Richer Dogs - Dog Walking & Training

05/11/2025

🎆 Fireworks getting you down? 🎆

Bonfire Night can be really tough for our dogs - all those unexpected bangs and flashes can make them feel scared or unsettled.

At my house, Monkey and I follow our Calm Protocol, and we practise it throughout the year so it feels totally normal, not a “special reaction” to fireworks. Then, on Bonfire Night (and NYE) I:

🕯 Close curtains and internal doors to muffle the noise and stop echoes.

🎶 Put on quietly. They have a fantastic pet friendly show on this evening! Gentle, familiar background noise is an ideal antidote to loud bangs.

🌿 Spray Pet Remedy (or another dog-safe calming scent) on my clothes & the sofa

🪟 Make sure windows, curtains & internal doors are shut to dull outside sounds.

📚 Settle in together. I light a couple of candles, grab a book, and Monkey curls up beside me in the cuddle chair.

It’s simple, calm, and predictable, exactly what our dogs need when the world outside feels scary.

If your dog struggles tonight, why not try creating your own version of a “calm corner.”?

And if your dog needs extra support with noise sensitivities, get in touch. I can help you work on desensitisation exercises in a positive, gradual way.

Just imagine - by NYE you can have practised your very own Calm Corner and a much happier dog!

You’ve got this 💛🐾🐾

24/10/2025

I’ve been having some pretty funny dreams lately, and apparently, my subconscious has gone full “dog walker mode"!

A couple of weeks back, I had a dream about Gilbert, one of my regulars, except in the dream he was French & his name was pronounced “Geel-berr” 😆 It really suits him, so he’s officially "Monsieur Geel-berr" to me, and his owner fully approves 🇫🇷🐾🐾

Then last night, I dreamt I was crouching down saying hello to a stranger’s dog when I felt my elbow being nudged up, and a little dog was squeezing under for a snuggle.

It was Digby! He’d recognised me and came over to say Hi ☺️

I know dreams don’t always mean anything deep, but this one made me think. Even when I’m not working, these dogs are such a big part of my life.

They sneak into my thoughts, my routines, and apparently, my dreams too 💛

18/10/2025

Peek a boop 🤣💙💙💙

17/10/2025

Teefs 😆🐾🐾

Drop a photo of your dog’s biggest grin 👇

Bonus points for teefs!

16/10/2025

Just another day making grass look like a catwalk!

👉 Share your dog’s best modelling pose 💙🐾🐾

10/10/2025

I was thinking the other day about how lucky I am to have such long-term clients, people (and dogs!) I’ve worked with for years.

It means I get to really understand what each family needs. If someone’s expecting a baby, we can plan in advance so their dog’s routine doesn’t miss a beat. If work schedules change, I already know which group your dog would fit best with. And if you’re having a tough time health-wise, I’ll quietly adjust things to help make life easier.

That level of trust doesn’t happen overnight. It’s built up through all the chats at the door, the messages, the shared laughter and muddy paws.

I never take it for granted. So if you’re one of my long-term clients reading this: thank you for trusting me with such an important part of your family. 🐶💛

09/10/2025

I secretly *love* it when I get a last minute request in 😆

While the schedule shuffle can be a pita, it means I get to spend extra time with a dog I adore!

Yes, it may mean 30 minutes of route checking, adjusting my scheduling software and amending invoices but it's worth it every time 💙🐾🐾

.secret.dog.walker

07/10/2025

Dog owners, can we talk about consent for a second?

03/07/2025

“The woods were quiet… a little too quiet.”
Brilliant opening line for a novel. Not so great on a dog walk! 😬

I love this shady spot when it’s hot,
but yesterday it had a slightly eerie feel 🫣

A quick look around and… phew!
Turns out this giant hole wasn’t anything spooky,
just some local kids building jumps for bikes and scooters.

Had me worried for a second there 🤣

24/06/2025

One of those proud dog walker moments 🥹

I’ve been working with Tilley for a little while now. She’s walked solo, as she can be a bit nervous and gets easily over-excited around other dogs. We take things at her pace, and she’s come such a long way.

One thing I teach all the dogs I walk is “steady” and “wait”.

“Steady” helps them slow down as we approach corners.

“Wait” means stop, so I can check what’s ahead - other dogs, people, wildlife, anything that might need a bit of space.

Today, as we approached a corner, I didn’t need to say a word…
Tilley stopped.
Turned to look at me.
And waited.

She knew exactly what to do, and when to do it. Her little face was so proud, and honestly, so was mine!

I love moments like this, when I see a behaviour really click. It’s no longer just a cue, it’s part of their understanding of the world.

Of course, we’ll keep practicing 'steady' and 'wait' because repetition and reinforcement matters. But today?

Tilley just got it.

And I’ll be smiling about that for the rest of the day.

⭐️ What are your 'proud dog' moments? Let me know in the comments!👇

23/06/2025

Not quite the day I had planned… 😅

This morning, Bertha (my van!) decided to throw a warning light my way. Cue a dash to my lovely garage, who thankfully managed to fit me in right away. Two hours and £224 later (ouch), Bertha was back on the road and I made it out to see all my lovely dogs.

Was it stressful? Yep.
Was it frustrating? Absolutely.
Did it throw my whole day off? You bet.
But I got there in the end, with a bit of patience, a chunk of money, and a lot of support from my lovely clients, who were all so understanding 💛

It reminded me a bit of dog training, actually.

Some days everything clicks. Other days it feels like nothing’s going to plan. But progress isn’t linear.Whether it’s your dog’s recall, loose lead walking, or even just getting out the front door without a wrestle over the harness, it can be difficult to cope with it alone.

If you keep showing up, and give yourself (and your dog) time, patience, and reach out for the help and support you need, you will get there.

💬 Have you ever had a day that went totally off track but still worked out in the end? Tell me about it below ⬇️

21/06/2025

Haven't done a good photo dump in ages 😆