Booking pet care is about more than finding the lowest price or the closest provider.

You are trusting someone with a member of your family. Your dog may be staying in their home, entering their vehicle, walking in public places or receiving care in your own home.

That is why credentials matter.

Licensing, insurance, DBS checks, training and experience can all help you make a safer, more informed choice. They do not remove every risk. However, they provide important reassurance and show that a provider takes their responsibilities seriously.

Start by checking the service you are booking

Different services have different requirements.

A dog boarder who welcomes dogs into their own home may need a boarding licence. A dog walker may not need one. A pet sitter visiting your home may not require a boarding licence either, but should still have suitable insurance, experience and clear safety procedures.

Before booking, identify exactly what the provider will do:

• Will your dog stay in the provider’s home?
• Will your dog stay in a kennel or boarding establishment?
• Will your dog receive day care?
• Will the provider visit your home?
• Will they walk your dog alone or with other dogs?
• Will they transport your dog?
• Will they administer medication?
• Will they care for several animals at once?

The answer affects which checks are relevant.

Do not choose based only on price, availability or the size of a provider’s online profile. A polished profile and plenty of reviews can be helpful, but they do not replace evidence of proper credentials.

Check whether a dog boarder needs a licence

If a provider offers commercial dog boarding, licensing may be a legal requirement.

England

In England, a business offering or arranging dog boarding generally needs an animal activity licence from the relevant local authority. This can include:

• Boarding kennels
• Dog boarding in the provider’s home
• Dog day care
• Businesses arranging boarding for other people’s dogs

A provider looking after dogs in the dog’s usual home, such as an in-home pet sitter, is generally outside the boarding licence requirements. Dog walking alone is also not normally a licensable boarding activity.

However, the details matter. A provider may describe their service as “sitting” when dogs are actually staying at their home. Ask clear questions about where your dog will sleep and spend the day.

The official GOV.UK guidance on boarding cats and dogs in England explains when a licence is required. Local authorities inspect premises and may set limits on the number of dogs, accommodation, exercise, staffing, records and emergency procedures.

Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Licensing rules are not identical across the UK.

Wales and Scotland operate under different arrangements, generally involving the local authority and the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963. Boarding in a private home, kennels and some day-care services may require a licence, but you should check the exact circumstances with the relevant council.

In Northern Ireland, commercial boarding establishments are licensed through DAERA. The position for home-from-home boarding is more complex, so owners and providers should contact DAERA directly for current guidance.

You can find official information through:

• Animal boarding establishment licence: Wales and Scotland
• Animal boarding establishment licence: Northern Ireland
• Your local council’s licensing or animal welfare team

How to verify a boarding licence

Ask the provider:

“Do you need a licence for the service you provide, and can I have the licence number?”

A legitimate licensed provider should be comfortable answering.

You can then:

1. Contact the relevant local authority or licensing body.
2. Ask whether the provider and premises are licensed for the service offered.
3. Confirm that the licence is current.
4. Check any stated limits, such as the maximum number of dogs.
5. Ask whether the licence covers the actual address where your dog will stay.

In England, licensed providers should display their licence number in advertising and on their premises. A licence is not a substitute for your own judgement, but it is an important foundation for safe boarding.

Ask for suitable commercial pet-care insurance

Insurance is another essential question.

There is no single insurance policy that is suitable for every type of pet-care work. A provider should have current, specialist commercial cover that matches the services they offer.

Useful areas of cover may include:

Public liability

This can help protect the provider if a member of the public is injured or property is damaged in connection with their business.

For example, a dog may knock someone over during a walk or damage property while being transported.

Care, custody and control of animals

This type of cover is designed for situations where an animal is in the provider’s care. Depending on the policy, it may cover risks such as injury, illness, escape or loss.

The exact wording varies significantly between insurers.

Cover for entering a client’s home

A pet sitter may need cover for risks associated with working inside a customer’s property. This may include accidental damage, lost keys or other business-related incidents.

Vehicle cover

If a provider transports pets, they should check that their motor insurance permits this activity and that the vehicle is suitable for animal transport.

Employers’ liability

This may be required if the provider employs staff. It is separate from public liability and animal care cover.

Ask the provider:

• Which insurer provides your cover?
• Is the policy current?
• Does it cover the specific service I am booking?
• Does it cover animals in your care, custody or control?
• Does it cover transport, group walks or home visits?
• Are there exclusions I should know about?
• Can you provide evidence of cover?

A screenshot or logo alone may not tell you enough. Policy wording matters. Cover that is suitable for dog walking may not automatically cover overnight boarding, grooming or transporting animals.

Consider a DBS check for in-home pet care

A DBS check can be a useful additional trust signal when someone enters or stays in your home.

This is particularly relevant for:

• Overnight pet sitters
• House sitters
• Dog walkers collecting keys from your property
• Providers who may be present when children or vulnerable adults are at home

However, a DBS check is not automatically a legal requirement for every pet sitter or dog walker. Typical animal-care roles are not generally eligible for Standard or Enhanced DBS checks simply because they involve working with pets.

A provider may choose to obtain a Basic DBS check. According to GOV.UK guidance on criminal record checks, a Basic check can show unspent convictions and conditional cautions.

A DBS check is also not a guarantee of safety. It reflects available criminal record information at the time of the check. It does not confirm someone’s experience, reliability, handling ability or suitability for your particular dog.

Treat it as one part of a wider assessment.

Look for training, experience and an emergency plan

Training is especially important when a provider will handle dogs in unfamiliar environments.

Ideally, look for experience or training in:

• Pet first aid
• Safe dog handling
• Canine body language and behaviour
• Welfare and enrichment
• Road and vehicle safety
• Managing dogs around people and other animals
• Medication handling
• Emergency procedures

Training is not always a legal requirement for dog walkers or in-home pet sitters. It is a valuable professional standard.

Ask how the provider would respond if your dog:

• Escaped
• Became ill or injured
• Was involved in a fight
• Refused food or medication
• Was frightened by fireworks or loud noises
• Needed urgent veterinary treatment
• Could not be returned home as planned

A responsible provider should have a clear emergency contact process and veterinary plan. They should also ask you for your dog’s usual vet details, medical history, medication instructions and emergency contact information.

Use this practical pre-booking checklist

Before confirming care, work through the following list.

Identify the service

Confirm whether you are booking boarding, day care, walking, home sitting, grooming, training or another service.

Check licensing

Ask whether the service requires a licence in your area. If it does, request the licence number and verify it with the relevant council or licensing authority.

Check insurance

Confirm that the provider has current commercial pet-care insurance relevant to the service. Ask about public liability and care, custody and control cover.

Ask about DBS checks

For in-home care, ask whether the provider has a Basic DBS check. Remember that this is an additional reassurance, not a complete safety guarantee.

Ask about training and experience

Find out how long they have worked with animals and whether they have pet first-aid, handling or behaviour training.

Discuss practical arrangements

Ask about:

• The number of dogs cared for at once
• Group walks
• Off-lead walking
• Transport
• Collection and drop-off
• Medication
• Feeding
• Sleeping arrangements
• Emergency veterinary care
• Backup arrangements if the provider is unavailable

Read genuine reviews

Look for detailed reviews that mention communication, reliability, animal welfare and how the provider handled unexpected situations.

Arrange a meet-and-greet

Your dog’s behaviour matters. A meet-and-greet lets you see how the provider interacts with your pet and gives you a chance to ask questions in person.

Use secure booking and payment

Keep the booking, price, cancellation terms and care instructions in writing. Use secure payment methods and avoid sending money through informal channels without clear confirmation of the service.

How My Pet Pal helps you book with greater confidence

My Pet Pal is building a trusted pet-care ecosystem for owners and professionals.

We require providers on the platform to be insured and verify licensing where a licence is required. This helps you make informed decisions before booking. You should still ask questions and check that the provider’s credentials match the service you need.

We prioritise quality and trust over simply listing the largest possible number of providers. That may mean having fewer providers in some areas, but the aim is to create a safer, more reliable community for pets, owners and professionals.

You can book a pet-care service through My Pet Pal and find support for a wide range of animals and needs.

Join the trusted pet-care community

Are you a licensed dog boarder, insured dog walker, pet sitter, groomer, trainer, vet or other pet-care professional?

We would love to hear from you.

My Pet Pal is actively welcoming quality providers who want to build their business, reach more pet owners and contribute to a trusted UK pet-care ecosystem.

Join My Pet Pal as a provider and take the next step towards growing your services, subject to verification.