Choosing pet professionals you can trust

For vets: RCVS Practice Standards Scheme accreditation is the visible quality signal — practices are inspected against detailed clinical and welfare standards. For groomers, look for City & Guilds Level 2/3 qualifications and proper hand-stripping experience for breeds that need it (terriers, spaniels). For dog walkers, professional indemnity insurance, DBS check, dog first-aid certification, and a maximum group size of 4-6 is the modern standard. For trainers, force-free / reward-based methods are now the welfare and effectiveness consensus — be wary of trainers using shock collars or "alpha" theory. For home boarding, your local council issues animal-activity licences (since 2018); always confirm a current licence before booking — the council's website lists all licensed boarders publicly.