I love this article by the Dogs Trust on how to find a good dog walker. I've listed the main points below and you can find the full details here:

• What training do they have?
• Are they insured?
• Are they DBS checked?
• How will your dog be transported?
• Have you signed a contract?
• Do they have good reviews / references?
• Are they canine first aid trained?
• Have they met your dog to understand personality, characteristics and behaviour?

It's so important to pick the right dog walker for you and your precious pooch. Not only do they need to connect with your dog, you also need to feel confident about your choice too. All good dog walkers will expect you to ask questions and will be happy to answer them.

Please get in touch if you and your dog would like to get to know me better!

Our dogs are like family but we don't always think about their diet.  Feeding your dog the right food can help keep them healthy for years to come.  A bad diet can have a negative affect, not just on their health and weight but also on their behaviour.

Buying food for your dog can be a minefield and we have so much choice these days it can be hard to know what brands are best. This website includes a really useful directory so you can check the nutritonal rating of the food you are giving your dog. You can find all the details here. I think you'll agree that some of the results are quite surprising!

If you have a dog, you have probably heard of Alabama Rot.  It is a horrible disease that causes skin lesions, vomiting and acute kidney failure. There have been a number of new cases confirmed so far this year in Devon, the New Forest, Hampshire and closer to home in Berkshire. It is important to remember though that while Alabama Rot is a well publicised disease, it is still very rare.  There have been 241 confirmed cases since 2012.

There is very little information on what causes Alabama Rot so there is no guaranteed way of preventing your dog from becoming affected.  Research shows there may be a link with walking dogs in muddy areas so it is advised to wash your dogs after a walk if they get wet or muddy.

Anderson Moores are the leading veterinary specialist in the UK regarding Alabama Rot and they have a really informative information sheet that is definitely worth a read.  You can find the details here.

I have tried to make good use of my time during lockdown and have completed a diploma in canine behaviour and training. It was such a good course and I learnt a lot. I'm super proud to have achieved a distinction with 100% in all modules.

The course covered:

• Canine History, Genetics & Evolution
• Breed Differences and Senses
• Imprinting & Early Learning
• Social Structure & Emotion
• Communication, Body Language & Stress
• Environmental & Owner Influence
• Health, Diet and Hormones
• How Dogs Learn
• Punishment & Discipline
• Aggression
• How to Train a Dog
• Changing Behaviour 

All dogs, regardless of age and levels of activity can injure themselves.  If your dog is showing any signs of limping/stiffness, difficulty in walking upstairs/getting into a car, pain during or after exercise, a reluctance to play etc, then they may benefit from seeing a McTimoney Chiropractor.

My dog Arielle has always had a bit of a wonky back leg.  My vet had ruled out any medical issue so I decided to try a more holistic approach.  A friend recommended Amber Calleran from Top to Tail Therapy and I have been using her ever since!  Arielle can be very unsure of people she doesn't know but Amber was so gentle and kind and soon gained her trust.  She quickly discovered the cause of Arielle's issues and she is so much better.  Amber also treats horses and she regularly comes to see my horse Lucy to give her a massage and make any adjustments that are needed.  I can't recommend her enough!

If you fancy a holiday with your dog this year, then I would highly recommend Widget's Farm Luxury Cabin near Bath.  We stayed here between Christmas and New Year and had a fabulous time.  The pod is set within its own private meadow so lots of space for your dogs and you also have the use of 7 acres of secure land to use privately each morning.  Perfect if your pooch is nervous or reactive around other dogs.  There is also a dog friendly pub just a 5 minute walk away - what more do you need?  You can find further details here.  Enjoy!

Do you know what to do if you find a stray dog or if yours goes missing?  I have noticed a huge increase in the number of dogs posted on social media that are lost or found and thought this article from the Blue Cross was really helpful.

Firework season is here once again!  The loud bangs and pretty lights are fun for us but many dogs find the noise and light flashes very frightening.  You can find some great tips here to help your dog get through ths tricky time.

To celebrate National Dog Day, I thought I would share this fun guide to understanding your dogs body language.  It offers a great visual overview of common dog behaviours and expressions and the meaning behind them.

Happy National Dog Day!

The Doggy Walker is a year old today!  I want to say a massive thank you to all my lovely customers and everyone that has supported me.  The year has flown by, I've learnt so much and had a huge amount of fun along the way!

My lovely dogs have taught me everything I need to know...

• When you fall down get back up, shake it off, forget about it and move on
• Be brave no matter what your size
• Make your own fun
• Unleash your talents and learn new tricks
• Make new friends
• Sniff out oppourtunities
• Chase after your dreams
• Every day is a brand new day - be happy!

Here's to many more years to come.
THANK YOU!

Summer is finally here so it's really important to keep our dogs cool on hot days.  During my walks, I can't always avoid the midday sun but I will try to keep to shaded areas, places the dogs can swim and avoid too much playing and running around.  I have plenty of water on board my van and will also double check water bowls when I drop your dog back home.  My van is fully ventilated but I will still keep the time spent in the van to a minimum.

Apologies if this blog causes it to rain for the rest of the summer!

I continually strive to offer the best service to my two and four legged customers and as with any job you can never know too much and there are always new things to learn!  So on Saturday I attended a brilliant dog walker workshop with Jo Cottrell at Dog Trouble.

During the workshop we covered:

• Dog body language and communication
• Understanding common behaviour issues
• Managing risk when walking packs of dogs in public areas
• Managing and dealing with confrontation between dogs
• Leading a walk with a pack of dogs
• Mantaining balance within a pack

It was a really great afternoon and I learnt lots!

Just a reminder of my Easter opening times.  I won't be walking on Good Friday or Easter Monday.  Business as usual from Tuesday 29th March.

Happy Easter and a big thank you to all my lovely customers for your support!

Do you need a dog walker?
After being fully booked for the last couple months, I now have a few spaces available on my group walks.  Please get in contact if your dog would like to join the Doggy Walker pack!

After having to make an emergency dash to the vets this week after finding one of my lovely doggy customers at his home surrounded by empty packets of raisins, I thought it would be a good opportunity to remind you all that raisins, currants and grapes are highly poisonous to dogs and can be fatal even in small doses.  Luckily the little pup has pulled through and will hopefully be fighting fit and back walking with the doggy walker pack next week!  You can find more details on common dog poisons and what you need to do if you suspect your dog has been poisoned here.

Great Christmas Tips from Valerie Bennett at the Animal Behaviour Business to keep your beloved pets safe over the festive period.

Any of you that follow my Facebook page will know how much I love a good doggy photo, so I’ve decided to run a Christmas competition with the chance of winning a £25 Pet Barn gift voucher. To enter, all you have to do is like The Doggy Walker Facebook page, share my Christmas Competition Facebook Post and include a photo of your dog in their jolly Christmas outfit. I will be choosing the winner on the 20th December! Get snapping folks!

It may only be November but I’ve already had a few enquiries about walks over the festive period. I will be walking over Christmas and New Year but taking a well-earned break and putting my feet up on the 25th, 26th December and 1st January. If you need your doggy walking please get in contact so I can book you in!

Halloween and Bonfire Night can be a very frightening time for dogs.  This is a great artice from The Kennel Club with lots of advice to help you minimise your dogs stress levels and keep them safe.