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!

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

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.

Catching up on the Latest Gossip

You'll never guess what she did then!?

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!

The Walkies Award

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)

The Awwwww Factor

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.

Snow Day!

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.

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.

The Sun Really Does Shine...

...out of the dogs.

Safe Car Travel for Dogs

At the front of my mind, at all times, is the safety and security of the dogs that I walk.

Safety while travelling is very important; as I walk dogs in small groups, sometimes my first pick up can be in the van for around half an hour before we get to our destination, again on the way back and the local country parks where I walk are nearly all on 60mph roads. I don't travel this fast, but other drivers do. The dogs need to be transported securely, so they can't distract me, or injure each other.


Millie & Max in the back crates, Beauty & Fred behind them.

In an accident, a loose dog can turn into a missile. If its lucky enough not to go through the windscreen, it could be thrown around inside, most likely breaking bones. If a medium (or larger) dog hits the driver from behind, it can push the driver into the windscreen – some dogs can weigh as much as a small adult – one of the dogs I walk is at least as heavy as I am, if not heavier.

Even in the event of a small collision, doors can be thrown open, or passers-by may open a door to check the driver is okay and the dogs escape – straight into traffic, or out of sight and lost. All dogs I carry are taught an open door is not an invitation to go through it, and they cannot get through into the front of the van.


Fred waiting patiently for his release cue.

Should someone 'helpfully' open a door and try to get the dogs out, if they aredistressed by an accident they may not be able to remember their training and bolt. Or, in their distress or possibly pain, they may bite their rescuer. Crates are essential, to keep the 'helpful' at bay if nothing else!

A lead fixed to a fixture of the car, or to the seatbelt is not secure. The clips are not made to withstand the forces generated by flying dogs and may come undone, or allow the dog to be strangled, or even have its neck broken. Dog car harnesses are an alternative, but most are not 'crash-tested' and still allow the dog to move off the seat, or worse, step on the buckle, releasing themselves. When carrying multiple dogs, they should not be allowed to interfere with each other. Even the friendliest dog may bite if it's been stepped on enough times.

Even if the dog is in a crate, unless it is bolted to the floor it can also be thrown around the car, or, if fold up or 'cheap' crates are used, these can be destroyed by the force of the dog hitting it from the inside.

My van has been specially designed to contain the dogs safely and securely. I have two custom built crates at the back of the van, lockable.


Space for a Great Dane in the back, she chose to get in this crate.

A metal divider and bulkhead for the front half – this works just like the crates in the back but there is more headroom for the larger dogs.


Conrad and Scarlet, enjoying the view, their height lets them see out of the windows.

The bulkhead prevents them from coming forward into the cab, even in the event of an collision.


From the outside, the van looks tiny.



Scarlet and Conrad seem quite comfy though!


Many thanks to Advanced Systems (UK) Ltd in Kent, especially Alan who took my wishlist, told me which bits were ridiculous, and made the rest exactly how I imagined it. I'm very happy with the van!