We went looking for an independent dog walker in Derry and Strabane that we could genuinely vouch for — a named business with a website, an active Facebook page, press coverage, or real, checkable reviews. We came back empty-handed, so rather than pad out a list with thin or unverifiable names, here’s what we actually found, and why we’re leaving this one as a gap for now.
What we checked
We searched Derry/Londonderry city, Strabane, Castlederg, Sion Mills and the surrounding villages, across local directories, Facebook, press mentions and every major pet-care marketplace. The result was the same everywhere: nothing verifiable.
- Rover.com — we checked this directly, as we now do for every Dog Walkers guide. Rover has no profile coverage for Derry or Strabane at all; every “Derry” or “Strabane” result the site returns resolves to towns of the same name in the US (New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, New Mexico and Louisiana). There’s simply no local inventory to review.
- Pawshake — its own Derry/Londonderry page returns “We couldn’t find any sitters that matched your criteria.” An empty marketplace shell, not a listing.
- Gudog, StarOfService, Checkatrade — no dog-walking listings for this area on any of these platforms.
- Generic directory sites inviting businesses to “claim their spot” turned up for Derry and Strabane, but these are unpopulated software-vendor pages, not real listings, so we’ve excluded them.
One genuine local pet-care business did surface: K9 Millionhairs, a mobile grooming and spa service covering Derry, Donegal, Strabane, Ballykelly and Limavady. It’s a real, findable business — but it’s grooming, not dog walking, so it sits outside this guide. If you’re after a groomer, it’s worth a look.
Is dog walking licensed in Northern Ireland?
No. We checked DAERA and gov.uk directly: Northern Ireland licenses animal boarding establishments (kennels and catteries) and dog breeding, but there’s no licence category for dog walking as a standalone activity — the same position as the rest of the UK. That means there’s no official register to check a walker against, which makes personal recommendations and your own vetting even more important.
How to vet a dog walker yourself
- Ask for proof of insurance and, ideally, a pet first aid certificate.
- Ask to meet before booking, and watch how they handle your dog.
- Ask for references from existing local clients, not just an online review score.
- Check how many dogs they walk at once, and whether your dog will be walked alone or in a group.
- Agree in writing what happens if your dog is injured, lost, or unwell during a walk.
- Start with a short trial walk before committing to a regular arrangement.
If you know a genuine local dog walker in Derry or Strabane we’ve missed, we’d like to hear from you so we can check them out and add them here. In the meantime, see our Derry and Strabane dog services hub for sitters, groomers, trainers and vets we have been able to verify, including dog sitters in Derry/Londonderry and sitters and groomers in Strabane.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Rover have dog walkers in Derry or Strabane?
No. Every “Derry” or “Strabane” result on Rover.com resolves to a same-named town in the US. There’s no UK listing for this area on the platform.
Is dog walking a licensed activity in Northern Ireland?
No. Northern Ireland licenses boarding kennels and dog breeding, but there’s no licence category for standalone dog walking, so there’s no official register to check a walker against.
Why isn’t there a dog walker listed for this area?
We couldn’t find any independent dog walker in Derry or Strabane with a website, active social page, press coverage or genuine reviews. Rather than list an unverifiable name, we’re flagging this as a gap.
Written by Georgiana & Figo.
