No, you can’t buy it… but here’s a closer (tongue-in-cheek) look at the one-off Citroen PAWlingo small van conversion made for dog lovers and businesses
Just like the Vauxhall Vivaro Electrici-TEA one-off conversion we reviewed near the beginning of 2026, here’s comes another PR-built van you’ll wish you could buy for the lols – the Citroen PAWlingo, a dog-carrying conversion of the stalwart Citroen Berlingo panel van. Now… this review will go heavy on the conversion rather than the base vehicle, so if you want to find out more about how the Berlingo operates read the panel van review linked above. The PAWlingo is a VERY good conversion, feeling well put together and exactly the kind of van a professional dog walker would fall over themselves to own. There’s space for up to three dogs, two in the special compartments in the back and one in the bed in the front. It has a shower station for washing off muddy dogs, a fully-stocked treat cupboard, hooks for harnesses and compartments for dog bowls and more. The base vehicle is recognisable on the outside (signage aside), but behind every door is something doggy-related and I was impressed with how good the conversion was. While the Vivaro Electrici-TEA felt like a rushed conversion, this one felt like a sturdier job with flush fittings and a far clearer mission in mind.
PS - Did you spot the van's registration plate? Tee hee!
To create the PAWlingo, the Berlingo base van has been converted to transport up to two dogs safely and comfortably in dedicated spaces in the back of the vehicle. These two separate areas have their own locking clear doors with air holes, custom Citroen bedding and timed lights. Either side of the vehicle, the sliding doors hide two separate compartments. On one side you have a the ‘wet zone’ featuring an onboard washing facility with a built-in shower and cosy drying robes for cleaning muddy pets after walks. And on the other you have a ‘dry zone’ fitted with storage for harnesses and leads, a waste bin, and dog treats. It’s all very well put together, showing a clear mission for the conversion, and really does serve as a living, breathing demonstration of the Berlingo's adaptable cargo space.
Expert rating: 5/5
Interior
In the front, the bench seat is equipped with a custom dog bed (similar to the ones in the rear compartments), and the human driver and passenger get the usual Berlingo seats. Aside from the usual small infotainment touch-screen, good driver display, charging sockets and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, it’s the integrated air-conditioning system that serves the most important function here. It’s dedicated to maintaining a temperature somewhere between 15°C and 22°C to minimise any potential travel stress for the animals. Other than that, I’ve always liked the Berlingo’s (and other small Stellantis-alike’s) cabins. They’re comfortable and functional.
Expert rating: 4/5
Running costs
The Berlingo base vehicle is available with an efficient diesel powertrain for high-mileage routes AND fully electric variant (e-Berlingo). The one we drove was the diesel with an automatic gearbox. The new 1.5-litre diesel Berlingo engines claim to provide around 40-55 mpg, while the electric e-Berlingo’s motor/battery combo can offer a range of up to 177 miles. This being a one-off conversion designed for a dog-walking business, you can’t buy it so mentioning finance and lease deals would be relatively pointless.
Expert rating: 3/5
Reliability
Well, it’s the Berlingo… a van that’s been on sale in the UK for 30 years through multiple generations and facelifts. It’s also backed by Citroen’s commercial vehicle service network of dealerships, and the electric e-Berlingo is assembled at the Ellesmere Port manufacturing facility. If it were available to buy like other vans, it would no doubt come with the standard Citroen warranty – three years / 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. It gets three stars here because other vans have up to 10-year warranties. So…
Expert rating: 3/5
Performance
The PAWlingo I drove packed the reliable 1.5-litre diesel engine mated to an automatic gearbox. That engine spits out around 100 horsepower performing nicely with a relatively smooth drive despite the laggy gearbox. The Berlingo claims to have an “efficient, torque-rich” experience, but I just felt the usual over revving while the auto box tried to decide what to do next. It’s not a dealbreaker, just something to adjust to. Its compact size makes it a super-easy van to trail around town in, however. There’s very few parking spaces it can’t squeeze into either.
Expert rating: 3/5
Ride and handling
I’ve been through this in the main review for the base vehicle, but the high-density foam beds and cushioned seating have been specifically designed to dampen vibrations and road surface lumps and bumps to make the ride smoother. An unladen Berlingo usually wobbles around into corners, but the conversion obviously adds some weight over the back axle and stiffens the PAWlingo’s driving manners up well. The Berlingo’s small size keeps it nimble, with a tight turning circle, and relatively stress-free parking. Conversion or not, it drives fine and the Berlingo feels like a perfect van for a dog-walking business.
Expert rating: 3/5
Safety
Aside from the Berlingo’s safety systems – which you can read about in the main review – the PAWlingo has cameras installed in each animal compartment so you can monitor the animals without having to pull over. The climate regulation is fixed somewhere between 15 and 22°C to stop the animals overheating. And there are tethering points and storage for harnesses and leads that help keep pets safely secured during travel. Finally, the conversion was carried out in partnership with Blue Cross welfare experts to make sure the PAWlingo met behavioral and physical animal safety requirements. Can’t fault it on that front!
Expert rating: 5/5
Equipment
Well, it’s always worth a recap of the conversion’s equipment highlights so here we go. It has a built-in wash shower station, drying robes for the animals, a waste disposal bin, lead and harness storage racks, a treat storage compartment, travel compartment video surveillance cameras, and the multi-zone air-conditioning system. And the rest of the Berlingo’s features, too.
Expert rating: 4/5
Why buy?
So… why buy a one-off conversion you can’t buy? Well, if you could buy it then it would be because you’re a dog-walking business owner looking for one of the best put-together van conversions MADE FOR a dog-walking business. The base vehicle has enough popularity and reliability to satisfy you on that front, and the conversion has the credibility of being designed alongside the Blue Cross. I mean, what more could you want? Except to be able to buy it, because you can’t. But it might give you some inspiration if you were thinking of how to kit out a van for a dog-walking business!
