Course Curriculum

Pet Sitting in the UK 00:10:00
Getting to Know the Dogs Puppies 00:14:00
Tips for Walking Your Dog 00:10:00
Pet Sitter Safety 00:15:00
Setting up Your Own Pet Sitting Business 00:11:00
Managing Your Pet Sitting Business 00:13:00
Obtain Your Certificate 00:00:00
Leave a Feedback! 00:00:00

Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Course Overview

The Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Course is ideal for anyone who wants to turn their love of animals into a flexible and rewarding career. As more pet owners look for reliable support with caring for dogs and cats, professional pet care skills are becoming increasingly valuable.

This dog walking course introduces the practical responsibilities involved in pet sitting and dog walking, including safe dog handling, animal welfare, hygiene, feeding routines and pet behaviour. You will learn how to recognise signs of stress, discomfort or illness and how to provide calm, responsible care for pets with different breeds, sizes and temperaments.

You will also explore dog walking safety, time management, client communication and the steps involved in building trust with pet owners. Whether you aim to work as a professional pet sitter, become a dog walker or start a pet sitting business, this online pet care course provides useful knowledge you can apply with confidence.

Learning Outcomes

  • Explain the day-to-day duties of a professional pet sitter and dog walker.
  • Apply safe dog handling techniques for pets with different breeds, sizes and temperaments.
  • Recognise common signs of stress, illness or discomfort in animals in your care.
  • Follow appropriate animal welfare, hygiene and feeding practices.
  • Plan safe dog walking routes, timings and safety procedures.
  • Communicate professionally with clients to build trust and deliver reliable pet care services.
  • Apply pet sitting and dog walking knowledge to support or start a pet care business.

What You’ll Gain

  • UK Pet Sitting Knowledge
    Understand the responsibilities involved in providing professional pet sitting services, including client expectations, insurance considerations and safe working practices.
  • Dog Breed and Puppy Awareness
    Learn how breed, age and temperament can influence a pet’s care needs, helping you adapt your approach responsibly.
  • Safe Dog Walking Techniques
    Build confidence in safe dog walking, including lead control, route planning, body-language awareness and hazard management.
  • Health, Hygiene and Animal Welfare Skills
    Recognise common health, hygiene and safety risks in pet care and understand how to support animal welfare during each visit or walk.
  • Pet Care Business Basics
    Explore the essentials of starting a pet sitting or dog walking business, including services, pricing, marketing, bookings and client communication.
  • Professional Client Management
    Learn how to build trust with pet owners, manage daily schedules and provide a reliable pet care service.
  • Career-Ready Confidence
    Develop practical knowledge for work as a professional dog walker, pet sitter or animal care assistant.
  • CPD-Accredited Certificate
    Receive a CPD-accredited certificate on successful completion to demonstrate your commitment to professional development.

Course Media

Your Benefits by Learning with ‘Cambridge Open Academy’

  • Accreditation: Showcase your ability with our accredited Pet Sitting and Dog Walking to potential employers.
  • Free Certificate: Get a Free Digital Certificate upon successful completion of the Pet Sitting and Dog Walking
  • Flexibility: Learn virtually from anywhere, anytime at your own pace and convenience.
  • Advance Your Career: Upskill to impress your employers and land your dream job or long-awaited promotion.
  • Immediately Applicable Coursework: Keep up with the latest skill trend by putting your skillsets to work.
  • Affordability: Save big with our online Pet Sitting and Dog Walking as it not only suits your professional needs but also fits within your budget.
  • Tutor Support: Get tutor support on weekdays, 9-5 am, and our dedicated 24/7 customer support.
  • Lifetime Access: Achieve lifetime access to the top-notch expertly crafted course materials.

Our Specialised Delivery Method:

  • Interactive Learning Materials: The course modules were created using an EdTech industry-recognised tool to keep you engaged at all times. With this tool, you get interactive, engaging and top-notch course contents. In our courses, you can take advantage of features like—
    • Drop Down Menu
    • Drag and Drop
    • Flash Card
    • Label Graphic
    • Timeline View
  • Responsiveness: In light of contemporary mobile and point-of-need learning trends, our courses are designed to be intrinsically dynamic and provide you with the ultimate eLearning solution. These courses will adapt to any gadget without any extra software.
  • Learner Friendly Navigation: Our courses are also quite simple to navigate for any learner. These courses are designed with simplicity and a modern flow that appeals to a wide range of learning audiences, regardless of their technological background and gadgets.
  • Elegant Outline: Our courses are visually appealing, where you can —
    • track your progress on the left-side navigation toolbar.
    • engage in drag-and-drop sorting activities and 
    • use the multiple response question to test your understanding of course topics.

Who Should Take This Course?

This course is ideal for:
    • People who want to start working as a professional dog walker
    • Those planning to run their own dog walking or pet care business
    • Individuals already doing pet sitting who want to improve their services
    • Animal lovers looking for a flexible, pet-related job
    • Anyone considering getting an Ofqual regulated qualification in animal care in the future
    • Students looking to add pet care experience before applying for formal animal care training

Requirements

Enrolling in our Pet Sitting and Dog Walking course does not require any prior knowledge or experience. All that is required is an internet-connected gadget and a passion to learn.

Certification:

Once you have successfully completed the Pet Sitting and Dog Walking course, you will receive a PDF certificate completely free of cost as a proof of your accomplishment. The hardcopy certificate is also available for the cost of £9.99.
Note: Delivery of hardcopy certificate is free within the United Kingdom. However, to obtain a hardcopy certificate, International students will have to pay additional fees based on their location.

Career Path

  • Dog Walker

    Walks dogs individually or in small groups, following safe handling, welfare and route-planning practices.

    Average salary: Around £27,400 per year in the UK.

  • Self-Employed Dog Walker

    Runs an independent service, managing bookings, pricing, client communication and local marketing.

    Typical earnings: Vary considerably depending on rates, capacity and demand; many roles advertise hourly pay from around £12–£15+.

  • Pet Sitter

    Provides feeding, companionship, exercise and basic care for pets in a client’s home or another suitable setting.

    Average salary: Around £35,900 per year in the UK.

  • Dog Walker and Pet Sitter

    Combines regular dog walks with pet-care visits, including feeding, medication support where instructed, companionship and routine updates for owners.

    Typical earnings: Variable; commonly paid per visit, walk or day rather than through a fixed annual salary.

  • Dog Day Care Assistant / Canine Handler

    Supports dogs in a day-care, kennel or animal-care setting by supervising play, feeding, hygiene, walks and behaviour.

    Average salary: Around £27,900 per year in the UK.

  • Pet Care Business Owner

    Builds and manages a pet sitting, dog walking or dog day-care business, potentially employing staff as the business grows.

    Potential earnings: Variable and dependent on pricing, operating costs, local demand and business growth.

Certification:​

Once you have successfully completed this course, you can order a certificate as proof of your achievement.

A PDF certificate is available for £5.99. You can also request a hardcopy certificate for £9.99.

Delivery of the hardcopy certificate is free within the United Kingdom. For international learners, an additional delivery charge will apply based on the destination country.

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