Thoughtful Dog Walker Gift Ideas: How To Say Thank You In The UK
Your dog walker knows your dog's habits better than most of your family does, has a key to your house, and spends February in horizontal rain. At Christmas, people either overthink the gift or forget entirely.
We make cards, pin badges and prints in house, printed in the UK. We don't paint pet portraits ourselves, so where we recommend a commissioned portrait it is a recommendation rather than our own product.
Here's what's normal in the UK, what to give, and how much cash is right.
Shop the cards that go with these
Browse pet cards and prints Thank you cards Father's Day gifts from the dog Dog mum gifts she'll treasure
Pet cards, prints and pin badges we make ourselves
Designed and printed in the UK, posted the same working day where we can.
What to give at Christmas
- Cash in a card. Unglamorous and genuinely the most useful thing. A week's worth of walks is the common benchmark, or £20-£50 for a regular walker.
- A card written from the dog, naming them and something specific they do. Walkers keep these.
- A portrait or print of their favourite four-legged client, which nobody else will ever have thought of.
- Good gloves, a proper flask, or waterproof over-trousers - the kit they use to destruction.
- A voucher for a coffee shop on their route, which is more useful than a big chain miles away.
- A treat tin for the van and a bag of the treats they hand out.
Farewell gifts, when the dog or the walker moves on
- A framed portrait or a printed photo of them with the dog. This is the one that makes people cry.
- A photo book of the dog across the years they walked together.
- A written reference and a public review, which is worth more to a self-employed walker than any gift.
- A card signed by the dog with a paw print.
- If the dog has died, tell the walker directly rather than by cancelling the booking. They loved that dog too.
How much and when
- Christmas: £20-£50 cash for a regular walker, or the value of one week's walks.
- One-off dog sitting over a holiday: an extra day's fee as a thank you.
- A small business with several walkers: give to the person who actually walks your dog, not the company.
- Give it in mid-December, before the last walk. The last walk often moves.
- If money is tight, a card and an honest online review cost nothing and help more than you'd think.
What to avoid
- Scented candles and bath sets. They get twelve.
- Anything perishable that needs a fridge, when they're out in a van all day.
- A gift that assumes they own a dog themselves - plenty don't.
- Alcohol without knowing whether they drink.
- Paying late and giving a gift. Pay the invoice first; that is the real thank you.
Found your words? Now find the card
Browse pet cards and prints Thank you cards Father's Day gifts from the dog Dog mum gifts she'll treasure
How to write it so it lands
- Write the dog's name in the card. It's the connection, not yours.
- Send a photo of the dog they walk as part of the gift - they rarely have good ones.
- An online review in January, when bookings are quiet, is worth real money to them.
You might also be interested in...
We make cards, pin badges, prints and party bits in house. These are from other shops we rate, and buying through the link costs you nothing extra.
Say it first
Where to shop next
- Father's Day gifts from the dog
- Dog mum gifts she'll treasure
- How to include your dog in your wedding
- Dog-themed home decor
- Pet portraits UK: costs and how to choose
- How much does a pet portrait cost?
- Best photos to send for a pet portrait
- Gifts for dog lovers
- Gifts for cat lovers
- Christmas gifts for pet owners
- Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
- How to make a balloon arch
- Photo booth prop ideas
- Thank you cards
- Thank you cards guide
- Pin badges
- All guides
Frequently asked questions
What should you give a dog walker for Christmas?
Cash in a card is the standard - around £20-£50 or the value of one week's walks - plus something personal like a card written from the dog or a print of their favourite client.
How much do you tip a dog walker at Christmas in the UK?
Most people give the equivalent of one week's walks, or £20-£50 for a regular walker. Give it mid-December rather than on the last booking, which often gets moved.
What's a good farewell gift for a dog walker?
A framed photo or commissioned portrait of them with your dog, a photo book of their years together, and a written reference plus a public review - which matters most to a self-employed walker.
What should you not give a dog walker?
Scented candles, bath sets, fridge-dependent food and anything assuming they own a dog. And never give a gift while an invoice is outstanding.
Do you paint pet portraits yourselves?
No. We design and print cards, pin badges and wall prints in the UK. A commissioned portrait mentioned here is an outside recommendation, not something we make.