A Day in the Life of a Travel Kennel

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!

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

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.

Current Vacancies

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.

Dog of the Month - March

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

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

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

To stick your head in an interesting hole...













It just helps!

Puppy Package & Adult Spaces

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.

Scarlet

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

Snow!

Well, a little tiny bit. Weather forecasters said it would turn to rain, but it didn't and it's settled!

Here's some of the dogs I took out today, some are seeing snow for the first time. Some were before the snow, but still cold and frosty, then came the snow! I love my job!

If you look really closely at Max (Daxie), you can see the blob of snow on his nose where he's been snuffling through it.
















Remember that small, young, short-haired, old, infirm, ill or just plain 'looks too damn cute' dogs will need a coat in the snow.

Wet Weather Walking

Nothing gets in the way of a Good Walk. Even the torrential rain we had on Tuesday of this week.

I got to try out my new winter wet weather gear (Australian Bush Hat and Millet's waterproof trousers), and enjoy a virtually empty country park!



The rain came down so hard there were puddles everywhere as the ground couldn't soak it up fast enough. I couldn't take many photos as the camera was getting too wet! Scarlet got out of the van, then jumped straight back in. Every time I let another dog out she tried to get back in! Poor girl!

Dilly, being a Labradoodle and very furry got completely drenched, and I expect she's still drying out now.

I do give the dogs a rub down when they get in the van, then again when they get back out at home, but I think they all go home a little damp in that kind of weather. I will be asking the owners to leave towels out at home, so the dogs can have a last rub down with a dry towel before I leave them!