About Man About Dog

What we are, and what needs a licence

Man About Dog Ltd is registered for other service activities not elsewhere classified (SIC 96090) and is registered at Lowgates, Chesterfield.

The practical part first. We keep numbers small, we send the same person each time, and we tell you what actually happened on a walk rather than a cheerful summary. If a dog is struggling, pulling badly, reacting to other dogs or not eating, you will hear it from us the same day.

Now licensing, because it is the thing most owners do not know to ask about. Under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, providing day care for dogs, home boarding or boarding in kennels requires a licence from the local council, which comes with a star rating and an inspection. Dog walking on its own does not require that licence. We provide licensable activities only under a current licence for them, and we will show it to you. If any provider is vague about this, that tells you something.

We are also not a veterinary practice. Only a registered veterinary surgeon may diagnose, treat or operate on an animal, and we do not give veterinary, medical or behavioural treatment advice. If a dog in our care needs a vet, we contact you and, if we cannot reach you and it is urgent, we take the dog to the vet you have named, on the authority you have given us in writing.

Dogs are walked on lead unless you have told us in writing that yours may be let off and we are satisfied it is safe and lawful in that place. We clean up, we follow local dog control orders, and we do not walk more dogs at once than we can actually control.