Care and safety
How many dogs can a dog walker walk in the UK?
By the Trusthound team · · 6 min read
There's no single UK-wide law on how many dogs one person can walk. In practice your limit is the lowest of three numbers: what your local council allows (often 4, sometimes 6 with a professional walker's licence), what your insurance covers (commonly up to 6), and how many dogs you can genuinely keep under control. Many professional walkers settle on four.
This guide explains where each limit comes from, with real examples, so you can work out the right number for your area and your dogs. Rules change and differ from place to place, so always check your council's current rules and your own policy schedule.
Is there a legal limit on how many dogs one person can walk?
Not nationally. Limits are set locally, and the tools councils use differ across the UK:
- England and Wales. Councils can make public spaces protection orders (PSPOs) under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. Many dog control PSPOs include a maximum number of dogs per person, and some offer professional walkers a licence to walk more.
- Northern Ireland. Councils can make dog control orders, and the 2012 regulations include an offence of taking more than a specified number of dogs onto land. Ards and North Down, for example, consulted in 2026 on a limit of four dogs per person in public spaces.
- Scotland. PSPOs don't apply, but parks and land managers may have their own rules, so check with your council and the owners of the places you walk.
Breaking a PSPO can mean a fixed penalty notice. Richmond upon Thames, for example, lists £100 fixed penalties for PSPO offences.
What limits have councils actually set?
Here are a few real examples from council websites. They show how much the numbers vary, even between neighbouring boroughs.
| Council | Without a licence | With a professional licence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond upon Thames | 4 dogs | Up to 6 dogs at certain sites | Licence lasts two years. Limit was reduced from 6 to 4. £100 fixed penalty. |
| Bromley | 3 dogs | 4 dogs under the 2023 order | Order renewed for three years from 1 October 2026. Walking more than 3 dogs without a Bromley licence is an offence. |
| Tower Hamlets | 4 dogs | Licence needed to walk more | The council says four is the most "the average adult could be expected to control at any one time". |
Some councils have no limit at all, and others restrict particular parks, beaches or nature reserves. Before you take on a new area:
- Search your council's website for "PSPO" or "dog control order".
- Read the order itself, not just the news story, and note which land it covers.
- Check whether there's a professional dog walker licence or permit, what it costs and what conditions it carries.
- Check the rules for any privately managed parks, commons or estates you use.
How many dogs will my insurance cover?
This is often the number that matters most, because walking more dogs than your policy allows could leave you uninsured on that walk. Policies commonly cap professional walkers at six dogs at once. Specialist insurer Cliverton, for example, covers "a maximum of 6 dogs at any one time", and only covers off-lead walking with the owner's written consent. Other policies set lower limits, sometimes four, so don't assume.
Look in your policy schedule for:
- the maximum number of dogs walked at once
- whether off-lead walking is covered, and on what conditions
- any exclusions for particular breeds or behaviours
- cover for dogs in your vehicle, if you drive them to walks
Some councils ask to see your insurance when you apply for a walker's licence, and some ask you to confirm how many dogs you're insured to walk.
What if I also board dogs or run a day care in England?
If you hold an animal activity licence for boarding, home boarding or day care in England, the statutory guidance sets its own walking limit. The day care guidance says a walker "may walk no more than 6 dogs at the same time", the owner must consent to their dog being walked with others, and the dogs must be familiarised with each other first. The kennel and home boarding guidance say much the same. A stricter PSPO still applies on top of that.
How many dogs can I safely walk?
Even where the rules allow six, plenty of experienced walkers choose fewer. Tower Hamlets' reasoning is a fair starting point: four is about what an average adult can control. Your own safe number depends on:
- Size and strength. Four spaniels and four large, strong dogs are very different walks.
- Recall and lead manners. One dog that pulls or doesn't come back changes the whole group.
- Temperament. Reactive, nervous or very young dogs usually do better solo or in pairs.
- Group dynamics. Dogs should meet and get on before they walk together.
- The route. Roads, livestock, cyclists and busy parks all need more attention.
- Your vehicle. Every dog needs a safe, secure space if you drive between pickups.
- Weather. Hot days may mean shorter walks and smaller groups.
A sensible approach is to start small with new dogs, build groups gradually, and keep notes on how each dog behaves in a group. It's far easier to grow a group than to recover from a fight or a dog that's run off.
Practical habits for group walks
- Get written consent for group walks and off-lead time. Put it in your dog walking terms and conditions.
- Check ID tags. In Great Britain, the Control of Dogs Order 1992 requires dogs on a road or in a public place to wear a collar with the owner's name and address on it.
- Carry spares: a slip lead, poo bags, water and a first aid kit.
- Keep emergency contacts and vet details on your phone for every dog in the group.
- Price for group size. Smaller groups take more of your time per dog, so your prices should reflect that. Our dog walking price calculator can help.
If you're just setting up, our guide to getting ready for your first client covers insurance, terms and the other basics.
A quick checklist
- Checked the council PSPO or dog control order for every area you walk
- Applied for a professional walker's licence where one's needed
- Confirmed the dog limit and off-lead cover in your insurance schedule
- Owner consent for group and off-lead walks on file
- Each dog assessed before joining a group
- Your own maximum set for each type of walk, below the legal and insurance limits
How Trusthound helps
Trusthound's dog walking software helps you plan bookings and groups, take payment by card or Direct Debit, and send owners updates with photos and a GPS route of each walk. You can store owner consents, vet details and vaccination dates with each dog, so the information is on your phone when you need it. The limits themselves are set by your council and your insurer, so always check those first.
Sources
- Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, Part 4 Chapter 2: public spaces protection orders (legislation.gov.uk)
- The Dog Control Orders (Prescribed Offences and Penalties, etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (legislation.gov.uk)
- The Control of Dogs Order 1992 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Dog day care licensing: statutory guidance for local authorities (Defra, GOV.UK)
- PSPOs and byelaws (Richmond upon Thames Council)
- Dog control order renewal following consultation (Bromley Council, 2026)
- Dog control order being renewed following consultation (Bromley Council, 2023)
- Why should professional dog walkers need a licence to walk more than four dogs? (Tower Hamlets Council)
- Consultation on limited number of dogs (Ards and North Down Borough Council)
- Dog walkers insurance (Cliverton)
Checked 20 October 2026.
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Rules vary between areas and change over time, so check with your local authority or an adviser.