Professional
Dog Walker
Build a reliable, welfare led walking business with the IICBT Dog Walker Package, a structured route for people who want to move beyond informal walks and operate as recognised, insurable professionals. This package combines professional dog walking, canine first aid and practical nutrition so that you can keep dogs safe, speak confidently to owners and vets, and present a clear, credible profile to councils, insurers and referral partners.
By the end of the package you will be confident planning and delivering structured walks, responding appropriately if something goes wrong, and discussing day to day nutrition within an appropriate scope of practice.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
The Dog Walker Package brings together three complementary IICBT qualifications:
- Level 4 Certificate in Professional Dog Walking
- Level 3 Certificate in Canine First Aid
- Level 3 Certificate in Canine Nutrition
Together they cover:
- Professional, welfare led dog walking, including routes, group sizes, transport and written procedures
- Incident response and canine first aid so you know how to act until a vet takes over
- Everyday nutrition knowledge that helps you review diets, spot potential issues and support owners in informed conversations
TYPICAL STUDY ROUTE AND COURSE LENGTH
Most learners work through the Dog Walker Package in a clear sequence, for example:
- Start with the Level 4 Certificate in Professional Dog Walking to structure and formalise your walking service
- Add the Level 3 Canine First Aid course so you can back up your policies with recognised safety training
- Complete the Level 3 Canine Nutrition course to strengthen how you talk to owners about food, body condition and long term health
As a guide, many learners complete the Level 4 dog walking course in around 2 to 4 weeks alongside other commitments, then add the Level 3 certificates over the following weeks or months. You have up to 12 months of access for each course, allowing you to plan your route around work and family life.
You will qualify with all three IICBT awards listed above, including the right to reference your IICBT Professional Dog Walker and IICBT Canine First Aider and Nutrition credentials in line with IICBT brand guidelines. The Level 4 Certificate is recognised through the iPET Network Professional Development Recognition (PDR) scheme, providing external assurance of course structure and quality.
STUDY OPTIONS AND SUPPORT
The Dog Walker Package is designed so you can build your qualifications while you continue to work.
- All core teaching is delivered online through structured lessons, case examples and short knowledge checks
- You access every course, template and assessment through a single student portal
- You choose whether to fast track in focused blocks or move at a steadier pace across the year
Throughout your studies you have access to experienced IICBT tutors for questions on course content, assessment and professional practice, plus a student helpdesk for technical support.
CAREER SUPPORT AND BUSINESS RESOURCES
This package is built to help you run a safe, professional walking service that owners can trust.
During the courses you will:
- Use ready made templates for route risk assessments, client forms, dog profiles and policies
- Build clear incident and emergency procedures that link your walking, first aid and reporting
- Practise explaining your group sizes, equipment choices, transport standards and safety processes in straightforward language
- Strengthen your marketing with recognised dog walking, first aid and nutrition credentials that reassure owners, vets, rescues and local partners
You also gain access to wider IICBT resources and progression routes, including pathways into Level 5 training and Level 6 behaviour study if you later decide to expand beyond walking.
COURSE FEES
The total course fee for this programme is £299.
Flexible payment options are available. On your call, an IICBT adviser can talk you through deposit amounts, monthly plans and what will work best for your budget.
See the full breakdown of modules, assessment, pricing and study options.
Career Pathway Options
Dog Walker Package
Canine Behaviour Practitioner Package
Dog Trainer Package
The UK’s #1 training provider for canine behaviour and training
With long standing expertise in developing high quality canine professionals, we understand what it takes to succeed in a competitive, fast growing field. We train dog trainers and behaviour practitioners who are more employable, better prepared for real cases, confident with clients, and committed to ethical, evidence based practice.
If you are new to the industry, our Level 5 Diploma in Canine Training and Instruction is the place to begin. It is recognised as a clear benchmark for those entering professional practice and gives you the skills to train dogs safely, design structured training plans and work effectively with owners.
If you are an experienced trainer aiming to move into complex behaviour work, our Level 6 Diploma in Canine Behaviour Practice builds on that foundation. You will develop advanced skills in behavioural assessment, case formulation, risk management and working closely with veterinary teams.
You can also strengthen your profile with focused short courses in areas such as puppy training, first aid and nutrition. These programmes help you deepen knowledge, refine your practice and stay current with sector expectations.
Step 1. Download The Prospectus
Start by downloading the IICBT Dog Walker Package prospectus. You will see what is included, how professional walking, first aid and nutrition fit together and how other walkers use this package to charge more, manage risk and stand out locally. You can check that this is the right step for you before you commit.
Step 2. Talk to an IICBT Adviser
Next, you speak with an adviser who understands walking work and local competition. They will look at where you are now, the areas you cover, the type of clients you want, your current prices and what you want your business to look like in the next year. Together you agree a study route through the walking, first aid and nutrition courses, discuss fast track or steady options, explore payment plans and, if it fits, shape a Dog Walker Package around your goals and budget.
Step 3. Get Enrolled and set Up in Your Portal
If you decide to enrol, your adviser completes the process with you and walks you through your Dog Walker Package inside the portal. You will see where to find your professional dog walking lessons, first aid content and nutrition tools, how to download templates and how to ask for tutor help when you need it. You leave the call knowing exactly which course to start with and how to pace your study.
Step 4. Study, Complete Assessment, Get Qualified
You then work through the package alongside your existing routes and commitments. Most learners complete the Level 4 Professional Dog Walking course first, then add the Level 3 Canine First Aid and Canine Nutrition courses over the following weeks or months. At each step you complete focused assessments, gain new certificates and build a stronger, safer, more credible walking offer.
Step 5. Start or Grow Your Business With Our Support
Once qualified, you can present yourself as a professional dog walker with recognised training in welfare, risk, first aid and everyday nutrition. You tighten up your paperwork, improve your route and group planning, justify higher prices and attract better quality clients who value safety and professionalism. You can then add further IICBT training or behaviour courses when you are ready to grow beyond walking alone.
WHY SERIOUS DOG PROFESSIONALS CHOOSE IICBT
Independent, outcomes-led standards for canine training and behaviour, designed to prepare you for real work with dogs and owners.
Fast Track Routes
Move quickly if you’re ready, or pace your study around work and family. We show you exactly how to get qualified, not just “work through the content”.
Practical Workshops
Train in person at places owners recognise, including The Kennel Club at Stoneleigh and partner centres across the UK, not just in a village hall.
Unlimited tutor Access
Ask questions as often as you need. You get direct access to practising trainers and behaviour specialists, not a ticket system and stock replies.
Study From Anywhere
Log in, watch lessons, download templates and keep going. All core teaching lives online so you can build your new career from your sofa, not a classroom.
Support to Build a Business
We talk pricing, services, marketing and client handling, so you leave with a plan to earn from your skills, not just a certificate for the wall.
Training People Trust
Your courses are backed by an independent institute and recognised through the iPET Network PDR scheme, giving you something credible to show vets, employers and clients.
A Dog Walker Package business is all about reliable, repeat income. Once owners trust you, most dogs are booked in several times a week, which means you are filling your diary with predictable walks rather than chasing one off jobs. With professional walking, first aid and nutrition training, you can charge at the top end of your local market and keep those spaces full.
As an example, if you charge £15 per dog for a small, well managed group walk and take four dogs, that is £60 for a single outing. Two such groups a day, five days a week is around £600 per week, close to £30,000 per year before costs. Many walkers then build on this with a mix of solo walks, puppy visits, longer adventure walks and simple nutrition check ins, pushing their income into the £40,000 to £50,000 range as their reputation grows.
The Dog Walker Package is built to help you live in that band, not at casual favour rates. By showing councils, insurers and owners that you are trained in welfare, risk, first aid and day to day nutrition, you can justify higher prices per dog, run tighter groups and attract committed, long term clients who value a safe, professional service.
Fees and Payment Options
When you speak with an adviser, they will talk you through course fees, any current offers and the payment plan that fits your budget. Most learners start with a £199 deposit and a simple monthly schedule.
Spread the cost of your course over simple monthly instalments, with 0% interest on our in-house plans.
Secure your place with a £199 deposit, then spread the remaining course fees with simple monthly payments.
Our in-house payment plans do not require a formal credit check, keeping the process simple and accessible.
Pay your full course fee at enrolment and save 20% compared with the standard payment plan price.
What if I am starting from scratch and just know I want to build a walking business?
You are in the right place. The Dog Walker Package combines professional walking, first aid and nutrition so you are not just “a person with leads”, but a recognised, safe and informed dog walker. You will be guided from absolute basics through to running routes, handling incidents and talking to owners about day to day care.
Do I have to leave my current job to work through the package?
No. Many learners begin walking part time and study in the evenings or on quieter days. You can grow your client list and hours as your confidence and income increase. Your adviser will help you decide how to pace the Level 4, first aid and nutrition courses so they fit your life.
How long will it take me to start earning as a dog walker with this package?
You can usually start charging for walks once you have worked through key parts of the Level 4 walking course and set up basic documents and insurance. First aid and nutrition then add strength to your profile as you go. On your call, your adviser can help you plan when to open for business and how to bring each qualification into your marketing.
I have looked at single walking or first aid courses. Why choose a package instead?
One standalone course can tick a box, but it rarely gives you the complete profile owners and councils look for now. The Dog Walker Package is built to cover safety, welfare and everyday care together, so you can answer questions confidently and justify better rates. It makes you the obvious choice over walkers who have done the bare minimum.
What if I get stuck on the paperwork or legal parts?
You will not be left staring at a blank page. The package includes ready made templates, examples and guidance so you can adapt documents rather than starting from nothing. If you are unsure how something applies to your routes or set up, you can get support rather than guessing.
What happens once I complete the Dog Walker Package?
You can present yourself as an IICBT Professional Dog Walker with recognised first aid and nutrition knowledge behind you. That gives owners, vets and rescues confidence that you understand safety, welfare and everyday care, and makes it much easier to build a full diary at sustainable prices.
Do you offer payment plans for the package, or do I have to pay everything upfront?
You do not have to fund the full package in one lump sum. On your call, your adviser will explain the overall fee, any current offers and payment options so you can link cost to the point where your walking income starts to ramp up.
Why should I choose the IICBT Dog Walker Package instead of a single basic course?
A single generic walking course might let you technically say you are “trained”, but it will not do much to help you stand out, raise prices or answer serious questions from owners and insurers. The IICBT Dog Walker Package combines walking, first aid and nutrition into one professional profile that screams “I know what I am doing”. You get practical tools across safety, welfare and day to day care, so you can build a walking business that looks and operates like a real service, not a casual side gig.