work to you.

Negative connections

Some words (and images for logos) have negative connections in 2022 and may put people off from contacting you or using your business.

That said, some of these words and images might attract the type of clients you want to cater for.

As long as you’re aware of it and choose to use the words or images, rather than accidentally using an image that represents your business in a way you did not intend.

For example, there is a campaign currently to stop the importation of dogs with cropped ears into the UK, and cropping the ears of dogs born in the UK is already illegal. So if your logo contains an image of a dog with cropped ears, or you own a dog with cropped ears that you use photos of for marketing purposes, then you need to be aware that this may put some people off using you (and encourage others). 

There is a well-known dog trainer who had a dog with cropped ears who would constantly have to explain that her dog was a rescue in order to reduce the online abuse she would receive each time she used his image to promote herself.

Some words also have an old fashioned and more ‘aggressive’ tone to them. Again, if you choose to use these words in your business name or marketing that’s fine, but if that’s not how you want to be perceived then maybe avoid them.

For example, the word ‘pack’ or ‘pack leader’ is very outdated and has connections with old fashioned and harsh trainers. The same goes for ‘Alpha’ and ‘Whisperer’.

What should I name my dog walking business?

Your business name should attract the type of clients who will be a good fit for you and represent yourself accurately. ‘Fiona’s fluffies’ is unlikely to attract a steady stream of Dobermanns, whereas ‘Bob’s Bullies’ won’t be walking any Chihuahuas. Imagine what your ideal client looks like and aim for them.

Click to read our full guide on How to Start a Successful Dog Walking Business in 2022