Quick answer: In 2026 there is no single new dog walking act for England and Wales, but three changes matter: tougher penalties for livestock worrying (from 18 March 2026, fines uncapped), higher fixed penalty caps for breaching Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) up to £500 (from 29 June 2026), and the existing Animal Welfare Act 2006 duties of care that apply to professional walkers as well as owners. There is no national professional walker licence. Some councils (Hammersmith and Fulham, Lambeth, others) require a paid commercial-use licence with a code of conduct, dog-number caps, and visible ID. The "max dogs per walker" number is set locally through PSPOs, typically 4 for the public and 6 for professionals, but it varies by borough.
What actually changed in 2026
Three changes in 2026 affect dog walkers in England and Wales.
1. Livestock worrying (from 18 March 2026). The new law removes the old £1,000 cap on fines for dog owners whose dogs chase or worry livestock. The dog does not need to bite or physically attack; chasing near fields is enough. The fine is now uncapped, which is the biggest single change to UK dog walking law in years. It applies on roads and paths near fields as well as in fields.
2. PSPO fixed penalty rise (from 29 June 2026). Under amendments linked to the Crime and Policing Act 2026, the maximum Fixed Penalty Notice for breaching a Public Spaces Protection Order or a Community Protection Notice rises from £100 to £500. A PSPO sets local rules on lead use, exclusion areas, and max-dog limits. A breach that used to be a £100 ticket is now a £500 ticket.
3. Animal Welfare Act 2006 duties apply to walkers. The 2006 Act is not new in 2026, but its application to professional walkers is the subject of increasing enforcement. A walker who has charge of a dog owes the same duty of care as the owner: water, rest, protection from heat, safe group composition, suitable equipment. Failures can attract fines up to £20,000 and/or six months' imprisonment; causing unnecessary suffering is unlimited fines and/or up to five years.
The right starting point for any walker is the local council website: PSPOs are posted there, and many councils also publish a "commercial use of parks" code.
Is there a national professional dog walker licence?
No. There is no central DEFRA-issued professional dog walker licence for England and Wales. Regulation is via:
- General animal welfare law (the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and related secondary legislation).
- Local PSPOs for dog numbers, leads, and exclusion areas.
- Local commercial-use licences for parks and open spaces, where they exist.
A small but growing number of councils now require a paid commercial-use licence for professional walkers. Examples in mid-2026 include:
- Hammersmith and Fulham: annual professional walker licence for council parks.
- Lambeth: tiered professional licence by number of dogs, with an ID armband issued to each licensed walker.
Other councils operate informal "commercial use" codes without a formal licence. The picture is patchy and depends on borough. The right answer for a walker is to check the council for every borough they walk in.
Maximum dogs per walker
There is no single UK-wide cap. Limits are set by local PSPOs and park-use policies. Common patterns:
- Public members: 4 dogs at a time is the most common cap.
- Professional walkers: 6 dogs at a time is the most common cap.
- Sensitive areas (wildlife reserves, school grounds, some parks): stricter caps, often 2 to 4 even for professionals.
Breaching a PSPO dog-number condition now carries a fixed penalty up to £500. Continued or serious breaches can be prosecuted. For a walker who operates across borough boundaries, the right operational rule is to comply with the most restrictive local cap.
What owners should ask a walker
A practical 8-question check for hiring a professional walker in 2026.
- Are you licensed in this borough? Ask for the licence number and check it on the council website.
- What is your max-dog policy? The answer should be 4 to 6, with strict segregation.
- What is your public liability insurance cover? A minimum of £1 million is standard; £2 million is better.
- What is your DBS status? A current Enhanced DBS check is the right answer.
- What is your first-aid training? Canine first aid certified within the last 3 years.
- How do you handle a dog that escapes? The right answer is a written protocol, not "I'll chase them".
- Do you walk in PSPO-controlled areas? If yes, how do you ensure compliance?
- Can I see your contract terms, including a force majeure and weather policy?
A walker who can answer all 8 is operating at the right professional standard. A walker who cannot is a red flag, not a bargain.
What walkers should have in writing
For a walker, the right client onboarding includes:
- A written contract that warrants the dog is microchipped, vaccinated, and not subject to a control order.
- A copy of the dog's vaccination record.
- The dog's microchip number and the owner's contact details.
- A clear fee schedule and cancellation policy.
- A written force majeure policy (heatwaves, storms, owner hospitalisation).
- A photo of the dog, kept on file.
- Public liability insurance certificate, copy held on file.
The Animal Welfare Act 2006 makes a walker legally responsible for the dog in their charge, just as the owner is. The contract does not remove that duty; it documents it.
Livestock worrying: the 2026 change in plain English
The 18 March 2026 change is the single biggest new legal risk for a UK dog owner walking near fields. The summary:
- A dog that chases livestock on a road or path near a field can now attract an uncapped fine.
- The dog does not need to bite or attack. Chasing is enough.
- The fine is civil, not criminal, but it is no longer capped at £1,000.
The right answer for an owner: keep dogs on a lead near livestock fields, especially during lambing season (March to May) and at peak movement times. The right answer for a walker: write the lead rule into the contract, and refuse the walk if the owner wants a dog walked off-lead near livestock.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a new dog walking law in England in 2026?
No single new act. Three changes matter: uncapped fines for livestock worrying from 18 March 2026, PSPO fixed penalty cap raised to £500 from 29 June 2026, and the existing Animal Welfare Act 2006 duties of care that apply to professional walkers as well as owners.
Do I need a professional dog walker licence in the UK?
There is no national professional dog walker licence. Some councils (Hammersmith and Fulham, Lambeth, others) require a paid commercial-use licence for council parks. The right answer is to check the specific borough where you walk. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 duties apply to you regardless of licence status.
How many dogs can a professional walker walk in the UK?
No UK-wide cap. Most local PSPOs cap public members at 4 dogs and professionals at 6, but it varies by borough. Sensitive areas often have stricter caps. From 29 June 2026, a PSPO dog-number breach carries a fixed penalty up to £500.
Looking for a vetted walker? Our choosing a dog walker guide has the 8-question checklist and the 2026 compliance red flags to watch for.
Dog care exercise guide UK How much exercise does my dog need Choosing a dog walker UK Sniff walks UK Exercise by breed UK Complete UK dog grooming guide