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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm Saturday 9am - 5pm Sunday 9am - 5pm

Richer Dogs - Dog Walking & Training

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Richer Dogs - Dog Walking & Training

❤️Force-free dog trainer❤️
🌟5-Star dog walker & trainer🌟
🐶A Richer Dog is a happy dog!🐶 Professional dog walking, tailored for you!
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Offering group and solo walks, puppy socialising, training and more whether on a regular basis or a one-off.

05/09/2024

How's your day been?

Mine was very soggy, but great fun!

Dog towels & dressing gowns (they look so cute 😍) are being washed & dried so they're ready for more soggy dogs tomorrow.

Still think being a dog walker is the best job ever?

I do! 😆🐾🐾

28/07/2024

Beat the Heat with Brain Games! 🐶☀️

Is your dog going stir-crazy in the summer heat? 🥵 Don't worry, it's easy (and fun!) to entertain your dog without breaking a sweat. Let's dive into some quick and easy enrichment games to keep your dog's mind sharp. 🧠

Game 1: The Treasure Hunt 🔍

Hide treats or their favourite toys around the house.
Start easy and gradually increase difficulty as your dog gets better.
Watch as their nose goes into overdrive! 👃

Game 2: DIY Puzzle Feeder 🧩

Fill an empty water bottle with treats or kibble.
Remove the lid, or make small holes (large enough to get the treats out of!) and watch as your dog rolls & throws it as they sniff out their rewards.
It's a fun way to slow down their eating and challenge their brain.

Game 3: DIY Snuffle Mat 👃

Create a snuffle mat using an old tea towel or fleece blanket.
Hide treats or kibble within the fabric.
Encourage your dog to use their nose to find the hidden goodies.

You can roll & fold the towel/blanket to increase the difficulty too.

Short bursts of mental stimulation can make a big difference in your dog's happiness, and be a great way for them to exercise when it's too hot for a walk. 🐾

Want more enrichment ideas? Drop a comment below or send me a message! 📩

23/07/2024

22/07/2024

How handsome is Mr G today?

19/07/2024

I went 'out-out' last night, to see by

It was fantastic!

Even though I don't usually stay out late, so it was a change of routine, I knew that Monkey would be ok.

Mr Stinky had severe Separation Anxiety when we found each other, and it was very difficult for him. It broke my heart.

I didn't want Monkey to experience that, so it was important to make sure he was comfortable being alone. I started slowly, gradually building up the duration when he was ready. It took a long time, but it was worth it.

Now, my work means he can spend a lot of time with me, but I still try to find space for him to 'practice' being home alone. As hard as it is to leave Monkey at times, I know how important it is to his emotional well-being, to maintain his confidence in himself, and his trust in me.

I love coming back to see him so relaxed, either chilling on the sofa, stretched out on the floor or snuggled up in bed.

Last night, he chose his favourite 'cushion nest'!

Training isn't always about pulling on lead or recall. Working on confidence, helping our dogs to relax, can bring about the biggest changes - and help in other areas too.

What does your dog do when they are home alone?

17/07/2024

No, this isn't an April Fools.

The UK has apparently approved lab-grown 'chicken' for use in pet food. Samples will go on sale later this year, with the manufacturer aiming to scale production to industrial levels within 3 years.

The manufacturer says pet parents want 'better meat options' for their pets. However, the pet food industry is plagued with sub-standard foods marketed as 'healthy,' often lacking protein and filled with carbs and fillers

The answer, to my mind, isn't cell-cultivated chicken.

It is better standards in pet food, and better awareness of the suppliers, better information available for the owners.

People trust that foods sold by supermarkets/vets must be good for our dogs. Surely, they wouldn't sell it to us if it wasn't suitable?

Sadly, it's a case of profit before welfare.

This is how a 'Meaty Meals' product can be sold, that only contains FIVE PERCENT MEAT!!!

The rest is carbs, and glycerol.

This is beyond misleading. But hey, they have adverts on TV, it is in all the shops, so it must be ok?

No, no, no!!!

Another leading brand has 25% meat, but only 8% of that is defined (4% beef, 4% liver). The rest is 'derivatives'...that's the stuff that's left after all the 'good' bits have been taken. It's offal (not bad by itself), beaks, feathers & hooves.

Not only is it poor quality, but legally 'animal derivates' can be a completely different protein. So, if your dog is allergic to chicken, buying a 'beef' product with only 8% beef/beef liver means that the remaining 17% can be chicken, and you wouldn't know it.

There is a crisis in the pet food industry, but I don't believe that adding lab-grown products is the answer. I truly believe that there should be more transparency around dog foods, and introducing lab grown 'meat' will only muddy the water further.

Rant over, thank you for coming to my TED Talk 😂

09/07/2024

Today I pulled up to Mr. J Pug's place to whisk him away for a walk with his buddies. Just as his human was serving up some chicken, he heard my van. Forgetting all about his favorite treat, he dashed to the back door to greet me 🤣.

Now, for a guy who adores chicken more than anything, picking a walk with Auntie Zoe and his pals instead is a big deal 🤣.

Mr. J, I love you more than chicken too!

08/07/2024

There is so much more to dog walking than walking dogs!

As a Professional Dog Walker, it is my responsibility to make sure I'm up to date on things I need to know.

That includes random stuff like Rule 57 of the Highway Code, which is one reason why I have bespoke crates in my van & don't mix dogs from different households in them.

It's knowing that there is a county wide PSPO (public space protection order) saying that I need to pick up the p**p, wherever I am. I'd pick it up even if there wasn't - I don't want to leave it there for someone to step in or for Toxicara Canis to spread. It is my responsibility to clean up after my dogs.

It is making sure I'm up to date on dog legislation, and that I have the dogs I am walking under control. It is being aware that having dogs considered 'out of control' could invalidate my insurance, but more importantly having a dog out of control is a risk to their safety and welfare. Managing focus and energy levels on walks, plus regular training games, helps keep them safe.

It is being respectful of the public. They don't want to be set on by 4 or more dogs. They want to walk their dog in peace, and being approached by an off-lead dog (or a group!) can be intimidating.

It is giving your dogs 100% of our attention. They deserve it, and so do you.

To some, it may seem like I'm being over the top, but looking after other people's dogs is a big responsibility, and a privilege, so taking it seriously, professionally, is important to me.

If you're looking for someone to walk your dog, there are plenty of options.

But, if you're looking for a Professional, drop me a message.

07/07/2024

recently wrote an article about her search for a leak-proof travel mug. I can completely understand her frustration!

A decent travel mug is a must for me, as the open fields I work in tend not to have coffee making facilities. A hot coffee after a cold, wet, muddy walk is a must!

I searched for years. I went through lots that promised no-leaks, all the while thinking spending £20+ on a travel mug was a bit too much.

Oh, how wrong I was! I worked out that in one year, I spent more than that on travel mugs that leaked, broke or didn't keep my coffee warm.

I took the plunge & bought my first Thermos Travel Tumbler about 5 years ago, and won't switch to another ever again 🤣.

Mine is a bit like me - battered, dented and bruised, but still going strong. I love that I can shove it in my bag & know that it won't leak - providing I've done the 'tip it to test it' dance first!

Does £20+ sound like a lot for warm coffee?

Maybe, but it's a lot less (in price & environmental impact) than buying (and binning) others.

It's worth it.

03/07/2024

I was running some reports the other day, and was amazed when I spotted that the majority of my clients have been with me for over 5 years.

I recently celebrated my 7th Anniversary, and some of my clients have been part of the Richer Dog's Family from Day 1!

I have been lucky enough to know my dogs for most of their life, to see them through puppyhood, adolescence, and watch them grow into the most adorable adults. I am also lucky that I get to meet, work and forge friendships with my lovely clients too.

I used to run a Wait List, but when I realised it can be years until I have availability, I stopped it. Spaces usually only come up when a client moves away, and each time it breaks my heart!

So, when it was the last walk for one of my dogs this week, it was a very sad day indeed. She is a very small dog, but she has left very big paws to fill.

It will take a very special dog to take her place. One that is looking for adventure, fun, some training games, enrichment and snuggles.

If your dog is looking for new friends, and you are looking for a Dog Walker For Life, get in touch & see about joining the Richer Dog's Family today!

20/05/2024

My mission with Richer Dogs is to help all the dogs I work with become Resilient, Independent, Confident and Happy.

I want all dogs to be RICH 😂 which is why every walk is a mix of training, brain games and free play. The dogs love it.

As well as having happy dogs, I strive for happy clients too, which is why I include microchip checks & post-walk spritzes as standard.

I rarely have spaces on my group walks, as most of my clients stay for a long time. One client has been with me since the very beginning, over 7 years ago!

One is moving soon though 😭😭😭 and I will be heart broken. Their friends will miss them too, but they are always happy to welcome a new buddy!

If your dog is looking for fun, friends and exercise (and you are looking for a professional walker), dm me for more info.

Will your dog be the next member of the Richer Dog's Family?

06/05/2024

It's frustrating. Sometimes our dogs have amazing recall.

✅ Open the fridge? Yep, our dogs are there.

✅ Open the front door? There they are again.

✅ Happen to mention the 'W' word in casual conversation? 100% there.

❓ Ask them to come back to us while we're out, and they are following amazing smells or wanting to run up to their new bestest friend ever (that they've not even met yet, they've just glimpsed them from the other side of the field)?

❌ HECK NO!!!!!

So, why can our dogs come back when called in some places, but not in others? And how can we have confidence in our dogs recall?

Dogs are great at learning new skills. The issue is they tend to associate the skill with the place they learned it in. So, while your dog has great recall at home or in the garden, it's not guaranteed that recall will be reliable in the great outdoors, where there are lots of distractions.

Another issue may be that they haven't actually 'learnt' a recall at home. They've just learnt that it's pretty much guaranteed that they will get a treat each time the fridge door opens, and it's 50/50 with a packet of crisps.

So, how do we build a reliable recall?

1️⃣ Start by building a reliable foundation. Short (and fun!) training games at home are ideal.

2️⃣ When you are seeing a consistent recall at home, you can start to introduce distractions - slowly!

3️⃣ You may need to make the training game a little easier in a new environment, to start off with.

4️⃣ Practice regularly - if we only use recall at the end of the walk, we will be teaching our dogs that recall = no fun. If we practice it in the middle of walks, or randomly throughout the day, our dogs will learn that recall = fun!

5️⃣ Mix things up! Use a variety of different training games, and a variety of different rewards. It will keep things interesting for you and your dog.

📣 If you need help with your dog's recall, head on over to https://tidycal.com/richerdogs/discovery-call to book a call, and I'll do the rest.

Zoe x

p.s. Recall won't magically 'get better' by itself, so if you're already struggling chances are it will only become more frustrating. BUT, if you want a Really Reliable Recall (and can commit to doing three short training games a day for the next 30 days) then I'd LOVE to hear from you!

15/02/2024

Are you ready to Unleash your dog's Potential?

Are you ready to discover new skills & techniques to boost recall, to encourage loose lead walking? Are you ready to build a better bond with your dog through enrichment & play?

Are you ready to STEP UP?

DM me to join the waitlist - your dog is ready, are you?

14/02/2024

Most of my Valentine's cakes & cards have been delivered now 😁

Unfortunately, traffic (and my cold 🤧) meant I couldnt do the last couple of deliveries, so I'm making a fresh batch tonight ready to hand deliver to my VIP's (Very Important Pups 🤣) in the next few days.

Happy Valentine's Day ❤️🐾🐾

14/02/2024

Wondering what to do with your dog for Valentine's Day? Check out this article in The Wildest, which has great ideas from lots of pet care experts and....

Me!

I am so honoured to be in such fantastic company, it's made my day ☺️

https://www.thewildest.co.uk/dog-lifestyle/valentines-day-treats-for-dogs

Leave a comment or dm me if you'd like a copy of my free Enrichment Guide.

14/02/2024

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

This year, I thought I'd share the love, and gift everyone a copy of 5 Enrichment Games you can play with your dog. The games help our dogs use their natural skills in a healthy way, exercises them mentally & are great for promoting calm!

To get your free copy, either leave a comment or drop a DM, & I'll do the rest 😁🐾🐾

13/02/2024

🐾🌟 Treats or Training: Finding the Perfect Balance! 🌟🐾

Hello everyone! 🐶✨ I had a great conversation with a client yesterday that I'd like to share with you. We talked about the role of treats in dog training.

My client loves giving treats to her dog throughout the day, and I understand why - her dog is very cute! 🐾❤️ However, she was struggling with training. Her dog is full of energy and sometimes has trouble settling down.

I suggested that instead of separate treat time and training time, she could blend them together & use the treats to capture natural behaviours her dog does that she wants to encourage throughout the day! For example, she could give her dog a treat and use a marker word like "good" or "nice" whenever she noticed her dog doing something she wanted her to repeat, like settling on her mat or waiting by the door.

There's a risk if we give our dogs treats while they are practising a behaviour we don't want, that we will accidentally reinforce (and see more of) it. Instead, if we use a handful of treats each day to reinforce natural behaviors as they happen, we'll see more of the behaviours we like, and it won't feel like a chore!

Our dogs love treats, and we love to treat them - if we are intentional about when we give the treats, we can incorporate training seamlessly into our daily routine!

Drop me a DM if you'd like to know more about how positive training can fit into your lifestyle!

11/02/2024

Monkey is taking his job of Taste Tester very seriously 😂

Address

Bridgwater
SOMERSET

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	9am - 5pm
Sunday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+447403499242

Website

https://somersetdogwalking.com/

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Videos

Soggy Dogs!

How's your day been? Mine was very soggy, but great fun! Dog towels & dressing gowns (they look so cute 😍) are being washed & dried so they're ready for more soggy dogs tomorrow. Still think being a dog walker is the best job ever? I do! 😆🐾🐾

Yep. Sure is good to walk dogs in a British Summer. At least my skin is waterproof 🤣 #isitsummeryet #wheredidsummergo #soggysummer #bringmesunshine #dogwalkerlife

Traffic was a nightmare today, so rather than sit in a queue we had an impromptu Mid Week Adventure Walk. Monkey (my own boy) had The Best Day Ever when he found the sloppiest, stinkiest 💩 to roll in! I recalled my client's dogs (who stayed completely clean!) and we played a fun Focus Game while Monkey had his mucky fun. Training definitely paid off today 🥳🥳🥳 Thankfully, I've got a shower in the van, so he had a quick wash before heading home. Loving the Manuka Honey, Lavender & Aloe shampoo I'm using, it left Monkey's fur feeling so soft & he smells amazing. Given the choice of being stuck in traffic or spending time with dogs, even if they are covered in 💩, I'd choose dogs every time. #muckypup #bestjobever #richerdogsfamily

We use our leads & harnesses daily, but how often do you check they are still safe? Here's a reminder to check yours today and get new ones if they are frayed or torn 😁🐾🐾 #dogsafety #lovedogs #saferdogwalking #dogwalkerbridgwater #dogtrainerbridgwater #loveyourdog

A couple of people asked me training questions today - they were different problems, but both had the same solution! In each case, their dogs had practiced a behaviour their guardians felt was inappropriate, and they wanted to know how to change it. The answer was simple, but not easy! In order for their dog's behaviour to change, they (as guardians) needed to change their actions. If the action that preceded the undesired behaviour was changed, their dog would have a different response. They would get fewer opportunities to practice the undesired behaviour, and more opportunities to practice the desired behaviour! It can be tricky to spot the link between our actions and our dog's behaviour. Sometimes its not just a case of teaching the new behaviour, only to find that the original behaviour continues, leaving you frustrated and wondering why 😩. To get the results my clients need, I like to dig deep, to understand their unique situation, & really get to the root cause of why their dogs act the way they do, without judgement. If there's a training area you're struggling with & would like a free no-obligation chat with a kind & ethical trainer, simply send me a message & I'll do the rest 😁🐾🐾