Dundee has something we haven’t seen anywhere else in this project so far: a genuine council-run accreditation scheme for dog walkers, called Dog Watch Dundee. It’s voluntary rather than a legal licence, but it means the council actually inspects and approves the businesses on its list, which is a stronger form of independent verification than most areas get.
Council-approved dog walkers
Dundee City Council currently lists just three companies as approved under Dog Watch Dundee, each inspected and required to meet conditions including a 6-dog maximum, pet business insurance, a first-aid kit, secure transport and record-keeping.
- Pawfessional Touch — council-approved, with a genuine named customer review on FreeIndex and stated credentials (canine first-aid trained, low-stress handling certified, full insurance, Disclosure Scotland/PVG checked, DEFRA-authorised animal transporter). This is our strongest recommendation in Dundee.
- Pawsitive Adventures — council-approved. We couldn’t find an independent website or active social media to corroborate beyond the council listing, so treat this as council-verified rather than fully verified pending your own check.
- Let’s Go Mutts — council-approved, with a linked Facebook page we couldn’t independently assess for activity level.
Looking further afield?
We couldn’t find a Rover.com presence specific to Dundee at all in this pass — every search for “Rover Dundee” returns Rover’s US towns of the same name, though Rover is clearly active elsewhere in Scotland. A handful of other names turn up on Bark.com (All Creature Comforts, Adventure Tails Dundee, Dog Tired Pet Care and others), but Bark only shows one aggregate rating across all its Dundee listings rather than a per-business figure, so none of these can be called verified on review volume. We’re not presenting them as recommendations here.
Is dog walking a licensed activity in Scotland?
No, not currently. Dundee City Council asked the Scottish Government for licensing powers back in 2013 and was told none existed, which is why it launched the voluntary Dog Watch Dundee scheme instead in 2016. The Scottish Government has since run a consultation on licensing activities involving animals that explicitly proposes bringing commercial dog walking under statutory licensing for the first time — but as things stand, it’s a proposal, not law. Dundee’s council scheme, voluntary as it is, is the closest thing to independent oversight going.
Whoever’s walking your dog, a well-fitted calming collar can help with the adjustment to a new face at the door — a small aid alongside a proper introduction, not a substitute for one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dog Watch Dundee?
A voluntary council accreditation scheme for professional dog walkers in Dundee. Approved companies are inspected and must meet conditions like a 6-dog maximum, insurance, and secure transport. Only three companies currently hold it.
Do dog walkers in Scotland need a licence?
Not currently. It’s unregulated by law, though the Scottish Government has consulted on introducing statutory licensing for commercial dog walking in future. Dundee’s voluntary council scheme is the closest thing to oversight at the moment.
Is there a Rover dog walker in Dundee?
We couldn’t find an indexed Rover profile specific to Dundee in our last search, though Rover is active elsewhere in Scotland. We’d rather name Dundee’s own council-approved walkers, who carry genuine independent verification.
Written by Georgiana & Figo.
