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Pet Sitting & Dog Walking Insurance

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Tradesman Saver’s Public Liability Cover For Pet Sitters & Dog Walkers


Our standard cover is:

  • £1 million cover for public and products liability (with an option to increase to £2 million, £5 million or £10 million)
  • £10,000 cover for any financial loss (£50K cover optional)
  • Worldwide liability cover for temporary work abroad for up to 14 days (excluding the USA and Canada

Whether you’re a casual pet sitter, a tireless dog walker or run a dog boarding business, Tradesman Saver’s tailored pet sitting insurance protects your finances when unexpected incidents like injuries could otherwise prove costly. 

The pet sitter insurance packages from Tradesman Saver contain everything you could possibly need, including covers such as public liability insurance, short term income protection and employer’s liability insurance. This ensures that, no matter what happens, you’re protected from any accidents that occur.

Why do you need pet and dog walking liability insurance?

Looking after someone else’s pet can be the job of a lifetime for any animal lover, but it is also a huge responsibility, and you’ll need to be prepared in case of any accidents and emergencies. For example, if you’re in a client’s house and you accidentally break something, they could demand compensation. Alternatively, if the pet you’re looking after injures someone else or damages something (as a result of your negligence), that person could make a claim against you. Having the right insurance policy means you won’t need to worry about footing the bill, relieving any potential financial strain.

Here at Tradesman Saver, we keep the cost of our pet sitting insurance low because everybody should be able to afford the cover they need. To build a unique pet sitters insurance package to suit your needs, fill out our online form for insurance that works as hard as you do.

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How our pet sitting & dog walking insurance works

1 Apply Online

Complete our simple quote form with basic details about your business

2 Get a quote

Get an instant quote & choose any optional covers you may need

3 You’re insured!

Instantly activate your Tradesman Saver policy and view your certificates online

Understanding public liability insurance for pet sitters

When purchasing pet sitting insurance, you’ll hear various terms thrown around. But arguably the most important of these is ‘public liability cover’. This is the foundation of any insurance policy, covering injury to third parties and damage to their property. Consequently, it protects you from claims made against you by your clients or members of the public. This could cover scenarios including:

  • A dog you’re walking attacks someone and injures them.
  • While pet sitting at somebody’s home, you drop our takeaway curry on their carpet and ruin it.
  • A dog you’re looking after scratches the door of a coffee shop you visit.

 

Why do you need public liability insurance for dog walkers?

While it isn’t a legal requirement to carry public liability insurance as a pet sitter, we highly suggest having some form of cover in place, in case of any accidents or emergencies. You are legally exposed to public liability claims as a pet sitter or walker, and you want to be prepared should anyone make a claim against you if you are found responsible for injuries or damages.

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How much is pet sitting insurance?

The cost of your pet sitters insurance will depend on a few different factors, including how experienced you are, the type of jobs you do and your claims history. Which cover you select can also impact the price of your insurance.

Our Tradesman Saver policy for pet sitters includes lots of extra covers as standard, including legal expenses, financial loss and accidental death cover. This gives you some of the most comprehensive coverage around at a price that you’ll struggle to find elsewhere.

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Prices start from £58.76

Pet sitters insurance quote examples

£58.76 / year A self employed dog walker, sitter and carer.
  • Sole trader
  • No employees
  • 5 years experience
  • Based in London
  • No claims

Automatic Covers

  • Public Liability £2,000,000
  • Financial Loss £10,000
  • Products Liability £2,000,000
  • Legal Expenses £250,000
  • Accidental Death £10,000

Optional Covers

  • Business Contents Not Insured
  • Personal Accident Not Insured
  • Employers Liability Not Insured
  • Tools / Equipment Not Insured
  • Contract Works Not Insured
  • Professional Indemnity Not Insured
£43.41 / month £493.32 / year A dog walking business based in Manchester
  • Limited Company
  • 3 Employees
  • 5 years experience
  • Based in Manchester
  • No claims

Automatic Covers

  • Public Liability £5,000,000
  • Financial Loss £10,000
  • Products Liability £5,000,000
  • Legal Expenses £250,000
  • Accidental Death £10,000

Optional Covers

  • Business Contents Not Insured
  • Personal Accident £50,000
  • Employers Liability £10,000,000
  • Tools / Equipment Not Insured
  • Contract Works Not Insured
  • Professional Indemnity £50,000

The above quote examples were taken from our online system on 17/05/23.  These are real quotes but your own personal quote will vary dependent upon your circumstances and the level of cover you require.

What is the excess under a pet sitter’s insurance policy?

Most insurance policies are subject to an excess, which is the amount you agree to pay towards a claim. Check out the standard excesses under a Tradesman Saver pet sitters insurance policy below, though be sure to also look at your own quotation to see exactly what applies to your policy. This is because your excess may vary depending on the type of work you do.

Insurance coverExcess
Public Liability£250
Products Liability£250
Employers LiabilityNo Excess
Financial Loss10% of claim value(£2,500 minimum)
Professional Indemnity10% of claim value(£2,500 minimum)
Contract Works£250(£500 Theft/Malicious Damage)
Tools / Equipment£100(£250 Unattended vehicle)
Legal ExpensesNo Excess

Chosen by over 5000 businesses and counting *

  • Online & Anywhere

    Online & Anywhere

    We like to keep things simple. Your quote, purchase and documents are all available online, anytime.

  • Monthly Instalments

    Monthly Instalments

    Cashflow is important to every business. Spread the cost by paying in easy monthly instalments.

  • Instant Cover

    Instant Cover

    No need to wait for your documents. Our tradesman cover starts from the date you select.

  • Added protection

    Added Protection

    Public liability, products liability, financial loss, legal expenses and accidental death cover as standard.

* Total number of live policies as of 31/08/2023

Pet Sitting & Dog Walker Insurance: Frequently Asked Questions

What does pet sitting insurance cover?

Arguably the most crucial component of a dog walking liability insurance policy is public liability insurance. This, among several other policies, are all included within our automatic package.

For example, tool and equipment insurance is also featured, and can help you replace any equipment like leashes, bowls or carry cages if they get damaged, lost or stolen. While short term income protection cover guarantees an income if you’re unable to work as a result of illness or an injury.

Here at Tradesman Saver, we also offer covers for other kinds of pet profession, such as pet caring and dog boarding insurance cover. Simply select the trade that summarises what you do best on our quick online quote form for immediate cover after you buy.

How long does pet sitter insurance last?

Most dog sitting insurance policies last for twelve months, and can be renewed annually. Customers can make claims for damages or injuries at any point provided they can prove that their policy was valid at the time of the incident in question.

What information do I need to provide to apply for pet sitters insurance?

You will just need to give basic information, such as your name, address and what kind of pet sitting jobs you undertake.

How do I make a claim on my dog walker insurance policy?

In order to make a claim on your pet sitting insurance policy, you’ll need to contact us or your insurer ASAP to tell us what has happened. Before you do though, check you’re eligible to make a claim by finding the dates covered by your policy, and that you’re covered for what you’re claiming. Once the insurer has all the information they need, they will decide if your claim is valid or not before settling it.

What insurance do you need to walk a dog?

As a dog walker, you will need insurance to cover public liability and any potential accidents or incidents involving clients’ pets. This could include injuries to other people or animals, accidental damage to properties, legal fees and more. You may also want to consider taking out a professional indemnity policy which would cover you if a client ever sued you for negligence or a mistake in your work.

How many dogs can you legally walk at once in the UK?

In the UK, there is no legal limit on how many dogs you can walk at once. However, you should not exceed the maximum number mentioned in your dog walking insurance policy and comply with local council dog control orders.

Do you need a license to walk dogs UK?

If you are a dog sitting within your own home or business then it is a legal requirement to obtain a Level 2 or Level 3 qualification to meet the Defra Animal Activity Licensing requirements. However, you don’t need official training to become a dog walker in the UK .

Is dog walking a sole trader?

Yes, you can register as a sole trader to start a dog walking business, but you can also register it as a company or partnership. It all depends on the type of business you intend to run and how many employees you might have in the future.

How much do dog sitters charge UK?

The amount you charge as a dog walker will depend on various factors such as the length of the walk, the number of dogs, your location, and any additional services that you provide. Prices can range from £10-£30 per hour, but you should also consider any additional costs such as travel expenses, insurance for dog walkers and business equipment associated with dog walking business activities.

What should I do if an incident occurs while dog walking?

If an incident does occur while you are dog walking, the first step is to ensure everyone’s safety and take appropriate action. After that, contact your dog walkers insurance provider as soon as possible and follow any professional advice they provide. You may also need to report the incident to the police or relevant authorities, so make sure you keep any records or documents related to the incident.

This website is intended for customers based in the UK and is therefore subject to the UK regulatory regime(s) © Copyright 2023 Tradesman Saver | Tradesman Saver and Henry Seymour & Co. are trading names of Barkdene Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 303965) for our insurance distribution and credit broking activities. Barkdene Limited is a credit broker not a lender. You can check our financial services registration status on the Financial Services register.
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