New analysis of more than 72,000 pet business insurance policies reveals a surge in pet care businesses, as experts urge owners to check who they are trusting with their pets.
Britain's pet care industry has grown by more than a quarter in just two years, with the number of pet businesses rising by 28% between 2023 and 2025, new research has revealed(1).
Analysing their internal database of 72,000+ pet business insurance policies, Protectivity’s data shows that pet sitting businesses saw the biggest increase, growing by 54%, followed by mobile cat grooming (+41%) and dog grooming (+36%).
The growth comes as the UK’s pet population reaches 36.5 million, with pets living in 62% of households(2). The data also reveals that pet care businesses linked to holiday travel are among the most seasonal in the industry, with pet sitting, home boarding and pet minding all seeing their highest levels of new business sign-ups during the summer months, with sign-ups continuing into autumn.
But, with no licensing or regulation required to become a pet sitter or dog walker, experts are warning owners to check who they're trusting with their beloved pets.
Pet sitting alone accounts for one in every three new pet business policies taken out since 2023, making it the single biggest driver of the sector's overall growth. Together with dog walking, the two services are responsible for almost two-thirds of the industry's expansion over the past two years.
Despite pet sitting's rapid rise, dog walking remains Britain's largest pet business by total volume, with nearly three times as many active policies as dog grooming or home boarding, proving that owners are turning to professional help for pets more consistently than ever.
Pet sitting and dog walking demand remains high as routines shift into autumn
Protectivity’s internal data also shows a seasonal pattern, with new business sign-ups peaking in the summer months, dropping off by 46% in November, though sign-ups remain elevated through autumn as owners increasingly use pet sitters and dog walkers for everyday routines, not just holiday cover.
The trend aligns with peak travel periods, when many families go away, a pattern set to continue into October half-term and the Christmas travel season. However whilst it's good news for pet businesses looking to pick up seasonal work, it also means many owners are sourcing pet care at short notice, in a largely unregulated industry.
The regulation gap many pet owners aren’t aware of
Despite the industry’s rapid growth, pet sitting remains largely unregulated. While home boarding legally requires a licence from the local council under the Animal Welfare act (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, dog walking and pet sitting require no licence at all, and the sector has no official regulatory or mandatory qualifications(3).
This legislative gap means that anyone can advertise themselves as a pet sitter with no formal training, no background checks, and no requirement to hold insurance, leaving millions of pet owners potentially at risk.
Chris Trotman, Head of Sales and Underwriting at Protectivity(4), says the growth is a positive sign for the industry, but urges pet owners to do their own checks before booking:
"It’s great to see through our internal data that pet care is becoming an increasingly strong sector for small businesses, and it's clear that demand from pet owners isn't slowing down any time soon. However, with so many new pet sitters entering the market over the last few years, it's becoming more important than ever for owners to take a few minutes to check who they're trusting with their pet.
“Customers should be able to have faith that their pets are in a safe pair of hands during their time in pet professionals' care and part of fulfilling that responsibility is in trusting that providers have planned for the unexpected.
"Pet owners should ask to see proof of insurance, ask how much experience providers have, and not be afraid to ask what would happen in an emergency. It's a quick conversation to have, but it makes a real difference to your peace of mind while you're away from your beloved pet, and to protecting the pet business owners themselves, who need to make sure they're properly covered too."
Why are Britain's pet businesses on the rise?
Britain’s pet business rise reflects two converging trends. On the demand side, the UK's dog population has grown from 12.5 million five years ago to 15.5 million today, with the number of households with dogs rising from 33% to 41% over the same period, putting sustained pressure on the pool of people available to look after them(2).
On the supply side, pet care is increasingly being run as a proper business rather than a casual favour between neighbours. Nearly half of UK adults (46%) now have a side hustle, up from 39% last year, and the number of side hustlers has grown 20% in the past 12 months alone(5). For many, pet care offers a low barrier way in, with publicly advertised rates showing dog walkers typically earn £16-£25 an hour, while pet sitters can charge upwards of £52 a night for overnight stays(6).
With more pets needing care, and more people willing to provide it professionally, pet sitting has become one of Britain's fastest growing small business categories.
Pet business owner case study: "It's now a proper career path"
Sarah Easterbrook, Company Director at Natural Balance Dog Training(7) started her pet business after leaving a career in marketing. She comments:
"I have always been an animal lover from childhood and after working in Marketing and PR, I realised I didn’t really like office work. I decided I wanted a complete change of lifestyle and I researched some courses on dog training and behaviour work and completed these in my evenings and weekends, as well as doing workshops, and then I started working part-time as a dog trainer. From there, I decided I would love to do dog training full time, and the business began in 2006.
“The business has changed dramatically over the last 20 years! In the beginning, customers heard about me through word of mouth, leaflets in vets and groomers, newspaper and magazine adverts, and literally pavement-pounding to leaflet drop in areas with a high concentration of dogs. Now, the only way to attract new business is through Google and social media and I would say that 90% of all new business comes from online sources.
"I started on my own but became so busy that I realised I could service a bigger area and employ other trainers. As the business expanded I was able to take on people from different locations, so I now have six other trainers who qualified with me and live in different counties."
“I wish I had been more confident about how successful I could be at the start of my journey and had known that I didn’t need to be so stressed about regular income. Quality of life is so much more important than money and my business is now thriving.”
