Our first pass didn’t name individual Surrey dog walkers, because we couldn’t open walkers’ own websites or check review counts to our usual standard. A second look on Google Maps (below) now names nine with review counts. What we could find is more useful for choosing one: the schemes, permits and dog limits that apply to professional walkers on Surrey land.
Surrey County Council’s voluntary code
Surrey County Council runs a voluntary professional dog walker code of conduct, not a licence. Walkers sign up by form, are listed on the council’s page and get a car sticker. The code advises no more than six dogs at once. We found no stated fee, insurance or DBS requirement, so a sticker tells you a walker knows the rules, not that they’re insured. The council can be reached at pdw@surreycc.gov.uk. Its countryside sites (Chobham, Puttenham, Whitmoor, Rodborough, Wisley and Ockham Commons) also ask for dogs on paths from 1 March to 15 September.
Local permits and limits
The Banstead Common Conservators, who manage Banstead Heath, Banstead Downs, Park Downs and Burgh Heath, run a paid commercial licence at £360 a year, started on 1 April 2025, according to local press. Walkers must carry ID and allow microchip scanning. Reigate & Banstead Borough Council separately sets a four-dog limit per person. Spelthorne’s dog control order covers professional dog walker limits, though we couldn’t read the numbers, and Tandridge has a professional dog walker permit scheme whose limits we couldn’t confirm. Guildford Borough Council has said there’s currently no requirement for commercial dog walkers to be licensed. The Windsor Estate introduced a professional permit from 31 March 2025, but Windsor Great Park straddles Berkshire and Surrey. We found nothing for Elmbridge or Epsom & Ewell, where the council simply advises up to six dogs.
Finding a walker: what we could and couldn’t check
Directories list dozens of Surrey walkers who say they’re insured and DBS-checked, but those are self-declared claims and on our first pass we couldn’t verify review counts. Marketplace profiles around Woking showed between one and 27 reviews each, short of our 50-review bar. We Love Pets has a UK-wide Trustpilot score, but each branch is a separate local trader, so it doesn’t tell you about a Surrey branch. Before you book anyone, ask to see their insurance certificate and DBS check, how many dogs they walk at once, whether they use a secure vehicle, and which commons they use and whether they hold any permit that applies there.
Handing your dog to someone new can be unsettling, especially for a nervier dog. A calming bite can help take the edge off, and a meet-and-greet before the first walk helps too. If your dog is anxious when left, speak to your vet. For everything else in the county, see our Surrey dog services hub, and for the rules where walkers actually go, our best local dog walks in Surrey.
A second look on Google Maps
Our first pass couldn’t open walkers’ websites or check review counts, so we named nobody at that stage. Google Maps gives us review counts, so we’ve now added the walkers below. These Surrey businesses have a listing, their own website and at least 10 reviews, all rated 4.6 or better when we checked:
Small Paw Adventures
★★★★★ 5.0 · 90 Google reviews
Has its own website. The listing doesn’t make the town clear, so ask where they operate.
View on Google Maps
Rachael’s Rovers
★★★★★ 4.9 · 56 Google reviews
Has its own website. The listing doesn’t make the town clear, so ask where they operate.
View on Google Maps
Pooch and Paws
★★★★★ 4.9 · 35 Google reviews
Has its own website. The listing doesn’t make the town clear, so ask where they operate.
View on Google Maps
Surrey Star Paws
★★★★★ 5.0 · 30 Google reviews
Has its own website. Also offers boarding and day care, which are licensed activities, so ask to see the licence.
View on Google Maps
Waggy Walkies
★★★★★ 5.0 · 21 Google reviews
Has its own website. The listing doesn’t make the town clear, so ask where they operate.
View on Google Maps
Paw Time Pet Services
★★★★★ 5.0 · 17 Google reviews
Has its own website. The listing doesn’t make the town clear, so ask where they operate.
View on Google Maps
Surrey Dog Sitters
★★★★★ 5.0 · 15 Google reviews
Has its own website. The listing doesn’t make the town clear, so ask where they operate.
View on Google Maps
Wagging Trails Surrey
★★★★★ 5.0 · 12 Google reviews
Has its own website. The listing doesn’t make the town clear, so ask where they operate.
View on Google Maps
Surrey Dog Walker
★★★★★ 4.6 · 10 Google reviews
One of two businesses with this name. Has its own website; ask where they operate.
View on Google Maps
We haven’t tested any of them, Google ratings come from the public, and the listings rarely make the town clear, so ask where each walker operates and check the council schemes above. Boarding and day care are licensed activities, so ask to see the licence. Pawsitive Adventures With Gem (5.0 from 25) has no website on its listing, so we’ve left it off.
Before you settle on a walker, it helps to know what else is on offer for your dog. Our secure dog fields in Surrey are there if a quiet, private space suits them better, and our dog-friendly pubs, cafés and restaurants in Surrey cover the break afterwards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do dog walkers need a licence in Surrey?
Not county-wide. Surrey County Council runs a voluntary code, but the Banstead Common Conservators charge £360 a year for commercial walking on their land. Guildford says it has no licensing requirement.
How many dogs can a Surrey dog walker take at once?
Surrey County Council’s code advises no more than six, and Reigate & Banstead’s order sets four per person. Limits vary by site, so ask your walker.
What should I ask a dog walker before booking?
Ask for proof of insurance and a DBS check, how many dogs they walk together, and where they walk.
Written by Georgiana & Figo, who will walk with anyone carrying a pocketful of treats.
