Professional dog walkers will have to get a permit to work on royal land under new rules revealed this month.
Windsor Great Park, Swinley Forest, and Buttersteep Forest — all owned by the Crown Estate — will require professional dog walkers to obtain a permit to use their land from the end of March.
They will also limit the number of dogs a person can walk at a time to four.
But Sarah Stanford, from Datchet, near Windsor, Berks., says she needs to walk six dogs at once for her business to be viable – and claims she has not been given enough notice to finance an expensive new license.
The dog walker, who has 18 years’ experience, says she is insured to walk six dogs – as are many of her colleagues.
She therefore does not understand why the Crown Estate have introduced the ‘four dog rule’ – and is worried she will no longer be able to afford to run her business once the changes come into force.
Sarah, 59, said: “To make any of our businesses viable, we need to be able to walk six dogs.
“We’re all insured to walk six – and insurers are the pickiest people in the world.
“So I’m really not sure where the number four has come from.
“There was no proper consultation about this and it means that I’ll have to completely change my business model.
“Costs will have to be passed on to my customers and I worry I’ll lose business as a result.
“It really is near catastrophic.”
It was announced last week that from March 31 professional dog walkers using Windsor Great Park, Swinley Forest, and Buttersteep Forest must obtain a permit to keep working there.
The permit for Windsor Great Park will cost £500 [$622.91 USD] while the permit for Swinley Forest and Buttersteep Forest will cost £600 [$747.49 USD].
This, the Windsor Estate said, will help “manage and regulate the number of professional dog walkers who operate on the Estate”, “improve and safeguard the visitor experience across Windsor Great Park and Forests”, and “safeguard vital habitats and rare flora and fauna”.
Professional dog walkers will also have to abide by a new Code of Conduct from February 25.
This states that people cannot walk with more than four dogs at one time, should always be prepared to put a dog back on a lead when needed, and should stick to the main paths so dogs do not disturb surrounding wildlife or habitats.
The Crown Estate has said the new rules follow advice from a number of animal organizations, such as Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, The Kennel Club, and The Dogs Trust, and argued that the number four best balances the needs of dog walkers with public safety and wildlife protection.
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The RSPCA also recommends walking no more than four dogs at once.
Sarah however thinks the number is unreasonable.
She said: “We’re not angling to walk 12 dogs at a time. That’s outrageous.
“But I do walk six and I’m insured to do that.
“We are professionals and personally, I don’t walk dogs that don’t have good recall.
“I always do a trial walk with an owner to check a dog before taking them on as a client.
“And honestly, I don’t feel there’s much of a difference between six and four dogs.”
Sarah says she also feels it is unfair to suggest that professional dog walkers are the ones damaging the wildlife and their habitats.
She said: “We all agree that things need tightening up. It’s chaos at the weekend.
“But it feels as if we are being blamed for the situation.
“How do they know it’s professional dog walkers who are damaging things, and not people just walking their dogs?
“We’re just an easy target. It feels like they’re using us as whipping boys.”
Sarah said some of her fellow dog walkers have already decided to quit following the announcement – and she admitted she is fearful for the future of her business.
She said: “Some have already thrown the towel in as their businesses just won’t be viable.
“And I’m going to have to up my prices. But with customers already struggling in the current economic climate – I may be put out of business.
“You already don’t make much as a dog walker. It’s not a money-spinning business.
“I just wish they could have consulted us and taken into account how we operate.
“No one seems to have thought this through.”
In a statement to the BBC, a Crown Estate spokesperson said: “The [professional] permit will ensure that all professional dog walkers are compliant with health and safety standards for their dogs and staff, that they are fully insured, that their customers are protected while their dogs are walked in Windsor Great Park and Forest, and that our other visitors are comfortable.
“While we are supportive of local businesses, we must prioritise the safety and security of our visitors to Windsor Great Park, and protect both the environment and local wildlife.”
