Diary of a Dog Walker

Diary of a Dog Walker has moved!

2011-11-07T07:44:00.000Z

My Diary of a Dog Walker has moved to my new website. You can now find it on Brentwood Dog Trainer.

I hope you continue reading over there! I have turned comments off on this site due to the amount of spam so if you'd like to contact me or comment, please get in touch my Dog Walking in Brentwood page.

Hot Weather Tips for Pets

2011-06-14T16:30:00.000+01:00

Dogs should never be left in a car on a hot day – even in the shade or with windows open. If you are taking the dog on a car journey try to avoid travelling during the hottest part of the day. Ensure the dog is not in direct sunlight, and take plenty of water. On long trips, stop frequently, they should be drinking little and often, not gulping large quantities. If you have to leave the car for a comfort break, you should consider whether to take your dog if you don't have a companion to leave with them. Dogs cool down by panting, which fills the air with moisture. In a hot car they can't evaporate enough water quickly enough to cool down, plus the air can only hold so much moisture. Even with a boot or window open if there's no breeze it could still get too hot for your dog. Never allow your dog to hang their head out of the window when driving.

Dogs shouldn't be walked during the hottest part of the day, morning and evening are preferable. I find shady areas to walk your dogs, avoiding hot pavements which may burn their paws, and I always carry water. Dogs benefit most from little and often, so we do lots of pit stops and we do not walk as far as on cooler days.

This summer I will be taking the dogs to ponds and pools to allow them to swim or paddle on very hot days. If you do not wish your dog to get wet or muddy please let me know. I can't promise to keep dogs out of water without keeping them on a lead, as they will find mud and water holes in places I can't go, but I will do my best. I do rub down with towels and maybe a quick brush so at least they aren't dripping, but am not able to bathe or groom them before returning them home.

During the day at home, most double glazing can be locked in the 'ajar' position to allow for fresh air and to catch any breeze if you are unable to leave windows open, or try moving the dogs to another area if necessary. Conservatories get VERY HOT, even 'open plan' with a conventional room the heat travels and can be stiffling. Blinds are essential, but won't stop all the heat. A fan may be needed. A plastic bottle of tap water can be frozen, wrapped in a tea towel and left for your dog to lie against if they wish to, you can also do this for rabbits.

Open windows on the top floor can be hazardous to cats – they often land on their feet, but this can be followed by their jaws and teeth, which may then need medical attention.

Pets must be able to move out of a hot environment into a cooler one, so leave doors open in the house if necessary – bathrooms and kitchens can be a popular choice for pets, as the floor is often much cooler for them to lie on.

Short-nosed, black and long-haired breeds can suffer more from the heat. If they overheat, soaking them in cool (not cold) water and rubbing it right down to the skin is more beneficial than covering them with a wet towel. Don't forget underneath as well, the groin and ‘armpit’ area, as this is where most cooling will occur.

White dogs, cats and rabbits (or with white patches in sensitive areas), can get sunburn on ears, nose and around the eyes. Pet sunscreen is very rare, and hard to get hold of (products may be different for different species), so speak to your vet to see if they recommend a sunscreen – check with your insurance company that they will be covered if they have a reaction or lick it off. If your pet sunbathes on its back the stomach is at risk of burning, so keep them in the shade. Avoiding the sun is preferable.

Watch out for ticks while walking in long grass or meadows especially if there are horses or livestock nearby. These can be removed with a special 'tick tweezer'. Avoid smothering or burning the tick as this can cause it to release saliva or stomach contents, raising the risk of infection Remove them as soon as possible as disease transmission risk increases the longer they are attached. Grass seeds can be a real hazard as if they find a small wound, graze, or even thin skin they can work their way inside your dog, so check paws, eyes and ears if they seem irritated, a vet visit may be needed to remove them.

Bee stings – remove the sting by scraping it with a hard object, avoid using tweezers as this can lead to more poison entering your pet. Bathe with bicarbonate of soda and water, also an ice pack can relieve pain. Wasp stings – bathe the area with vinegar. There will be some swelling, if this is excessive, or inside or around your dog's mouth a vet check may be needed as pets can be allergic to stings in the same way humans can, and swelling can block the airway.

Multi-dog walks - good or bad?

2011-05-28T08:06:00.002+01:00

Avoid walkers who take out multiple dogs at the same time. IMO they care more about the cash than the dog's welfare.

I saw this comment on a message board, where someone was asking the legalities of a dog walker taking out their dog aggressive dog. For the legal side, Trevor Cooper is your main man, and that is not what I am here to discuss. For dogs who are aggressive to others, that is also not my main concern. I'd like to talk about walking more than one dog at a time.

I often get told 'that's a handful you've got there' when I'm walking a small group of dogs - my idea of a small group may be your idea of a large pack of dogs. I am insured to walk up to six dogs at a time, but rarely walk this many on my own. I prefer a ratio of one handler per four dogs, which some still feel is a large group.

Let me explain. I have seen owners who cannot control their ONE dog. It's off the lead, running around 'being friendly' but really barging up to people and dogs alike, regardless of the welcome it might get. The owner calls it back, and it ignores the calls. Finally the owner comes over to get it, or they walk on, leaving the dog to rejoin them when the dog feels the owner is far enough away to want to close the gap (I call this the critical distance). I have also seen dogs straining and pulling on the lead as they want to come over to my group, while the owner has to drag them along to get them moving. Who really has the 'handful'?

I posted the comment (protecting the writer's identity) onto Twitter, here are some of the response I got, mainly from other dog walkers and dog trainers, so if you're a dog owner I'd love to hear your views too!

I wouldn't want multi-dogs for my dog. 1 person, 10 dogs. How does 1 person handle unexpected safely w/ 40 dog paws in mix? And the ones who unload a truckfull @ the off-leash park? Yeah. I think those are more profit, less welfare. Caninestein

Quite agree especially when they have a large pack off lead! Once saw 1 person with 11 dogs most off lead. WagtimeUK

Lots of people round here up 7-10 dogs stick em in a van drive to the park and open the doors and let them run. we do 1-2-1 unless the owner wants them walked with another dog never more than 4. hard to control and dogs don't get enough attention. PlatinumPetcare

This really is a ridiculous amount of dogs for one person to be walking, and does seem like profit before welfare. How can you watch the dogs when you're picking up the dog poo? How can you carry that many bags, all the leads and still be in control of the dogs? What happens if one dog puts their foot down a rabbit hole and sprains an ankle?

Totally disagree - I take a group out in which all dogs are vetted and introduced carefully. It allows owners to pick the time best for them (normally lunchtime) which means dogs are not left for too long either side. PoochesGalore

I still prefer 1 on 1 (w/ bonus of training while walking), but might consider skillful walker with, maybe 4 max. Caninestein

I think it depends on the walker and what dogs they have. When I walk big dogs that pull I only walk 1 or 2, but if I have dogs that are well behaved & don't pull & have good recall then I walk 3 or 4. Depends on what owners want as well. Born2RunPetCare

Our walker takes our 2 out with max 2 others - have no prob. with that - would worry about many more... ttouchtrainer

When they say "multiple" what kind of numbers are they talking about? I only take 4-5.insured for 6 but feel safe with max 5. misstew

This last one is the point I feel - how many dogs is safe to walk, what is considered 'multiple'? I felt defensive when I saw the comment on the message board, as the dogs I walk are all trained in recall, they all know what No means, and if I say 'Wait' they stop walking. Equally, if I stop walking to collect a dog poo, so do all the dogs! Some dogs are less speedy at obeying than others, but if they are having a mad five minutes, there's always the lead. Making sure there are only 4 dogs or less per person means it's a reasonable number to walk on leads together. But it appears there are still dog walkers out there who feel that 10 is a good number to walk - I once saw two walkers taking 13 dogs out... On a Wednesday I have 8 dogs on my lunchtime walk - my assistant takes 4, and I take 4! Occasionally we will walk them all together, but Will takes 2 or 3 on lead, and be ready to jump in with another, while I'm supervising and playing with the other dogs.

Also it should be remembered that most dog walkers are experienced in walking multiple dogs, so they don't wander along with phone in hand, MP3 player stuck in ears, or chatting with friends as I've seen so many owners with their ONE dog doing - the dog gets no interaction from the owner so has to make its own amusement.

My one exception to my 1-4 rule is when I have one or more of my dogs with me. They not only have an instant, emergency recall, but a 'walking recall' which means when called back they stay with me until released. This means I can safely 'ignore' them, because once called back I know they'll stay and I can concentrate on any slower dogs.

The general consensus seems to be that very small groups, of 4 or less, is a number the walker can safely deal with, and still be in control. So when you see a walker with more dogs than this, think to yourself, what is their motivation? It is true this is not only a vocation for some of us, but it also has to pay the rent. That's not to say money comes first, but we have to make a living, while ensuring the safety and welfare of each of the dogs in our care. Four seems to be a reasonable number to allow both of these things to happen, while keeping fees affordable for all the lovely dog owners out there. The alternative, thousands of dogs left alone for 8 or 9 hours a day, is just too sad.

Crazy isn't it? Good dog walkers are worth their weight in gold!! WagtimeUK

10 tips to find a GREAT dog walker

2011-05-28T08:04:00.002+01:00

How do you tell the great from the mediocre? How can you make sure the person you find will work day in, day out, no matter what the weather and really care for your dog the way you do?

Finding a dog walker is easy. Check any online free ad site or pet directory and there will be plenty there, or ask your friends and family. A visit to your vet or local pet shop as well should mean you now have a list of dog walkers who cover your area

My top ten of things to look out for should make your life easier and your dog’s life more fulfilling.

Love – do they love dogs? Will they kneel in the mud to check a sore paw? Will they not mind too much if their leg is mistaken for a lamppost? Great dog walkers do the job because they enjoy spending time with dogs and can’t help falling in love with each of them.
‘Can do’ attitude – dog walkers are there to make your life easier, to help you take care of your best friend, so you need someone who will work hard to make it happen for you. Need to change something? Dog not well and you want an update, a bandage rewrapped or medication given? You want to hear ‘yes’ and know it’s taken care of. If they really can’t help this time, you need to know that too.
Safety & security– your walker should know how many dogs they can safely handle, both walking and in a vehicle. Is your key kept safe and your house locked up securely each time? For multiple pickups the van should be secured each and every time it is left.
Paperwork – there is no national regulation for dog walkers but a great dog walker will be insured, as well as registered as a proper business or self-employment. If they take dogs in overnight and charge a fee they need a boarding licence. If they tell you they don’t, check with the licensing department of your local council, and if their insurance company covers them without a licence.
Knowledge – A great dog walker will have great local knowledge. They’ll know all the great places to walk your dog and what bylaws or dog control orders may be in force (and obey them) , and will hold a Canine First Aid certificate. If your breed of dog is new to them, they’ll want to read up on it to do the best for your dog.
Experience – everybody has to start somewhere, but have they ever owned a dog? A great dog walker will start small and build up as they gain experience. If their own dog never listens to them how will they manage your dog? A great dog walker will live with great dogs.
Understanding – you are only human and might sometimes forget to book or cancel on time. Sometimes you need someone to talk to about your dog, or have what you might fear is a silly question. A great dog walker won’t mind if you text at 10pm because you’re worried about your dog and don’t know who else to turn to.
Focus – are they concentrating on and committed to the dogs in their care, or doing something else such as chatting on the phone? Is this something they do for a living, or are they waiting for something better to come along? A great dog walker will see their work as a vocation.
Value for money – are they offering a deal that seems too good to be true? They may be cutting corners or trying to undercut other walkers. A dog walker who is too cheap may walk lots of dogs at once, cut walks short, or give up unexpectedly when something better comes their way. Equally if they are charging a great deal more than other local dogs walkers, do they really offer a superior service, or are they more interested in the money?
Reliability – Do they turn up when they say they will, and walk for as long as you expect? Do they give plenty of notice of time off? Does their vehicle break down on a regular basis? A great dog walker will maintain their vehicle well, and not use it as an excuse for a day off.

Every dog walker will have their own style, and only you can decide what is most important to you and your dog. These are the things I’ve found most useful to my customers over the years, so go now and find your great dog walker!

Why I Won't use Extending Leads

2011-03-28T07:20:00.000+01:00

One of these leads has either snapped or been chewed through. The other has definitely snapped as there's no lead there any more!

Most of my regular clients know that I don't like extending leads and won't use them. If that's all a dog owner has, I'll bring my own, it's not a problem. I've recently read a couple of blogs where a dog trainer has done some research and compared them to guns (only in America!), and a blogger who works his terriers in the States also agrees they are dangerous.

My assistant once said "I know you don't like them", but that's not the case. I believe them to be dangerous - as do the manufactuers who have a very, very long safety notice on the product. Possibly the smallest injury could be cuts to your fingers, if you grab the lead - you can't reel the dog in without the dog's co-operation as they have to relax the pressure. If they don't, then you have to hold the lead to allow the mechanism to work. If the dog pulls at that time - cuts all over your fingers, which, like, paper cuts, may not be life-threatening or bleed, but are very, very painful! Finger amputation is apparently a real worry.

If you have a small dog. and he pulls it out of your hands - if it retracts while he's running and hits him in the back of the head it can cause a lot of damage, even death. If this is avoided, dogs have been known to be so scared by the noise of it dragging along behind them they've run away in panic, getting lost - if you've been walking your dog on the side of the road - he could run out into traffic (a danger when he's on the lead as well). Dog have also been known to jump obstacles, that chunky handle getting stuck, the dog can't reach the ground on the other side and slowly strangles.

If you use a flexi lead because your dog doesn't have a recall, please contact a good trainer in your area who can work with you to improve that for you.

They also encourage your dog to pull on the lead, something you may be dealing with for the 10-15 years of your dog's life.

Searching, searching, searching

2011-03-25T07:46:00.002Z

On my week off I've been in Hertfordshire with my dog Fred learning yet more games to play - tracking and trailing as I did in India, so now I'm looking for a couple of dogs to come with me to a Network Scout event to get those Scouts up and moving and laying tracks, hiding in the woods and murdering people and hiding body parts in fields.

That last bit we may have to simulate with rancid pork! Whoever said dog training had to be boring?

Let me know if you want more information or have a few hours spare on a Tuesday night. I promise it is getting warmer out there in the evenings.

I've also signed up for geocaching. This is like a treasure hunt, where all over the world people have hidden caches - anything from a large box filled with treasure, to teeny tiny containers holding just a strip of paper to note down your name to say 'I found this!'. I'm hoping it will introduce me to new places to walk the dogs, but fear I already know all the best places for fun and games. The best bit is that the dogs help me find the caches - as they're all encouraged to tell me if they find something lying on the ground (you never know they might find a £20 note!) they know to help me search for anything with human scent on it.

Current Vacancies

2011-03-25T07:46:00.000Z

Dog walking & puppy sitting

Due to high demand I have no vaccancies at the moment for new dogs to come onto my dog walking or puppy sitting service as I am completely full and I can't squash any more dogs in.

I hope to reopen my books in September 2011.

I'm always happy to take enquiries from people wanting to work with dogs!

Cat Sitting

Lots and lots of space for lovely cats - summer bookings being taken now!

Home Boarding

Summer holidays are fully booked - I may be able to squeeze in a short stay, but nothing more than a few days.

Dog & puppy training

Weekends or from 3-7pm. I'm trying to put together a little team for tracking and trailing fun training - all dogs stay on leads so no problem if you're not sure of your recall - although I can teach that too!

Terriers a speciality!

Guest Post on Intellidogs

2011-03-14T17:53:00.003Z

Hello!

Some of my readers may have found your way here through my guest post "10 tips to find a GREAT dog walker" on the Intellidogs website, and not know who I am, so I'd like to introduce myself.

I'm Linda Ward, a dog walker from Brentwood in Essex, and I've been doing this job (more like a vocation) since 2006. First unpaid as a foster mum for rescue, and walking kennelled greyhounds, then from 2008 as a professional dog walker. I usually blog about the dogs and cats I look after, but also include tips on dog & puppy care, training and advice.

Here are some of my favourite Diary of a Dog Walker posts:

Dogs with Jobs - introducing my dogs and my thoughts on how dog walks work best
Shocking truth about exercise - what I do with clients dogs while I've got them
Safe travel - how to keep dogs safe when travelling
How to teach your puppy to pull on the lead - prevention is better than cure!
Games for the garden - Kong Ice Suprise and the Sandpit

I hope there's something there you find interesting!

If you didn't find your way from Intellidogs, go visit!

Tellings off

2011-02-21T07:48:00.006Z

When I was a young teenager I once got into a fight with my younger brother and our cousin, who were both a little younger than me. They'd been teasing me for a long time, and I'd snapped and hit my cousin. My dad was FURIOUS and told me that they could push me under a bus and I still could not hit them. So of course, being kids, they just teased and taunted me all the more, especially when around traffic, as now they had permission from my dad (status by association) to do what they liked to me as I was not allowed to retaliate.

Did this decrease the chance that they would get hurt by me? No. It increased it. As I was only a child myself and hadn't learned self-control. So I just hit them all the more to try to make them stop - no-one was protecting me (in fact the protection was going to the boys who were ganging up and bullying me) I had to do it myself. Eventually, the boys were crying, then I got walloped by my dad and I was crying too. We all got hurt.

Why do I tell you something that makes me sound unpleasant and maybe a bit of a thug? Chances are we've all got into fights with our families when we were kids and you'll understand. But why is it related to dogs? I'll tell you.

When I look after puppies, they get a lot of leeway from my dogs, and the dogs I walk, as they're all good-natured nice family pets. But they all have different temperaments and different levels of tolerance of being messed about by puppies.

One day I was walking with an older puppy, just on the cusp of adolescence when the tolerance of adult dogs can sometimes drop. He was bouncing around, happy to be alive and in the great outdoors, wanting to play, like every other puppy. He'd bounce off the other dogs every now and then, trying to get a game going. None were really interested as they just wanted to do their own thing, and dogs walking with me never know how long they are going to be out so they like to pace themselves just in case.

So eventually one of them had enough, and told the puppy off. He ran off to another dog, who also told him off, which started a bit of noise and nonsense with a couple of the dogs running after the pup and barking at him - really telling him off, but not hurting him. He ran to me for protection, as that's what I always teach the dogs. If you're worried or don't like what's going on - come to me. Only when the pup got to me this time...

I told him off too.

Why would I do such a wicked thing? Because I don't want to give the puppy status by association. He has to learn that he can't just insist on a game. He can't go up to other dogs and bounce all over them. He can ask for a game, and lots of dogs will say yeah, great! But when they say no, he has to accept that or face sometimes unpleasant consequences. Of course, being a pup who did what he was supposed to by coming to me I didn't tell him off badly. I simply ignored him. Wouldn't look at him, wouldn't touch him, wouldn't talk to him. I don't want him to think coming to me is a bad thing. I just wanted him to know that I wasn't happy with him either.

This protects ALL dogs, as this puppy is learning that when he's told no he should gracefully accept it. The other dogs know they do not have to bite or fight because they are allowed to tell another dog to leave them alone. Why didn't I stop the puppy bouncing on them in the first place? Because it wasn't excessive, he just hadn't accepted the no the first time. When pups are really excessive and not taking no for an answer time after time after time no matter what, I will take steps to prevent them being a bother, usually keeping them on a lead until they've calmed down. But in cases like this it is beneficial to allow the puppy to learn something without being traumatised by bouncing up to a dog who's had one too many dogs bounce on him and get bitten.

Two minutes after that I did a successful recall with the puppy which meant I could shower him with love and affection. By leaving it two minutes, pup didn't associate the fuss and love with the scolding from the other dogs, nor my cold reaction. He just knew he'd done A Good Thing and Aunty Was Pleased.

I'd like to tell you a story of a pond

2011-02-16T10:33:00.002Z

The Dog Pond. Some of you may remember seeing such lovely photos as:

Summer time, the water level is low, there's a little bit of beach for the dogs to investigate, those that haven't learned the joys of swimming yet like to have a paddle.

Today the dog pond is two or even three feet higher than in the summer, all that melting snow and ice, the recent rain, it looks like this:

Very full, no beaches! Cato's on a mission to play with Bobbi.

Ooops, overshot the bank and fell in! He's dragging himself out, as usual Fred has to check things out to see if anything needs a little help.

It's not deterred him though, he still wants to play!

but wait! What's that going on behind Bobbi??

Scamp's falling in!! He must have thought it was shallow enough to paddle in. He's never swam before, only paddled, and he's wearing a fleece coat and harness! Oh no! What's going to happen? His head has gone right under (ears float, that's quite interesting...) It's such a deep pond for such a short dog. Are those little legs capable of getting him back to shore? Will his wet coat and harness drag him under and weigh him down? I don't fancy getting in there on a cold morning, that's for sure, but if a rescue is needed, it'll have to be done.

Oh no, panic over. He can swim.

I did have to drag him onto shore, but at least he got back by himself.

And thanks to his fleece coat, he wasn't that badly soaked so didn't get cold on the way back to the van.

New Dog Training Techniques - back from India

2011-02-06T08:22:00.006Z

I'm hoping to write a few blogs about India itself, about the people, what I thought about how they live, their dogs, both street and owned.

Here's some of the dog training.

Training Sheba the Saluki to do the Guide Dog task.

At the test on the last day (blindfolded) I did walk into one barrel, but with more time to train I'm sure Sheba would have carefully led me round every obstacle! She also alerted and led me to the doorbell at the end of the task - a Hearing Dog task.

Training Sheba to detect tobacco

Some of the dogs were learning to detect explosives, tobacco isn't quite as glamorous but apparently it's hard to get the scent of drugs through customs. No idea why... For this section we were being trained by Jane Sharp, who trains the detection dogs at Heathrow Airport.

The lecture hall. I'm hidding behind other students, but see if you can spot me!

All the lectures were outside. This was where we had our lectures about dog behaviour and learned the techniques we then used on the dogs.

Tracking session

We learned 'search and rescue' style tracking, teaching the dogs to use not just the track itself, but sight, sound and the air currents. Helped along by us! So we learned a little bit about following tracks as well, and if wespotted the item, person or sausages that counted, it wasn't the dog working on their own. I'm told this is properly called 'trailing' and is great fun to do, as you really are working in harmony with your dog.

The great thing about all of these activities is that they are all done on the lead. So any dog can do it,, it doesn't matter if they pull on the lead, or are not reliable off the lead. Plus it can be done in areas dogs may not be allowed off the lead. I'd like to use my new skills to make training fun again. So no endlessly marching up and down a training hall in a line with a group of other dogs.

Dogs can be useful again - the Hearing Dog task for instance - ever mislaid your mobile phone? You ring it, but still can't quite place it, which coat or bag has it been left in? Or maybe you dropped it, you know roughly where, but can't see it. Your dog can take you straight there.

If you're walking along having a chat with friends, have you ever 'nearly' walked into a lampost or a tree? Your dog can make sure those near misses never happen, and once they've learned to lead you around obstacles, the bond between you strengthens and you can use this to help stop pulling on the lead.

And after the more standard exercises are done, what's more fun than teaming up with some other dog lovers, splitting into two teams, and using your dogs to help find a person who is 'lost' or better yet, a trail with all the makings of a picnic on it! If your dog doesn't find something you may find you have everything to make a cuppa but the teabag, but that's where the fun is. Maybe the other team found the tea, but not the milk.

Once our dogs have learned to locate lost items, we will never lose our keys again! Anything that's dropped can be found again, and dogs regain their lost purpose. Many of our breeds today were bred to work - while some dogs have a working life and there are plenty of dog sports to try out there, they all need investment in money and time, especially if you want to compete seriously.

Our dogs were finding 'lost' people very, very quickly, after very few sessions they were leading us around on a night track (completely dark, no street lights in the mountains of Pune - I've never, ever seen so many stars), successfully finding the spoons our trainers had left for us. I think we missed one, but on 'test day' we found enough letters to make the word TEAMWORK.

Some of these skills are very new to me, so I'm practising them with my dogs, but if you fancy a short session, we can meet in the park and learn together -the more dogs I do this with the more I will learn. Fees, coffee if it's a chilly day, diet coke if it's a warm day! If I can teach a 7 month old Saluki, your dog can learn this too. I also worked with ten year old Sarah, so there really is no limit on the dogs who can learn these skills.

I have two more course this year, one in March repeating some of the trailing work with one of my dogs, then one in May repeating some of the detection work, with another of my dogs. I've been told I don't need to do these after being in India, but I'd like the refresher on the techniques and of course I get to work with my dogs under expert supervision.

Off to India - back 31st January 2011

2011-01-03T09:04:00.000Z

I'm off to India today, so you won't hear from me for another four weeks. Have a really good January, and I look forward to getting back in touch with everyone in February.

In the meantime, let me leave you with some pics of my wonderful helpers while I was packing.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T18:11:00.000Z

The start of a new year!

I'd like to thank all my clients and their dogs, my friends who've kept me sane, my assistants Will and Caitlin, and my family who help me out when I really need it for all the help and support I've had in 2010.

Review of the Year

It was a wonderful year after a bit of a ropey start with first my van being written off in February

then the washing machine broke down after the thaw when mud was everywhere!

But I've met so many lovely people, wonderful dogs, and really, really love my job!

We've had 12 months of Dog of the Month:

December is still under wraps as my last few walks were cancelled so although the rosette has been presented, the photo op hasn't happened yet. You'll have to wait. ;)

When I started Dog of the Month I only had around 10 regulars, but by the end of the year I have around 18 dogs I see at least once a week. So for the dogs who didn't win their rosette this year, there's always 2011!

I also gave out my very own Walkies Award, for those long-suffering dogs who have managed to survive a year of Walkies with me. There are plans for more awards for the coming year, including for cats this time, as I'm very proud of the dogs I walk and the cats I care for and think the world should know about them!

For me, I've attended courses on Grooming Difficult Dogs as that gave me a good grounding in handling dogs that don't want to be handled, as well as learning to read their body language, Dog Law so I know where we stand and although I can't advise I can at least point people in the right direction if needed, Ultimate Recall so I don't lose any dogs and can help those having trouble, Breeds Needs to give me more of an insight into the different breeds and their needs, and passed a training course with Mic Martin from Dog Borstal. One of only two out of the original 20 who attended the first assessment day.

I am still learning, and this year have planned my trip to India, a Crime Scene Investigates fun mini-break with one of my dogs, as well as a tracking, search and rescue break with possibly the same dog, but maybe a different one, to give me more ideas of fun and activities I can do with your dogs while they stay with me for their holidays.

I look forward to another busy year, filled with dogs and cats who all win my heart, and wish all my readers a very happy and prosperous new year.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T14:28:00.000Z

I've just finished work for the Christmas break, no more work for me until Wednesday, so I'd like to wish all my readers a very happy Christmas!

Some Seasonal Pics

2010-12-21T16:35:00.000Z

Had a little crowd of boarders over the weekend!

Bobbi with the Teenacher

Slightly after the first photo, she wanted to go to sleep but couldn't quite settle...

Finally we managed to tire Baxter out!

Charlie showing off his Christmas collar.

Charlie playing chase me chase you - this is where puppies take turns chasing each other, but the other dogs aren't really sure what he's doing as they are all big growed up doggies. Depsite being smaller.

And the Toys - who want to run around like loonies. Then the terriers get involved and it all goes to pot a bit.

It's Christmas!

2010-12-21T15:44:00.000Z

Well not yet! But nearly.

Thanks you so much for all your help with looking after our lovely Inky. He's a much happier dog because of you!

Fetching snow accessory there Inky!

A Walk on the Dark Side - Charlie

2010-12-13T10:25:00.002Z

Here's Charlie all ready for his evening walk last week. He was slightly startled to see me in the evening and wasn't sure what to make of his jacket!

It's difficult to take a picture of a dog in the dark because, well, it's dark. Usually all I get is a bright blur as the jacket reflects the flash, but we found someone who had nicely placed a light on their driveway and managed to get at least a half decent pic.

A Walk on the Dark Side - TJ

Dog of the Month - November

2010-12-11T07:16:00.001Z

Here's November's Dog of the Month - Dexter!

Dexter first came to me in August 09 for boarding, then started dog walking with me in August this year, so he got his Walkies Award at the same time. I haven't managed to get such a good photo of a dog posing with his rosettes before! Dexter looks chuffed to bits. He also looks a bit mucky, but, well, if you're not mucky, covered in branches, snow or slobber can you really say you've had a good time??

Dexter's award was for being an independent free spirit, who ALWAYS (nearly) comes when he's called.

Our first meeting August 09, awww, so sweet and cute looking!

And yes he is stuck. This is what I call a rescue dog. He followed the big dogs in, then couldn't get out and needed to be rescued. Normally when dogs do this they choose a bank with nettles on, so I get stung as well as wet and muddy...

Don't Just Take my Word for it, Here's What the Clients Say...

2010-12-08T09:50:00.005Z

Thank you so much for braving the freezing temperatures and the snow last week to walk Dexter, both he and I were really grateful! x

More Snow Days!

2010-12-02T15:31:00.000Z

The dogs like to play It (or Tag if you prefer) but backwards. Whoever is tagged is chased by all the other dogs. First is Charlie...

He manages to tag Bingley, who puts up a good chase, bit of hurdling, then somehow manages to cheat and be at the back of the pack again. Tch.

Snow Days!

2010-12-02T08:14:00.000Z

Although I have had to cancel some of my walks for safety reasons I am still doing my main walk at lunchtime. Not as many dogs as usual, but what dogs have come out with me have been having a great time!

Something smelly to follow? Fred, Phoebe & Dexter

Bingley always looks posh and composed. Yes he's wearing two coats. Only sensible to keep his tummy covered!

Phoebe & Baxter, Dexter in the background (nose on ground again!)

My Dad has assisted last two days - regular assistant Will is walking Bobbi on her own as he lives near to her. Must nag him to take some photos!

The park is so quiet at the moment, and so beautiful. We walked through lots of virgin snow, all the dogs are medium sized or smaller, so lots of bounding around through deep snow!

Snow day and Winter Care for Pets

2010-11-30T07:05:00.000Z

We've got snow here today - I'm not sure how thick it is as I haven't been out, but at least an inch or two. By the time I go out the main roads won't be too bad, so I'd like to reassure all my clients that I will get out to all the dogs today!

Things may take longer - including the walks if we're having a lot of fun, but I will get round to everyone!

Winter Care

Young, elderly, ill or infirm dogs may need a coat when out of doors this winter. Wind can be particularly chilling. Short coated dogs may be fine on a walk, but standing still, such as at a training centre or while people chat or have coffee will feel the cold.

Dogs don't need more food in the winter unless they are kept out of doors, so don't be tempted to give extra food. Outdoor water bowls can ice over, and very cold water is not good for dogs. There is a danger of ice burns to the tongue if the bowl is metal and cold enough, or a ceramic bowl can crack. Float a ball in the water to help prevent icing over, bring the bowl in, or empty it on very cold nights.

It can be just as dangerous to leave a dog in a cold car as a hot one – make sure your dog is warm enough if you have to leave them for a short while.

Ice and hail usually lead to gritting lorries. The salt and other materials can irritate your dogs feet, so you may need to give them a wipe over when returning from a walk; try not to let your dogs lick their feet in case they ingest something that could make them ill.

Snow balls can form on long haired dogs. Even shorter haired breeds can gather these on their feet, and once they have formed they need to be left to melt (hairdryers can help if your dog will tolerate it). They are very painful for your dog to walk on, so if you spot them, take the dog home for a break. Vaseline between the toes, and keeping long fur trimmed can help. Leave some fur on, as is will help to protect their pads from frozen ground.

If we get heavy snowfall again this winter, watch out for snow on buildings or trees that might melt and fall – just as your dog is underneath. Check that the height of the snow in the garden doesn't open up an escape route for your dog.

Dogs, but in particular cats, have a great liking for anti-freeze due to its sweet taste. Keep it well away from your pets because it can be fatal.

Cats have a tendency to climb into warm places in winter, and this includes car engines. Please be aware and try to be sure where your cat is before you drive off.

Rabbits and guinea pigs are often left outside in the winter. Rabbits can deal with this as long as they are not in a draught or getting damp. For guinea pigs it’s pure misery! Bring your guinea pigs into a shed or unused garage, and give them, and rabbits, thick newspaper under the bedding to help insulate. Make sure they have plenty of extra bedding, changed more frequently as if it gets wet (either rain or urine), it will freeze. Bubble wrap is your furry friend’s Best Friend. Keep a spare water bottle to hand, and make sure to swap them over if one freezes. Don’t forget to spend time with your pets, even if it is cold and dark outside.

Chocolate and mistletoe are more in evidence at Christmas. Chocolate is toxic to dogs, although they may be able to tolerate a small amount of milk chocolate. Call the vet if you suspect they have been in the Quality Streets – cooking chocolate is much worse, so watch out when chocolate cakes are around. Mistletoe, and in particular the berries, are highly toxic, so make sure they are hung up carefully and can't be pulled down by the dogs. Watch out for fallen berries.

Older pets should have a soft bed with raised sides to protect them from draughts. Dogs can be very stoical so get down on the floor and see how their bed feels.

Arthritic pets may need slower, shorter walks. Not sure if your dog is sore? Do they lick the same spot a lot, are they slow to get out of bed, or stiff and perhaps a little grumpy if disturbed? Some limps are very subtle and may not be noticed. A trip to the vet could make your pet more comfortable.

Walk on the Wild Side

2010-11-27T14:19:00.000Z

Today I have no clients dogs to walk, so I took mine out for some much needed Us Time. Bless them, they are the reason I do this job, but at very busy times they take a bit of a back seat attention-wise.

On my walks, every dog (and person) has a job. I'm the Boss, the Leader, Guide and Protector. I Find a Safe Path for us to travel. Each dog's main job is to Keep the Pack Together, but my dogs each have an extra job.

Fred is Point Man.

He roams ahead, keeping an eye out for danger. His state of continual alertness that can be so irritating while I'm trying to have a nice coffee and sit down halfway round is perfect for this job. His body language lets me know if he's seen another dog, another person, or something very New and Scary such as a cow, horse, signpost or gate. He's great at this job. Once danger is spotted, I take any appropriate action.

Scamp is our Scout.

He patrols along the sides, looking out for new or exciting routes that we might have missed, holes that need investigating, or hills that need to be looked over. Here he's checking out an alternative route. We didn't chose it in the end. I liked my route better.

Beauty is Rear Guard.

She follows along behind, although more usually at my side, and alerts me to anything approaching from the rear. Being a sighthound she's always watching out and as she really doesn't like any sort of confrontation this is the best place for her. She can tell me if something needs my attention, while at the same time being safe at my side.

It's my job to choose a Safe Path, and be Protector from the info the dogs bring me. They never make a decision, just feed me information to help me make a good choice.

New Girl!

2010-11-27T10:32:00.000Z

Phoebe is my last new girl for a while, as I can't squeeze any more dogs onto my service at the moment. I now have 19 dogs that I look after on a weekly basis, add my 3 to that, and it's really enough for any dog walker to handle! Luckily I have my glamorous assistant Will to help out on the busiest days.

I have not yet had to care for all 19 (plus my 3) on the same day...

Don't Just Take my Word for it, Here's What the Clients Say...

2010-11-27T09:28:00.003Z

Most of all I need someone that loves pets and is trustworthy, and that really came across from the first visit to completion. A professional, trustworthy and dedicated service, would definitely use again and recommend to others.

Don't Just Take my Word for it, Here's What the Clients Say...

2010-11-27T09:25:00.002Z

Linda had very positive references and was very trustworthy whilst I was on holiday. My cat Min is very independent and it was important that she was able to stay in the environment she knows whilst having freedom outdoors when she wanted it. Linda was flexible to make this possible and on my return my cat was very healthy and happy.

Don't Just Take my Word for it, Here's What the Clients Say...

2010-11-27T09:19:00.002Z

Baxter is better behaved in the evenings due to his activities during the day. A trustworthy, reliable walker, I would recommend Linda’s dog walking, my dog is much happier for it!

Don't Just Take my Word for it, Here's What the Clients Say...

2010-11-27T09:17:00.000Z

Winston is better behaved and fitter. Linda is superb and genuinely cares about the animals.

Don't Just Take my Word for it, Here's What the Clients Say...

2010-11-27T09:16:00.000Z

Charlie enjoys his long walks with other dogs, and we like the fact we can have a dog in the first place. Linda loves dogs so we know Charlie is well looked after.

Current Vacancies

2010-11-24T07:19:00.002Z

Dog walking & puppy sitting

I have no vaccancies at the moment for new dogs to come onto my dog walking or puppy sitting service as I am completely full and I can't squash any more dogs in.

I hope to reopen my books in February or March.

Cat Sitting

Lots and lots of space for lovely cats - Christmas bookings being taken now!

Home Boarding

Christmas holiday, February half term, and the first three weeks in July are already fully booked. Other bookings are being taken from regulars now, no new dogs are being accepted until I return from India in February.

Dog & puppy training

Weekends only due to the early dark evenings. No residential training spaces available until February 2011.

So Irritating!

2010-11-18T06:23:00.000Z

Don't worry Jess, in a few hours you'll stop noticing it's even there!

Dog of the Month - October

2010-11-17T20:35:00.000Z

Yes, nearly caught up!

Here's October, Bobby who has the most wonderful white coat - unless he's been out walking with me! So his award is for being a Very Good Boy while Aunty Linda baths and grooms him while he's boarding with me.

Just after his bath, looking a bit damp.

An hour later, sleek and shiney!

And just cos he looked so cute, as a tiny puppy!

New Girl!

2010-11-15T17:16:00.000Z

Tilly the Norfolk Terrier. Typical terrier, verbals, wants to eat the dogs having a game of chase, gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!

A Day in the Life of a Travel Kennel

2010-11-07T14:40:00.009Z

I've been very busy lately, lots of lovely dogs to walk, and I know some of the other dog walkers are a bit surprised that I can be walking dogs from 8am until 5pm. So here we go - one day in the life of a travel kennel.

My 8am (ish) breakfast walk, way out. Bobbi, Wire Haired Fox Terrier

Breakfast walk, way back, Inky, Beagle, and Bobby, Maltese. Also on the morning walk are my three dogs, Scamp, Beauty and Fred.

After I drop the breakfast dogs off I take mine home and feed them, usually around 10am. Then it's time to go and see Jess, gorgeous Border Collie Puppy, she has two visits a day, time all to herself. Here she is in the kennel having some brunch.

Straight onto my lunchtime walk - here's Charlie, Portugeuse Water Dog, on the way out - he's still under 6 months so 3 times a week he has puppy visits like Jess, but it's good to get pups out with sensible adult dogs as well.

And Baxter, Beagle, with Bingley, Whippet, on the way home.

Also on the lunchtime walk on this particular day were Moses, Dexter, and Dilly, who didn't travel in this kennel but deserve a mention! When I have 6 at lunchtime I take my glamorous assistant Will with me (so far he has avoided the camera) to help out (I never walk more than 6 at a time).

After all the lunchtime dogs have gone home to sleep the afternoon away, I visit Jess again, before collecting Max for a walk on his own around half past two.

After Max enjoyed his walk I picked up Bobby again,

to join Pebbles and Honey, Spaniels, for a 4pm walk. My dogs came along for the walk as well, but we don't need any more pictures of my dogs!

After Pebbles and Honey I went home and collapsed! 4 walks and two puppy sits, a total of 13 dogs, 5 of them twice (does that count as 18?).

Other days I'll have less dogs on the walks, but anything between 2 and 5 puppy visits to do. Some days I even have cats to feed too!

Dog of the Month - September

2010-11-01T10:23:00.000Z

Desperately late, I'm so sorry! We have Bingley for September.

During the school holidays I had an assistamt walking some of the dogs for me while I was so busy, and Bingley was one of them.

When I took back over in September I couldn't believe how happy I was to see Bingley again. I guess sometimes they get under our skin more than we think they do!

So Bingley is September's Dog of the Month simply because he's so cheerful and happy, and never fails to make me smile.

and some more pics!

Lily, Touch & Retrieve

2010-10-24T14:52:00.001+01:00

Lily is a great little puppy, keen and eager to learn!

Touch

Both very short videos, but in both she is doing something else before the touch - she finds moving away from a person not quite so rewarding when she's not got something to retrieve. Awww....

Retrieve

And retrieving - we tried a few objects, and it seemed to be the treat pot she was most interested in bringing back! So I could open it for her I expect...

Getting to Know You

2010-10-23T14:44:00.000+01:00

My first attempt at a montage, I got a bit carried away and it's a bit long sorry! It has two year's worth of lovely, lovely dogs saying hi to each other.

MISSING - JEMMA SBTxEBT

2010-10-20T20:51:00.000+01:00

Jemma: Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross English Bull Terrier

Approx 7 years old.

Navestock (Brentwood/Romford border) Essex/Havering area.

Poor Jemma has run off during thunder last night when let out to the toilet. My brother is her owner and he lives in a mobile home on a farm/industrial units and she has bolted.

She is very scared of fireworks and loud noises, so we are very worried about her this time of year. She has a very thin coat so will be very cold.

We just want her back.

Jemma's Dog Lost page

She is very good with children and people, but not always reliable with other dogs. Please help spread the word!

14 year old Pedro

2010-10-12T19:20:00.000+01:00

Isn't he a cracker! And the wonders of computer trickery, I hoovered the carpet on the photo. ;)

Dogs with Jobs

2010-10-09T17:46:00.001+01:00

In days of yore all dogs had a job, even if it was just to keep your feet warm. Our dogs today are very pampered, and mostly want for nothing. But this is the equivalent of a person sitting on the couch all day watching television. It might be okay as a treat, but every day it's not going to do you any good.

My Fred has lots of jobs - perhaps not as satisfying as the job his breed was bred for, but at least he's occupied in a good way. My favourite is fetching printing from the printer (so that I don't have to get up from the couch, d'y'see?).

Photo quality is appalling, but you try taking a photo of a moving terrier when he's got places to go and things to do!

Waiting patiently for the paper to pop out. The printer waking up is his cue to go and wait.

On his way to deliver...

Here it is Mum! Aren't I a good boy?

So, now you know. If you get a letter from me and it's a bit crinkled at one edge, Fred's been working as hard as I have.

Don't Just Take my Word for it, Here's What the Clients Say...

2010-10-09T08:04:00.002+01:00

Your service is reliable and you always communicate to me if something has happened with Dilly. She has not been a destructive dog - your service contributes to a happy & contented dog.

Don't Just Take my Word for it, Here's What the Clients Say...

2010-10-04T16:33:00.001+01:00

Dexter is like a different dog since he's been walked by you - all in a good way. He is much calmer, more relaxed & happier. He doesn't chew our sofas or carpet anymore!

I couldn't recommend Linda more highly. Dexter is always happy, tired and sleeps for hours after his walks.

Instant Triple Recall

2010-10-02T13:49:00.004+01:00

I use Stay Close as a command to get dogs back to me quickly and stay close to me until they are released. This overlaps a bit with the ComeComeCome recall, but I use that more to get dawdling dogs back to the pack and they don't have to focus on me. Had I thought things through more I would not have done it like this, but Stay Close evolved from the close competition heelwork I taught Fred.

Stay Close is hazard avoidance - if there isn't time to get dogs back on leads, this works very well to get the dogs out of any potential trouble.

Fred has known this one for a long time, Scamp and Bobby are relative newbies, but are already VERY reliable. I couldn't record an actual hazard, as things are still too new for me to not focus 100% on the dogs, but we're getting there!

Just see how quickly the dogs turn to me and start coming back. Video is only 8 seconds.

I can teach any dog to do this.

Single dog-owning men required!

2010-09-28T15:17:00.000+01:00

They have plenty of women, but need some more men 35-45 or did they say 30-45? Come on, be brave!

It's amazing...

2010-09-26T08:27:00.000+01:00

What 20 minutes of clicker training followed by ten minutes of Ttouch can do!

Sorry for the photo, once again Blogger won't upload the changes I made to the pic!

Introducing Charlie - Portuguese Water Dog

2010-09-21T15:00:00.000+01:00

What a gorgeous baby boy! The photo looks as if I've done something whizzy to the photo, but it's not black and white with just colour in the lead, just my rubbish photography! Will upload some more pics later, but have to dash back to do his second visit now.

Before I go...

Separated at birth?

Current Vacancies

2010-09-15T17:55:00.001+01:00

Dog Walking

All our dog walking spaces are now full, we have no vacancies at all for the immediate future.

One off ad hoc walks may be available, off peak hours, or weekends.

Cat sitting

Spaces are available, including Christmas bookings.

Home Boarding

October half term is still available, however Christmas period is fully booked. New Years's eve available, dogs must leave by 10am on 3rd January.

Puppy Sitting

No permanent spaces left as there are no spaces for puppies to graduate to adult walks. Short term bookings are available.

Dog & Puppy Training

Afternoons, early evenings and weekends only. Puppy socialising and residential training, available.

Old English Sheepdog 12 week old puppy retrieving

2010-09-11T08:32:00.001+01:00

This is Mr Bridger and his mum. I was invited to meet Mr Bridger as I had walked the family's previous dog. I left some advice, did some training and advised they teach a retrieve to encourage a reliable recall - going back to Mum is A Good Thing.

Less than a week later, here are the results! Hard work from everyone involved, and a great game to play with puppy.

Summer of Cats

2010-09-10T11:20:00.001+01:00

We seemed to explode with cats this summer - I didn't have time to blog each sit, so here we are, Cat Heaven.

Cleo

Dillon

Daisy

Poppy

Dora

Fliss (Felicity)

Foxy

Bella

Lola

Molly

Chips

These were my summer cats - September we're still busy with a lot of cat care (11 cats to look after this month so far), but enjoy these cuties for now!

Dog of the Month - August

2010-09-10T11:07:00.000+01:00

Slightly delayed as usual, here's Barney, August's Dog of the Month!

Barney stayed with me a few times over the summer, and really mucked in well with all the dogs. There was some competition over tennis balls and toys so we stopped taking them with us after a few days. In their absence, Barney sat in the dog pond waiting for me to throw something, and when I didn't, he dived to the bottom and rescued a few sunken toys!

The main reason he won the award is his quick learning! One of my own dogs is a bit of a bicycle chaser, so when on a long weekend walk at first sight of a bike we all gather round for a small treat so Scamp doesn't chase. After an hour of this, Barney was running straight to me without me saying anything at all as soon as he spotted a bike. I was very impressed - I've been doing this since June and Scamp still hasn't quite got it...

Here's some of my fav pics of Barney. He's also been walking with me a year, so got his Walkies award at the same time.

India, January 2011

2010-09-03T07:20:00.002+01:00

For those of you who may not know, I am taking the month of January off work to travel to India to work with John Rogerson (author of The Dog Vinci Code) training dogs.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me, I'm not a great traveller outside the UK so it's been nerve-wracking organising the trip but I'm looking forward to it very much. I haven't had a holiday since I started the business in 2008 - any leave I've taken has been to allow me to get things done to the work van or more training in the UK. I've had training courses snowed out, rained off and blown away in the wind, so India seems the ideal solution.

So I will be out of the office, and worse, very probably out of internet and phone communication from 3rd January to 27th January 2010. I can't take on any new clients between now and then. So hold on until February, I'll be back!

Current Vacancies

2010-09-02T17:09:00.000+01:00

Dog Walking

We have no fulltime lunchtime dog walks available. Next space expected to be February 2010.
Temporary walks to cover holidays, sickness etc spaces until January 2010.

ONE breakfast space available for a small dog, Shenfield only, pick up between 8.15 and 8.45. Next space expected to be February 2010.

Cat Sitting

Space available after 15th September 2010.

Loch Ness Monster found in Brentwood Dog Pond

2010-08-29T18:41:00.001+01:00

This is Barney, he stayed with me a few times this year. This last photo is him sitting in the pond waiting for me to throw a toy for him. He looked just like he was sitting in a bath! Here he is a bit clearer, so you can see his handsome face!

How to Teach your Dog to Pull on the Lead

2010-08-27T13:41:00.005+01:00

Let your new puppy drag his new lead around behind him

To get your pup used to his new lead, clip it on and let him drag it around behind him. He'll soon learn that having a lead on doesn't restrict him in any way, and he can go where he likes. If it gets stuck on something, a good pull will set him free, or he can rely on his owner to release him.

Let people make a big fuss of your puppy while he's on a lead

Every time you take your new puppy out on the lead, (some) people will go gooey and mushy and want to make a fuss. Make sure they squeal and/or make silly noises and say hi to your puppy while they are standing just out of your puppy's reach. When your excited puppy launches himself at these exciting people, move forwards so he can reach them.

Buy a flexible/extending lead

Your dog will learn that to get to that interesting smell, other dog or person, all he has to do is lean into the lead, get that pressure on the collar and move forward, and he'll get where he wants to go with little or no difficulty.

Let your dog stop you to sniff everything and anything he fancies

This is a good one if you want your dog to pull in a sideways direction. When you're walking on a lead, let your dog drift to the side of the path to sniff something just out of reach, follow him aimlessly as he wanders from side to side. Let him cock his leg on every vertical surface he fancies.

Never let him sniff or investigate anything, ever, and never let him off the lead

This is the one you need if you want your dog to slam on the brakes (ie pull backwards). If you never let your dog run free off the lead, and never let him stop and enjoy the area he is walking in, he'll soon learn to throw his weight backwards, often sitting down, to force you to stop or drag him.

Always walk to really exciting places

Put your dog's lead on, and walk him to somewhere he loves, or drive to the car park, and lead walk him to the good bits. Never walk anywhere dull, such as your own front door, without going somewhere lovely first.

Make sure to really excite him

Get your lead out, and say something such as "Walkies!", "Who wants to go for a lovely walk?" and make sure your dog is leaping all over the place in excitment before you've even got the lead on. Then once it's on, carry on with the exciting talk and be sure he runs out of the front door, with you hanging on behind.

Dog of the Month - July

2010-08-11T06:59:00.006+01:00

Slightly late, but this is our busiest time of the year!

This month's award goes to Willow.

Willow is one of my regular walkees, once a week. In the past few months she's matured from a maniac teenager who only wants to play with other dogs, to an attentive and responsive dog who is a real pleasure to walk with.

Well done Willow!

Current Vacancies

2010-08-11T06:29:00.008+01:00

Dog Walking

[SPACE FILLED] From September we have one full time lunchtime dog walking space for an adult dog. We may be able to take your dog on earlier if required. Dogs are walked in small groups of three or four.

We also have space on our breakfast walks - an ideal time for busy parents to get the kids ready for school or nursery while we tire your dog out. Collection is between 7.30 and 8.30.

Thanks for all your help. Bubbles has really come on leaps and bounds in just the few weeks you've had her!
Rebecca H., Cockerpoo

August Bank Holiday Weekend Home Dog Boarding Space

Dogs are boarded in my home, where you know he or she will have company, love, plenty of walks and lots of activities. When you collect your dog they will be tired, happy, and often better behaved for you!

Thank you so much for having Willow. We took her for a long walk and couldn't believe how much better she is. Jacqueline P., Golden Retriever

Cat Sitting

One or two visits per day, to feed, clear litter trays, let your cats in or out, cuddes, love, anything you require.

Once again thanks for caring for him. It is a relief that I can go away and leave him at home knowing he is going to be well looked after.
Rachel T., Misty

Spaces are available over the Bank Holiday weekend and into September.

PUPPY CARE

My puppy services are very popular, so if you are waiting for a puppy to be old enough to bring home, or looking for a puppy, please do get in touch as early as you can.

All puppy care is covered by Linda.

Puppies are accepted between 8 weeks and 6 months old. They get one or two half hour visits per day when they get my undivided attention. Once they are fully vaccinated I take them out for short walks, feed where necessary, clear up any mess, and play educational games designed to give your puppy the skills needed for life with people. Puppy walks are for roughly five minutes per month of life, so start at five minutes per visit, working up to the full half hour just before puppy moves to my lunchtime group walks.

If you are at home but are interested in the educational games I can still visit, or teach you the games to play.

Spaces are linited so are taken very quickly - typically within two weeks of becoming available. I only have one space on average every three to four months, so if you are waiting for your puppy to be old enough to bring home and want me to visit, a non-refundable first week's deposit will hold the space for up to one month.

Puppy Training and Skills for Life spaces also available.

Thank you for all you have done. When I need to board him I will certainly be calling you.
Francis W., Jack Russell Terrier

A Really Useful Dog

2010-07-29T10:43:00.006+01:00

I am a strong believer in dogs being useful to their owners. There are lots of working dogs, police and military dogs, customs dogs, assistance dogs, but what about us pet owners? Why should our dogs be allowed to sit back and relax while we do all the work?

So I was really happy to read about Lucky the Litter Picking dog. When on walks with his owner, he collects litter that his owner points out, and takes it to the nearest bin, alerting his owner to dangerous items such as broken glass.

What a great dog! What a fabulous job! What a wonderful owner! Not only having something to occupy himself which keeps him out of trouble but making a difference in his community.

Fred does drag rubbish out of water, which I then bag up and put in a bin (he's only little he can't reach to put it in) but I've not trained him (or either of the other two dogs) to collect other rubbish and carry it to a bin. Barney the Lab has also helped out with the odd plastic bottle from time to time!

That's what dog ownership should be about. Really useful dogs being useful in the community.

Is Your Dog Overweight?

2010-07-27T09:05:00.010+01:00

Sadly, many owners will not recognise an overweight dog. With so many dogs being rather plump, anyone admiring an overweight dog they may see out and about will assume that's what they are supposed to look like, or even compare their dog to others of the same breed who may also be overweight - and simply not realise that dogs should have waists. With a short coated breed, and even some longer coated breeds, you should be able to see toned muscles on that waist, and thigh muscles usually show up nicely too.

I am not immune from this - I worked so hard with Fred to teach him right from wrong that he was having a lot of training treats. While his hip dysplasia was being diagnosed we had to restrict his exercise at certain times and the weight piled on. It took me a long time to recognise how much he'd gained.

Checking your dog's weight

To check if your dog is the right weight you can weigh them at the vets, and check the chart in the surgery if they are a purebreed, or check with the vet, but this is only a guide. A proper check should be done weekly, as this will give you a chance to decrease or increase your dog's food to keep that perfect figure.

The first test is to look at your dog from above. Your dog should have a distinct waist behind the ribs, not be straight up and down, or worse, bulging out.

This photo brought it home to me, how sausage shaped Fred was!

This is him now, not a perfect photo, but you can see both back legs and a much more slimline shape.

Run your fingers lightly over your dog's ribs. If you can't feel them, that's because there is a layer of fat covering them. If you have to press to find them, there's that layer of fat again. If you have to dig in to find them, things are more serious.

With some breeds such as sighthounds (Greyhounds, some lurchers, Salukis, Whippets etc) you should be able to see some of the ribs as well. Any dog, after a good run and breathing heavily, should show some ribs as their lungs inflate.

Also check your dog from the side. After the ribs, the abdomen should slope upwards, towards the pelvis. Scamp here was slightly cuddlier than I like my dogs because he didn't belong to me at the time, so he has now lost a little bit of weight, but you can see the slope upwards.

Where to go for help

If you have any worries about your dog after these quick checks, first, speak to your vet as they are best placed to advise on weight issues. If they confirm your dog needs to lose weight, they may recommend you use food that they supply, plus raising the amount of exercise your dog has (ask them for their recommendations). The food is your choice, but you may prefer to contact a canine nutritionist (yes they do exist) as they will have more experience and training than a vet.

'Light' or 'Senior' foods that you get in the supermarket are designed for weight maintenance, not weight loss so won't help very much. To get a proper low calorie food you will need a specialist pet shop (Fred lost his weight eating Nature Diet's Fish variety and Burn's High Oats). The amount to feed on most (but not all) dog food is a very loose guide. I recommend feeding 10-20% less than they recommend - for your dog's ideal weight - not the weight they are. If you check your dog's body condition every week you will be able to adjust as necessary.

If you find it hard to manage the extra exercise your dog needs, consider geting a dog walker to help you, or ask me about my 'Fat Camp' for dogs. Under veterinary supervision, I can provide a good level of exercise and other activities for your dog, while ensuring they are not overfed. This will kick start your dog's diet and hopefully make it easier for you if you've had to reduce the amount of food you feed, as I can be the bad guy.

If you think your dog is getting taller, congratulations! That belly is shrinking letting you see more air underneath him!

Baxter - Home Dog Boarding Brentwood

2010-07-25T20:02:00.006+01:00

Baxter is a lovely Beagle who stayed a couple of nights this weekend - we hope to see more of him in the future!

Here he is, enjoying the activities in the garden, with the help and hinderance of the other dogs!

Fred wants that treat so much he's got his nose right on my hand. Baxter is licking his lips and keen to learn, if the other dogs would move over.

Nearly up, Fred's still got his eye on the prize.

And down the other side - with Fred still wondering where his bit is.

Fred has now decided to shout about how he's so hard done by, not getting a reward, even though he's very clearly very good at going up and down the ramps, making poor Baxter flinch as it's right next to his ear.

Fred still hasn't given in, but Baxter's used to all the shouting by now and is posing nicely.

Alone at last!

Only to have a little nudge up the rear when trying the big ramps, so we kind of gave up. Hopefully we'll have a chance to have another go one day!

August Bank Holiday Weekend Home Dog Boarding Space

2010-07-20T13:38:00.007+01:00

Due to a cancellation I have the elusive August Bank Holiday weekend open up from Friday 27th August to Sunday 5th September 2010.

Even a luxury boarding kennel with heating, sofa, television or mood music, is still a kennel, with the valuable dog-person bond being missing for most of the day. For some dogs, this is very different from their normal household routine and they can find it very stressful. This is where I come in.

I would highly recommend Linda as an excellent professional who has a genuine love of dogs. We will definitely use Linda again and feel very lucky to have found someone to care for our dog when we are unable to.
Susie S., Old English Sheepdog

I have opened my home in Brentwood, and my heart, to your dog. Dogs live in the house, as part of the family (please see About Me and About my Dogs for details of who lives here) and are considered a treasured friend and family member.

Two outdoor canine activity centres – tunnels, ramps, look out points
Shallow paddling Pool – bobbing for fishy ice cubes, underwater retrieving etc
Sandpit – digger's paradise, search and retrieve, lost and found
Chill Out zones – shady patches, sunny spots, long grass areas for lounging or investigating

Board games (yes, really!)
Scrunched up newspaper challenge
Cardboard box puzzles
Trick training (small extra charge for requests)
Brushed and combed as needed, at least once per stay
Eyes and sanitary areas cleaned as necessary

All this, for the bargain price of £25 per day.

Very reliable & trustworthy, Nelson loves Linda and I wouldn't send him anywhere else! Hazel S., Smooth Haired Fox Terrier

Fully insured by a pet care specialist
Licensed by Brentwood Borough Council and Defra
Vet and police checked
Trained in dog handling, behaviour and canine first aid

Extras
Training

If your dog needs help with any aspect of its training, I may be able to help while your dog is boarding, for an additional cost. I specialise in puppy training, terrier training and recall training. Please contact me to discuss your requirements.

Grooming

If you would like your dog professionally groomed ready for your return, please let me know in advance and I can arrange an appointment to fit in with your return. I use a very good professional groomer at Ardleigh Green, Maxine's Grooming. Fees are Maxine's usual fees for your breed of dog, plus £20.

I would recommend Linda to anybody who is looking for a holiday for their hounds. Peanut and Ali have just spent a week in the very capable hands of Linda and I think they enjoyed the lovely peace and quiet of her house (compared to mine).
Mary K., Greyhounds

'Home Alone' Dog Dies

2010-07-19T10:00:00.007+01:00

This news article about a dog who died after being dropped off by a 'professional' dog carer clearly shows why I don't look after 'Home Alone' dogs. If owners are out during the day that's one thing, but if an owner goes away overnight I will not look after the dog. And yes, I've lost business because of it.

Dogs aren't cats - they can't look after themselves in the same way, and humans have changed the shape of dogs to such an extent they really need a lot of care and attention. Owners should not expect them to be safe if they are left for such a long period of time.

Professionals also shouldn't leave dogs in distress alone! Whether or not an 'enclosed van' (what does that mean??) is an appropriate method of transport for any sort of pet in hot weather, it seems there was enough concern from people seeing the dog that a professional should have taken steps to ensure the safety of that dog. However, I have only read the news reports. Only a court can decide if the company involved was negligent.

I will comment in general though.

Dog safety, health and welfare is MORE IMPORTANT than an owner's wishes. This may be because the owner is not aware of how hot or cold the area they leave their dog really is. It may be that they feel the dog is okay to run around in hot weather when the dog's breed or colour determines that it is not, or that the dog can do more exercise, or needs less exercise than it really does. Or they might not understand the implications of their requests, such as leaving a dog alone overnight - or asking a cat sitter to only visit every 2 days, or even worse, every 3! As pet professionals, our job is to put the safety of the dogs (and cats, plus anything else!) FIRST. We should advise owners of any issues if their wishes clash with this aim, and if there is no resolution or change, we have to walk away.

We should absolutely NOT grab the money and run.

I will be keeping my eye on this case to see what happens.

Kong Ice Surprise – Cool Activities for Hot Dogs

2010-07-15T07:55:00.014+01:00

When the temperature gets much above 25 degrees for a prolonged period, it can be too hot to give dogs adequate exercise. They have too much energy which isn't burnt off and they're a pain in the neck.

So we need ways to keep them occupied in a safe way. This is where the wonderful invention the Kong comes into its own. A Kong is a hollow, hard rubber toy (based on a motorbike gasket!). It can be thrown, chewed, bounced fetched, and perhaps most importantly, stuffed.

You will need:

* A freezer and some space in it

* Some (or just one) Kongs

* Some lovely stuff dogs like such as tuna, peas, hot dog or cocktail sausages etc

* Couple of hard dog biscuits
* Bowls, jugs, dog dishes or similar that can be put in the freezer

* Some (or just one) dogs

Drain and rinse the tuna and hot dog sausages. Mash up the tuna and cut the sausages into short bits. Put the Kong into a jug, narrow end down and put a biscuit in the bottom to plug the small hole. Spoon in tuna – the first time loosely. Once your dog has got to grips with the idea of emptying a Kong you can really pack it in tightly. Also a biscuit can be wedged into the top hole once the dog is used to it, but for now, just stuff it.

You can stop here – put the Kong into the freezer for a while, and then let your dog have it once it's nicely chilled. For more experienced dogs, or if you want your dog occupied for longer, carry on reading.

Put the stuffed Kong in the bowl.
It can lie down or stand up, it doesn't matter if it sticks up above the rim, but will keep the dog busier if it doesn't. Pour in some water, about third of the way up the Kong. Scatter in some bits of sausages, not too many pieces, some peas maybe, and put it in the freezer.

Once it's frozen, top up with another 'layer' of water and put some more treats in, maybe the cocktail sausages, perhaps a brussel sprout or two and carry on freezing. Once frozen again, top up the bowl as much as you can, a few more treats and freeze.

Once it is completely frozen, you can give it to your dog. The Kong should be nearly completely encased in a block of ice.

Your dog either has to wait for it to defrost to get the treats and the Kong, or he has to eat through the ice. Both will take time, your dog will be kept busy, without being overheated on a walk.

If you use metal bowls, the ice should be pushed out and given to the dog, so will probably need to be fed in the garden (in a shady area) as the metal will get cold and the dog's tongue and lips could get stuck to it and injured. Some dogs will kick and push the bowl about trying to tuck in, so might also need to be put outside.

Your dog's dinner can be fed this way, if you use treats, remember to feed less for a few meals so your dog doesn't put on weight.

PS apologies for the last photo, every so often Blogger turns one upside down and I can't fix it!

Grooming Difficult Dogs

2010-07-13T13:49:00.002+01:00

I'm not a groomer, but the safe handling techniques, stress reduction techniques, body language tips, and calming and stress signals can help every person who works with or lives with dogs.

Current Vacancies

2010-07-08T16:42:00.007+01:00

Sue has joined the team and all the dogs are falling in love with her, as she is falling in love with them. I'm a bit jealous.

Sue has space for ONE adult dog at lunchtime and ONE adult dog at breakfast.
[Lunchtime space only available Mondays and Thursdays]

LUNCHTIME DOG WALKS

Sue covers Brentwood, Shenfield, Warley, Ingrave & Hutton at luncthime, and is looking for that special dog to join a small group of dogs walking in Brentwood's beautiful open spaces, grassland, parks, woodland, ponds and wetlands. These areas are used to the full to give your dog physical exercise and allow them to express their natural breed behaviours in a safe environment, so they return home relaxed and happy.

BREAKFAST DOG WALKS

Early morning walks are ideal for busy parents - your dog will be out of the house at the time you may be trying to get children ready for school and this is one less thing for you to worry about.

Dogs are collected from 8.15am, and returned home around 90 minutes later, tired and ready to sleep while you get on with your busy day. Currently this service runs in Shenfield (collection around 8am), but we are able to open it to other areas including Hutton, Brentwood, Pilgrims Hatch and Kelvedon Hatch at the slightly later time. I (Linda) cover Shenfield & Hutton, and Sue covers Pilgrims Hatch, Kelvedon Hatch, Brentwood & Warley. Other areas may be available, please ask.

If you are interested in part-time, occasional or ad hoc walks at any time of day, these are available but spaces are filling up fast.

More information is on my Dog Walking website.

CAT SITTING (& other pets)

One or two visits per day, to feed, clear litter trays, let your cats in or out, cuddes, love, anything you require.

Spaces are available through July. August is filling up fast, so please do book early to be sure we can cover your holidays.

PUPPY CARE

My puppy services are very popular, so if you are waiting for a puppy to be old enough to bring home, or looking for a puppy, please do get in touch as early as you can.

All puppy care is covered by Linda.

Puppies are accepted between 8 weeks and 6 months old. They get one or two half hour visits per day when they get my undivided attention. Once they are fully vaccinated I take them out for short walks, feed where necessary, clear up any mess, and play educational games designed to give your puppy the skills needed for life with people. Puppy walks are for roughly five minutes per month of life, so start at five minutes per visit, working up to the full half hour just before puppy moves to my lunchtime group walks.

If you are at home but are interested in the educational games I can still visit, or teach you the games to play.

Spaces are linited so are taken very quickly - typically within two weeks of becoming available. I only have one space on average every three to four months, so if you are waiting for your puppy to be old enough to bring home and want me to visit, a non-refundable first week's deposit will hold the space for up to one month.

Puppy Training and Skills for Life spaces also available.

Dog of the Month - June

2010-07-05T19:51:00.002+01:00

Bobbi earned our Dog of the Month for June - her award was for Most Improved Temperament as she's really come into her own the last few weeks. Like most terriers, removing the lead probably has a lot to do with it! But she also tolerates being towelled off in the van and being touched generally much better.

She's a wonderful girl!

Current Vacancies

2010-07-02T11:46:00.006+01:00

From early July a new walker, Sue, will be joining the team to help me cover the amount of work I have been offered.

DOG WALKING

This means that we now have TWO permanent adult dog walking spaces for lunchtime, with more options for people needing short term or 30 minute walks.

We specialise in carefully chosen, exclusive group walks around Brentwood's country parks and open spaces. Walks are limited to a small number of dogs to ensure we can give personal attention to each dog. In return the dogs give us a lot of attention – they learn very quickly it's more rewarding to share their fun with their human companions, rather than following behind doing their own thing.

PUPPY CARE

We also have space for TWO puppies, full or part time, from 6-26 weeks old. All puppy care is covered by me. This includes puppy visits, puppy training, puppy boarding and puppy socialisation.

CAT SITTING

For cat sitting, please enquire. We can manage a maximum of 5 visits a day between us, so space may or may not be available depending on whether you need one or two visits per day. Currently we still have space every day for at least two more visits. I will try to update this page as and when bookings come in.

"How do you get your dog to do that?"

2010-06-23T09:59:00.007+01:00

Whatever 'that' is, the answer is generally 'I painstakingly taught him'.

I was asked how I could make my dog stop walking when I told him. I was on my way to work, so I couldn't go through it, so here it is.

Not every training method works for every dog, but this is how I usually start, and may start tweaking what I'm doing if it's not sinking in. Also it can depend on whether their relationship with you is a good one, or if they like other dogs better, but try it and see.

There are three essentials every dog should know - stop doing that, stop moving and come back to me. Of these, stop moving is probably the most important, because if your dog manages to get himself on the edge of a cliff, or escapes and rushes across a road, a recall may not be appropriate. Each dog really must understand how to stop moving, the emergency stop.

If you go to a training class, this is usually taught with your dog facing towards you, but if he's off the lead on a walk, he will often be facing away from you as he's pottering about, or they are so used to obeying commands at your feet they will carry on moving until they get to you, and only then stop, which is not what you want.

It's reasonably simple. When you take your dog for a walk on the lead, every time you stop walking, say 'wait' (or whatever you choose to use). When you start moving again, use another word to say they can move - I use 'forwards'. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Stop lots of times, when you need to pick up poop, to have a drink of water, to stop and chat with someone, when you fancy stopping to take in the view, or rest halfway up a hill. Stop more times than you need to, every time.

The dogs soon pick it up - if you've got an under-exercised dog who is a maniac on the end of the lead you'll need to start giving him the right amount of exercise, or at least, don't start doing this until he's had some time to have a leg stretch. Once he seems to have got it, start doing it off the lead, and try to time your Waits until he'd have to stop, somewhere like a gate, or walk up to a fence, just to give him the extra help.

What you have to remember is, lots of practice, lots of times. If you forget your Forwards word, your dog will learn to stop walking when you do, then as soon as you move, he'll start walking again. If you are trying to reattach the lead, or pick him up, or otherwise do something to him, for instance he's carrying half a bush in his feathers, this really does defeat the object.

You could also try - just falling over...

You may wonder what relevence this has to you - I walk dogs in small groups of around 4 dogs. Last week we were walking through a country park when the rangers came through in their land rover - all four dogs were off the lead. 'Wait!' I called. They all stopped walking. Had they kept going, they could have ended up under the wheels, as they were too far for me to do anything physical. This week, I came round a corner in a different part of the park, to find an electric fence not 10 yards ahead. The wait command stopped the dogs from getting a nasty shock while I attached their leads and walked them carefully past it.

I also teach Wait at the Gate.

The Sandpit has Arrived!

2010-06-22T10:56:00.004+01:00

We have a paddling pool, and two canine activity centres in the garden, but there was a corner that looked a bit bare.

So I've put in a sandpit!

Scamp and Fred try it out for size...

And Beauty gets in on the act as well.

I'm hiding biscuits in there at the moment, I will be burying a few toys, and maybe a stuffed kong or two at the weekend when I can sit outside sunbathing, er, I mean, supervising.

I'm not sure if I will be able to drag the dogs out of the garden for a walk this summer!

Dog of the Month - May

2010-05-31T07:09:00.006+01:00

This month there are THREE Dogs of the Month!

Scarlet, Henry and Benson are some of my oldest customers, and this weekend they are moving out of the area. They are going to a wonderful new home in the country, with lots more space for them to run about and play.

I will miss them terribly, but have enough fond memories to keep me going, and I have an invitation to visit to see how they've settled in, which I will look forward to.

Summer Holiday Home Dog Boarding

2010-05-27T10:13:00.004+01:00

I am now completely booked for dog boarding from 24th July to 29th August. As soon as one dog leaves, another is arriving. I could not squeeze in another dog if I tried!

August Bank Holiday weekend now AVAILABLE as leave I had booked is now cancelled. It may not be free for long!

Catching up on the Latest Gossip

2010-05-25T22:32:00.002+01:00

You'll never guess what she did then!?

Ultimate Recall Training

2010-05-20T07:17:00.004+01:00

Tired of your dog running off?
Does your dog chase joggers or bicycles?
Fed up with running after other people as your dog is enjoying playing with their dog and won't come back?
Is your dog a tease? Coming back to you, but won't stay still or come close enough to have the lead put back on?

I can help, as I specialise in recall training.

As a dog walker, with over 80 dogs cared for in the last two years, I have to train all the dogs to come back when I call them in the same way they respond to their owners, to enable me to walk them safely. As a trainer, I have taught my own dogs, plus those of family and friends, all the foster dogs I care for, and even dogs belonging to other dog trainers who could not get their dogs to come back when called.

How it Works

Recall training starts with a consultation session and assessment of around an hour, in your own home. To be able to give the best advice for you and your dog I need to ask some questions about your dog’s background, their behaviour in general and any previous training. If there is more than one family dog a longer session of around 90 minutes may be required, even if only one dog appears to have a problem. This will be followed by a short assessment of your dog's current recall.

There may be some practical steps you can start taking straight away, before the first training session, which will prepare your dog to learn.

I will design the practical training sessions specifically for your dog, using the information I have gathered in the consultation. Each session lasts 30 or 60 minutes (or longer if you prefer), and you may have as many, or as few, practical training sessions as you require to get the result you want, at a time and frequency that suits you. Training usually takes place in the area you walk your dog, unless your dog would benefit from choosing another location to aid training.

There is no magic number of how many sessions you will need, as this depends on how long your dog has not been coming back, your dog's breed, what is causing your dog to run off, and how much time you can dedicate to practising on your own between sessions. You will see an improvement very quickly, your 'Ultimate' recall may need more time – it is your choice whether to have ongoing sessions with me, or whether to train on your own using the training methods I have designed for your dog. I advise at least one session with me to demonstrate the techniques.

Your only job will be to call your dog – mine will be to ensure your dog responds to your call.

Training is done using a mix of pleasure and penalties – not punishment or pain!

Fees

60 minute assessment and consultation - £35
(90 minute assessment and consultation if needed - £45)

30 minute practical training session- £16
60 minute practical training session- £25

Travel
Distances are measured from Brentwood High Street, Essex.

First 0-5 miles – free
Each mile over 5 - 50p per mile each way

Dog of the Month - April

2010-05-15T07:22:00.007+01:00

In late April I went to an 'Ultimate Recall' four day training course. When booking, I asked the trainer what dog I should bring, and he told me to bring 'the worst dog you can find'.

The worst dog I could find was no longer walking with me (as he wouldn't come back on walks, and pulled too hard to walk on lead and my offer of recall training wasn't taken up), so I asked Inky's mum if he could come - as a Beagle I thought the challenge of his breed instincts would give me something to think about!

At the end of the four days, we were all padlocked (yes, really!) to a tree - with the key on the dog's collar.

Despite being in a field at the back of a pub, with pub visitors and their dogs coming and going, with a motorhome rally going on, chickens, evidence of rabbits, and dogs in the next field who were running up and down the hedge barking, Inky rescued me! So to thank him for not wandering off after rabbits and leaving me starving in a field in Hampshire, he's won Dog of the Month for April.

Current Vacancies

2010-05-11T16:35:00.006+01:00

Dog Walking

I will have a space for one permanent, adult dog, walking at lunchtime, from 1st June.

I specialise in carefully chosen, exclusive group walks around Brentwood's country parks and open spaces. Walks are limited to a small number of dogs to ensure I can give personal attention to each dog. In return the dogs give me a lot of attention – they learn very quickly it's more rewarding to share their fun with me, rather than following behind doing their own thing.

Brentwood has plenty of open spaces, grassland, woodland, ponds and wetlands, which mean there are plenty of places to keep your dog physically active and their breed instincts satisfied, while I create the training games that keep their minds alert. The combination of physical and mental activity leads to a more contented companion for you, which, in turn, will give you and your dog a happier home life.

I do 'wild agility' to keep dogs agile, play hide and seek to teach them to stay aware of me at all times, play recall games to keep them coming back for more, encourage sniffing games - this keeps them calm and amazingly can be more tiring than running around! I also allow those mad moments - ears back, tail down, zooooooom as fast as they can.

Sunshine means Swimming - Doesn't it?

2010-04-17T10:34:00.004+01:00

Normally I can't keep Winston out of water - or perhaps more accurately - watery mud pits. So imagine my surprise when I threw a toy into this small 'dog pond' and this happened...

He did paddle the water a bit, but just refused to dive in. So, defying everything everyone says about dogs not being able to reason, he wanders round a bit, and finds a stepping stone.

Where he starts paddling again...

Loses his balance...

And falls in...

Proving he can swim after all, and finally wins the prize and retrieves his toy!

I Could be in Trouble

2010-04-04T14:46:00.002+01:00

If I don't find Max's legs before he goes home tomorrow I think I will be in Big Trouble with his mum.

Dog of the Month - March

2010-04-03T07:37:00.004+01:00

Dilly is our Dog of the Month for March! She had learned to play keep away with amazing staying power. She'd recall lovely, but then would dance away so she couldn't be caught and go off and do her own thing again. I had to go back to walking her on a lead while we slowly went back over the basics.

I noticed some real improvements this month, her owners have been working hard, and I've been putting in some time on our walks where I can.

She's done so well she's back off lead again! She's not quite 100%, especially when I'm walking another one of my playful dogs, but the keep away has almost vanished, I've only seen it once this month, and I solved that by walking away and recalling her into a sit. Wonderful girl!

Current Vacancies

2010-03-31T19:34:00.014+01:00

Dogs

I have no spaces for regular dog walks until July. I can still take dogs who only want the occasional walk, once a week on Thursday or Friday, and dogs who need walking for a week or so while their main owners are on holiday.

Thanks for all your help. Bubbles has really come on leaps and bounds in just the few weeks you've had her!
Rebecca H., Cockerpoo

I am fully booked for boarding for school holidays until October half term. Out of school holiday time, space is available from May. Early July is still available, but I have no spaces in August at all.

I would recommend Linda to anybody who is looking for a holiday for their hounds. Peanut and Ali have just spent a week in the very capable hands of Linda and I think they enjoyed the lovely peace and quiet of her house (compared to mine).
Mary K., Greyhounds

Puppies

No puppy spaces for home visits until June.

Puppy socialising - space for one or two puppies up to 4 months old.

Thank you for all you have done. When I need to board him I will certainly be calling you.
Francis W., Jack Russell Terrier puppy

Cats

No more spaces for cat sitting at Easter, plenty of spaces the rest of the year!

Linda had very positive references and was very trustworthy whilst I was on holiday. My cat Min is very independent and it was important that she was able to stay in the environment she knows whilst having freedom outdoors when she wanted it. Linda was flexible to make this possible and on my return my cat was very healthy and happy.
Marianne F., Min

Bobby - Cute Puppy Alert!

2010-03-26T11:58:00.008Z

Bobby is a gorgeous baby Maltese. He's so cute, he's better than ice-cream. Honest.

Aunty, you have a big doorstep for a tiny puppy.

Ohhh, how can I get back indoors?

Maybe there is a better way round here.

Made it!

Oh no, not another step! (But aren't I cute poised here!?)

And as if that wasn't enough of a cute overload - here's Bobby trying to entice both, or either of, my dogs to play.

Please excuse the state of the garden - it's been a long cold winter and now it's warm enough to get out there, it keeps raining!

Post-Op Activities

2010-03-19T15:53:00.004Z

Daisy can't go out for walks at the moment, which is a shame as she enjoys them so much. As her health improves she is getting restless, so we've been doing some indoor activities. Today we not only had 'Find It' in the garden, we added 'Keep the Parcel all to Youself'.

What do you expect me to do with that?

What's that I can smell?

Daisy won't let this be the one that got away!

You Don't Have to Be a Terrier...

2010-03-16T16:40:00.005Z

To stick your head in an interesting hole...

It just helps!

Dog of the Month - February

2010-03-12T11:45:00.007Z

It's that (slightly late) time again - here's Winston, our Dog of The Month for February!

Winston is a charming Black Lab who I walk two or three times a week. When I started walking him, he was so happy and excited about his walk he'd be off and running before I got out of the door, taking me with him. He lives opposite a park, so I believe a lot of his walks are on foot from the door. As I need two hands to lock up behind me before putting him in the van, he's had to practice standing patiently, without pulling on the lead, so my hands are free (Paws/Pause at the Doors).

Despite being as excited as usual, in February we cracked it! I came out of the door, and he calmly waited without me having to call him back to me. What a star! No formal training for it, but he learnt it anyway!

Too Cute For Words

2010-03-10T16:13:00.002Z

Like most puppies Bobby barely sits still long enough for a nice photo, but I like to at least try!

He did a wicked Out of Sight Recall shortly before this photo. Only 7 weeks old! Too cute for words...

The Walkies Award

2010-03-05T15:12:00.007Z

This is a little rosette I give to the dogs after completely one year's 'service' with me. I think it's something to celebrate, our first anniversaries together!

So far we have five Walkies Award winners (plus one honourary) but I seem to have mislaid one of the 'presentation' photographs.

We have more award winners coming in the next few months, in the meantime, here's our current group of 'sophomores'.

Inky is looking a little bit sad as I can't find his photo with rosette.

Max

Bingley

Henry (honourary)

Benson

Scarlet (feeling peckish)

Yet another disaster...

2010-02-20T12:09:00.004Z

My washing machine has stopped working! It seems like one thing after another. Currently there is human laundry in there, but on the kitchen floor waiting are:

6 muddy dog towels
1 muddy dog coat
2 wet and/or muddy dog harnesses
1 filthy muddy dog lead
1 dog walkers coat, complete with mud, slobber and dog hair.

So I am hoping that's my 'Bad news comes in threes' all done now (one van written off, replacement van broken down and now the washing machine).

What doesn't kill us makes us stronger, but I think I'm strong enough now, no more disasters please! When I started my own business I knew it wouldn't all be plain sailing, but I'd like something to go right now please.

Luckily, looking after dogs and cats mean I'm never short of a cuddle when I want one!

Now I must dash to beg my mum for a loan of her machine...

The Awwwww Factor

2010-02-17T11:42:00.006Z

Little dogs often get lots of 'Awwwwws' as we enjoy our walk (giant breeds tend to get 'Oooohhhhhs'), especially when we see children.

And just so he doesn't feel left out - Fred was with us, so here's a pic with him in as well.

You may notice the space Lola (Cav in red coat) likes to keep between her and the other dogs in both the photos. This is essential for her comfort, without the space she really doesn't want to walk with us, so I make sure to arrange the dogs so that she can have her space.

She seemed very happy to meet Max, so I am hoping to find some Chihuahas for her to walk with in case it's a size thing! Max normally has a longer walk than Lola so can't make them a permanent match.

No Current Vacancies

2010-02-10T22:42:00.003Z

Unfortunately my van has been rammed by a hit and run driver skidding on the ice. No person or dog was in it at the time as it was parked up empty, so everyone is safe and well.

However, while I source another van and begin to refit I will not be able to take on any new customers.

Dog of the Month - January

2010-02-03T17:32:00.011Z

Humphrey has been walking with me for 8 months - he's a very cute Bulldog, nearly two years old now. He's a cracking personality! Very entertaining, and all the regulars in the park love him - even those without dogs can't see him without cooing over him.

He is very much the reincarnation of Tigger:

The wonderful thing about Tiggers
Is Tiggers are wonderful chaps
They're loaded with vim and vigor
They love to leap in your laps
They're jumpy, bumpy, clumpy, thumpy
Fun, fun, fun, fun, fun

This doesn't always go down very well with other dogs, although he did learn very quickly to be calm and controlled around the other dogs in his regular walking group. Every new dog though, got Tiggered.

Then, after a very quiet winter of calm walks, in January I started walking a very cute 10 month old Wire Haired Fox Terrier. Humphrey was very happy to see his new buddy, and very gently and carefully made friends. No leaping in her lap! I think it might be love...

So because of his very grown up and calm welcome for the new girl, not only did Humphrey win Dog of the Month for January, the awards were created simply so he could have the first one!

Sadly his time with us is coming to an end, but we hope to see Humphrey again in the future, and we will always remember him fondly.

His presentation photo is slightly whited out (and he's trying to eat his rosette), so here's a collection of photos from the last 8 months.

We love you Humphrey! xx

Current Vacancies

2010-01-27T21:45:00.009Z

Due to the news that two of the dogs I walk are moving out of the area, I will have spaces for new dogs from 15th February.

One space is on my 8am walk, which I know seems early, but if you have a new baby, or are at home during the day for other reasons, it's a nice time of day for me to call. Once I've been and gone (usually by 9.30) the day is yours and you don't have to wait in for me, or rush home for me to collect the dog. It also means your dog has burnt off all his energy nice and early, leading to a calmer, better behaved dog during the day.[This space has now been filled]

The other space is lunchtime, so ideal for commuters.

Dogs are walked in small groups, normally not more than four dogs, which is why spaces are so limited.

Alternatively, if you have a puppy, or are waiting for a puppy to be old enough to bring home, call me as I can hold the space for you, for one month, with the first week's fee as a deposit.

I wish my outgoing dogs all the best in their new homes!

It was the 1980s, it was allowed...

2010-01-26T16:48:00.006Z

I mention on my main website that my parents both bred dogs. My mum's chosen breed was Yorkshire Terriers, my Dad's Jack Russell Terriers, so my love of terriers is in the blood!

Although I was only a teenager (with what seemed a perfectly acceptable hairstyle at the time) here's a delightful photograph of me socialising one of the pups. I think at the time I probably thought I was just having a cuddle.

Training and Behaviour News

2010-01-17T16:30:00.004Z

I passed Introduction Instructors Course with Mic Martin today. Got a lovely certificate too, which I wasn't expecting!

I will be assisting at Mic's Dog Training School from 31st January as part of my ongoing training. Closer to home, I did my first behavioural/training consultation this month too, which went well. Within the next few weeks or so I hope the clients will let me know how things are going and what the improvements are. Next month I hope to do the first of my 'recall training walks' where I take the client and their dog on a walk around the local country park (permission granted by the Rangers) to teach them how to get a good recall. Minor issues only to start with!

Also in the pipeline for me is some sort of 'responsible dog owners' event at Thorndon Country Park, with the Rangers, details still being worked out, but will at least be ready to publicise from February.

Completely Full

2010-01-14T08:32:00.010Z

I have no vacancies for dog walking. I've had to close my books to new dogs as I am now full. This includes puppies as I have no spaces on my adult walks to move puppies into as they grow up.

Cat Sitting in Brentwood - Min

2010-01-11T21:05:00.002Z

Linda had very positive references and was very trustworthy whilst I was on holiday. My cat Min is very independent and it was important that she was able to stay in the environment she knows whilst having freedom outdoors when she wanted it. Linda was flexible to make this possible and on my return my cat was very healthy and happy.

Puppy Package & Adult Spaces

2010-01-10T20:14:00.013Z

Puppies

My puppies have grown up! They have graduated to my adult dog walks this month, so I now have space for a full time puppy, or just part time if you don't need every day.

Puppies are accepted between 8 weeks and 6 months old. They get one or two half hour visits per day when they get my undivided attention. Once they are fully vaccinated I take them out for short walks, feed where necessary, clear up any mess, and play educational games designed to give your puppy the skills needed for life with people. Puppy walks are for roughly five minutes per month of life, so start at five minutes per visit, working up to the full half hour just before puppy moves to my lunchtime group walks.

If you are at home but are interested in the educational games I can still visit, or teach you the games to play.

Spaces are linited so are taken very quickly - typically within two weeks of becoming available. I only have one space on average every three to four months, so if you are waiting for your puppy to be old enough to bring home and want me to visit, a non-refundable first week's deposit will hold the space for up to one month.

Thanks again for giving Pongo such a great start in life.
Tina F., crossbreed

Dog Walking

An experienced dog walker, I walk dogs around Brentwood in small groups of three or four. Your dog is important to me, and walks of this size allow each dog to benefit from being with their own species while still having time for personal attention from me.

I have one full time space available (Mondays & Wednesdays may be a 'split shift' walk of two half hour sessions), with extra spaces available on Thursdays and Fridays.

Thanks for your help so far. I feel really happy knowing someone is calling in to see her in the day.
Nikki D., Labradoodle

Bingley has a walker who looks after him so well, that's the most important thing!
Natalie O., Whippet

Home Dog Boarding

I am already taking bookings for school holiday times, so if you would like your dog taken care of in a home boarding environment, please contact me sooner rather than later.

I am limited in the number of dogs I can board and I will not overload my house, which makes early booking essential. Dogs need individual attention when at home as well as when out on walks, so I will only take in the amount I can sensibly cope with. Dogs are not kept in conservatories, outhouses, summer houses, sheds, kennels or kitchens. They live in the house as part of the family and are expected to get on with their chores and behave the same way my dogs do!

Very reliable & trustworthy, Nelson loves Linda and I wouldn't send him anywhere else!
Hazel S., Fox Terrier

I would recommend Linda to anybody who is looking for a holiday for their hounds. Peanut and Ali have just spent a week in the very capable hands of Linda and I think they enjoyed the lovely peace and quiet of her house (compared to mine).
Mary K., Greyhounds

If your dog has some habits you would rather they didn't have, that can be safely dealt with in a home environment, please ask me about my residential training programmes.

Snow Day!

2010-01-08T18:18:00.014Z

I love the snow - I love the way it makes all the dogs go a bit bonkers, although normally I'm too slow to catch it on the dogcam!

Here are some stills instead.

Winter Care for Pets

2010-01-08T08:04:00.002Z

I have posted this before, but thought now was a good time to repeat it.

Young, elderly, ill or infirm dogs (sighthounds such as Greyhounds, Whippets or Salukis in particular) may need a coat when out of doors this winter.

Wind can be particularly chilling. Dogs with short coats living in centrally heated homes don't grow a winter coat in the same way an outdoor dog would. If you turn your heating off at night or while you are out, consider whether your dog might be cold, even indoors and think about getting a separate coat for night times.

Dogs don't usually need more food in the winter unless they are kept outside, so don't be tempted to give extra food. Outdoor water bowls can ice over, and very cold water is not good for dogs. There is a danger of ice burns to the tongue if the bowl is metal and cold enough, or a ceramic bowl can crack. Float a ball in the water to help prevent icing over, bring the bowl in, or empty it on very cold nights.

It can be just as dangerous to leave a dog in a cold car as a hot one, because the car keeps cold air in – make sure your dog is warm enough if you have to leave them for a while. Dogs, but in particular cats, have a great liking for anti-freeze
due to its sweet taste. Keep it well away from your pets because it can be fatal.

Cats have a tendency to climb into warm places in winter, and this includes car engines. Please be aware and try to be sure where your cat is before you drive off.

Chocolate and mistletoe are more in evidence at Christmas. Chocolate is toxic to dogs, although they may be able to tolerate a small amount of milk chocolate - small dogs are more at risk as they don’t need to eat much to be ill. Call the vet if you
suspect they have been in the Quality Streets – cooking chocolate is much worse, so watch out when chocolate cakes are around.

Mistletoe, and in particular the berries, are highly toxic, so make sure they are hung up carefully and can't be pulled down by the dogs. Watch out for fallen berries.
Rabbits and guinea pigs are often left outside in the winter.

Rabbits can deal with this as long as they are not in a draught or getting damp. For guinea pigs it’s pure misery! Bring your guinea pigs into a shed or unused garage, and give them, and rabbits, thick newspaper under the bedding to help insulate,
and plenty of extra bedding, changed more frequently as if it gets wet (either rain or urine), it will freeze. Bubble wrap is your furry friend’s Best Friend. Keep two water bottles, and make sure to swap them over if one freezes. Don’t forget to spend
time with your pets, even if it is cold and dark outside.

Snow and fur is not a good mix, and sometimes snow balls form on long haired dogs. Even shorter haired breeds can gather these on their feet, and once they have formed they need to be left to melt (hairdryers can help if your dog will tolerate it). They
are very painful for your dog to walk on, so if you spot them, take the dog home for a break. Vaseline between the toes, and keeping long fur trimmed can help. Leave some fur on, as is will help to protect their pads from frozen ground.

If we get heavy snowfall again this season, watch out for snow on buildings or trees that might melt and fall – just as your dog is underneath. Check that the height of the snow in the garden doesn't open up an escape route for your dog.

Snow, ice and hail usually lead to gritting lorries. The salt and other materials can irritate your dogs feet, so you may need to give them a damp wipe over when returning from a walk; try not to let your dogs lick their feet in case they ingest something that could make them ill.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-03T08:20:00.004Z

Good Morning, Alfie here!

I've hijacked the laptop while Aunty Linda has nipped out to the kitchen to make my breakfast. At least I hope that's what she's doing. She can be a bit funny, keeps carrying around these cups of muddy hot water saying it's all too much and she can't cope with the little menace running around without this 'kofy' stuff. Not sure who this little menace is. There's only me here, well, and those other dogs who I think must live here cos every time I come to stay they're hanging around. One's very noisy, and the other keeps making the room a bit (okay, be truthful, a LOT) smelly.

It's nice to come and stay for a holiday but we went out for walks in the POURING RAIN! I couldn't believe it. I didn't like that coat they tried to make me wear, I'd rather be a bit damp. I saw some other dogs as well, including one who was shorter than me! He's about twice as long, but we had a good wrestle and I got him on the floor a couple of times, his name was Max. And there was the most ENORMOUS dog I'd ever seen, I think she was lovely really, but I couldn't reach her important bits for a good smell to be sure so I said no thank you to the photo Aunty was desperate to take. Aunty Linda said she is a Great Dane called Scarlet. Not Aunty Linda, she's not a Great Dane, I mean the very big dog. I don't know what's so funny about me and a Great Dane. We're both dogs, right?

Anyway, must go, Aunty Linda is making noises as if she's going to come back in the room with some jammy toast which I think is probably my breakfast, and I don't want her knowing I'm computer literate or she'll have me doing the book-keeping.

Bye bye, and Happy New Year!

Alfie

Canine First Aid Course - Spring 2010

2009-12-31T08:47:00.002Z

This is a cross post from my Greyhound Walks forum, which is members only viewing, but all the info is here.

A couple of years ago we organised a Canine First Aid course with Animal Aiders and we've had a few requests to organise another.

Details of the course are attached to the bottom of the post (AUTHOR'S NOTE - I can't attach the info to the blog so please email Janet below for details). Those of us who did the original course found it very useful, especially the bandaging practice

As you can see the course lasts for 3 hours and costs £30 per person. We would need a minimum of 12 people attending to go ahead.

The dates I've been offered are:
Sat 20th March
Sun 9th May (reserve date)

I'd propose we go for an afternoon session, from say 1pm. Venue would be close to Braintree as that's quite central for all. At the last course we were able to take the dogs along, although they can't be used for demonstration or practice.

If you're interested in taking up a place can you add your name to the thread please and we'll see if we get enough responses to make a booking.

Please feel free to cross post to other forums as this is a very worthwhile course which may be of interest to many other owners.

If you'd like any more information either PM me or email me janet@greyhoundwalks.org.uk

Animal Aiders were the peple I did my course with in Autumn 08 and it's a really good course to go on. I'll be doing a refresh with them 2011, as I think I should be able to remember the info for a few years.

Christmas Eve at Thorndon Park

2009-12-24T19:01:00.006Z

Our last walk before Christmas today - some highlights!

My son came with us today - he slipped on the ice, so the dogs gathered round in an immediate recall as I've taught them! Helped along by a generous dose of nosiness. Bramble didn't join in as I haven't played the 'lying down recall' game with him yet.

Jacob is standing up, so they're not really sure what to make of him...

Bramble got into this shot! I ended up using 'Bramley' as short cut for Bramble & Bingley but only Bingley took any notice, so it didn't really last long (although I had a jam sandwich when I got home and I'm not really sure why...).

I wish you all a very merry Christmas!

Scarlet

2009-12-19T20:38:00.000Z

There's something about this photo I just love...