tailored around you
Kingsthorpe Dog Walker
Doggo Blog
Case Study: Reggie
19th July, 2019
Likes: Fairweather walks, big sticks, stolen sticks, destroying sticks and squirrels.
Dislikes: Drizzle, fine rain, heavy rain, light winds, strong winds, side winds, hailstorms, loud noises and the dark.
Reg was my first full time booking when I started the business in 2016 and he's come to mean so much to me for so many reasons.
He pretty much walked me in those first few months, kindly towing me through fields and woodland in search of squirrels, sticks and generally anything stealable. FYI Sticks taste wayyyyyy better when stolen from other dogs – lesson no.1.
I don’t agree with generalising by breed (when it comes to behaviour) but if I had held any preconceptions about the Staffordshire Bull Terrier before meeting Reg, they’d have been promptly shot to sh*t. He has love for everyone, he’ll play with any dog that gives him the time of day, (little, large, hairy, bald, no prejudice) and he lives for his next adventure.
Unless there’s rain forecast. Then it’s off. Game over. I have NEVER encountered a dog so afraid of the rain/wind/subtlest of breezes. He’s quite literally bolted back to the car when off lead during a short shower. The ultimate sheep in wolf’s clothing.
He’s gone from having my undivided love and attention every day, to walking/playing with countless ‘fur-iends’ unquestioningly. Chihuahuas, Great Danes and everything in between. He gives confidence to quieter dogs, space to those less interested and acts as one hell of a bait for any looking to play chase.
Every so often I’ll make a point of retracing my steps over that first ever dog walking route with Reg. Just the two of us, (with extra time for cuddles) to remind myself where it all started. At an hour a day Mon-Fri, Reggie and I have probably covered around two thousand miles together now, and I couldn’t have dreamt up a better dog to have walked by my side from the start.
All the love, always.
Rachel x
Get Outside!
8th April, 2019
In the nicest, friendliest way possible, I mean it…GO!
Rightly or wrongly we now live in a world where the vast majority of tasks can be accomplished without getting out of bed. At the touch of a tiny screen we can do our weekly shop, pay our monthly bills, book absolutely anything, and catch up with friends who are also ‘online’.
We’ve gained so much from technology: time, efficiency and a whole world of educational information at our fingertips, but I can’t help but wonder what we’ve lost.
Not a revolutionary idea, I know. On the contrary, the impact of screen time and social media is a pretty hot topic at the moment but I wanted to share a few words about my experience.
I’ve always been pretty outdoorsy. Never a gym-goer but I’ve walked, cycled and hiked on and off since childhood. I had several primarily office-based roles before starting Walkies with Rachel and I remember the struggle of factoring in outdoor/exercise time only too well. There’s only so many hours in the day and working, eating, sleeping does tend to take precedence. It’s not always easy but it IS important.
I’d try to schedule in a hike when I was drowning under University assignments back in the day, and I remember the feeling of leaving in the morning: mentally tired, mind whirring and ironically even more stressed out about taking an entire day off…but as the day wore on and I got more and more physically tired, I’d feel my mind quietening. So, I’d taken a day off BUT I’d be returning to work feeling ten thousand times more productive. A day in the mist to demist if you will.
A hiking day has always been like a reboot for me, but it needn’t be a hike (not everyone’s cup of tea, I know). A jog, a bike ride, a dog walk, a dog-less walk, literally just a stroll - whatever gets you out in the fresh air and stops you scrolling.
Easier said than done sometimes. I’ve had many a morning where I’ve woken up and wanted to hide. Maybe my head’s banging, maybe my mood’s terrible, maybe there’s rain lashing on the window for the seventieth day in a row (cheers winter 2017, you were cracking) but every. single. time. I’ve felt better for getting up and getting out.
Most of us are aware of the benefits of exercise for both physical and mental health but it’s still easy to put it off until tomorrow and pick up our phones instead.
Let’s get offline. It doesn’t have to be mountains. It doesn’t have to be marathons. Just shove on some wellies and get out there in the rain!
Walkies forces me to put this into practice every day and every day I’m thankful for it.
Rachel x
Case Study: Ralph
10th March, 2019
Aliases:
‘Rally Bear’
‘Ralphy Pops’
‘Ted’
‘NOOOOO!’
Ralph became a Walkies recruit at the tender age of 6 months and we’ve been on quite the journey since then.
Australian Labradoodles are made up of the following highly loveable breeds: Labrador & Poodle (unsurprisingly) but also English Cocker Spaniel, American Cocker Spaniel, Curly Coat Retriever & Irish Water Spaniel. Nowhere listed have I found any mention of monkeys but they’re in there somewhere in Ralph’s case – I’m utterly convinced. Highly intelligent, loyal, loving and absolutely hilarious (in my experience).
Despite thorough socialisation from an early age by experienced and dedicated owners, Ralph was somewhat of a nervous pup and unfortunately, he’s only gained a little bravery with age.
Unwaveringly trusting of other dogs, Ralph’s philosophy is that he simply MUST befriend all passing doggos (or not passing as the case may be, but enjoying a leisurely walk some 400 meters away). Dogs are friends. Simple. Cats, rabbits, birds and squirrels are also ALL welcome in Ralph’s gang. I’ve heard many dog owners and walkers say ‘so-and-so wouldn’t hurt a fly’ and this describes Ralph to a tee (evidence provided below).
Bikes on the other hand – DEADLY. Ralph’s never been mown down to either myself or his owner’s knowledge but even so, bikes are NOT to be trusted. Skateboards, pushchairs and mobility scooters are also highly suspicious. If it’s got wheels where its paws should be, it’s obviously up to no good. Unfortunately, Ralph’s full-proof strategy with wheels was ‘attack is the best form of defence’ so rather than avoiding the evil wheels, Ralph would run directly at them and bark. And I mean BARK. Far from ideal, but with time, toys, treats, tonnes of positive reinforcement training and lots and lots and lots of patience he’s unrecognisably better. If he’s caught off guard whilst engrossed in sniffing he’ll find his bark again but I mean, how dare they, really.
Ralph is somewhat of a contradiction. Untrusting and fearful of the world, and yet so, so full of love. Highly intelligent and yet hilariously ditsy. The clumsiest fetch master to have ever caught a ball, and the most ‘reactive’ non-aggressive dog in my care.
In all seriousness, Ralph has presented arguably the most challenges for me as a dog walker and tested my patience more times than I’d like to admit. He’s also taught me 10x the amount that I’ve taught him, and he reminds me every single day why I became a dog walker.
This one’s for you Rally Bear.
Rachel x
