Dave's Dogs - Dog Walking and Training

02/12/2024

Dexter and Archie met for the first time today and had a great walk together. Archie’s a very bouncy lab and Dexter is a really steady boy, but knowing each of them, I had a hunch that it would be a good pairing. It was!

Beautiful boys!

01/12/2024

Hi everyone, I’m Dave 👋 I thought I’d take a moment to reintroduce myself for those who don’t know me!

I’m the owner of Dave’s Dogs - straight to the point, right? I offer dog walking, training, and even a touch of canine hydrotherapy.

I started the business earlier this year to follow my lifelong passion for dogs. Before this, I spent many years working in marketing, but being stuck behind a desk just wasn’t cutting it anymore. While it’s been a journey to get here, the highlight of my career might still be my teenage stint delivering fish and chips to Hank Marvin (yes, the real one and yes he was very hungry). The bar is high, dogs!

At home, I’m kept busy by my partner Matt and Albert, our rescue Vizsla. Albert joined us last year and, while he was very reactive at first, he’s made amazing progress and is the sweetest boy. He’s taught me so much about patience and perseverance - and he’s a great reminder of why I do what I do!

01/12/2024

This month I'm sharing some tips on how to help anxious and reactive dogs cope with the festive season.

Part 1: Creating a safe space

30/11/2024

Weekly tuna treat making in progress. No junk for Dave’s Dogs!

29/11/2024

I’ve never known a dog love their bed quite as much as Albert. Here he’s under the built in fleece of his massively oversized bed. On top of that he has a quilt and then on top of that, another folded blanket. Sometimes he has a heated pad in there too.

RIDICULOUS (but also very cute).

Goodnight Albs.

29/11/2024

27/11/2024

🌟 Another happy customer! 🌟

When your dog spends time with me, it’s not just about walks – it’s about getting to know their unique personality. I take the time to understand each dog's likes, dislikes, and pace, building trust and a genuine connection. We work on the essentials too, like recall, eye contact, and making sure every journey is relaxed and enjoyable.

If you’d like your dog to join me on our adventures, drop me a message or comment below to set up a free meet and greet. Let’s make sure it’s the perfect fit for your dog!

27/11/2024

Fellow glasses wearers will understand the annoyance of rain…

Puppy Gigi wasn't too impressed by it either and after a bit of a run around and a brief training session to build on and keep her recall sharp, she was giving me the nod that she wanted to get back to the lovely warm van. We soldiered on and got a little shelter in the woods for a sniffy session.

Still, at least it means that I got to test out my new, freshly waterproofed clothing - it worked! 🙌

26/11/2024

You can see why puppy Taro gets a lot of attention when out on his walks - because he’s bloody gorgeous (and he totally knows it).

25/11/2024

A slight misjudgment on the weather front this afternoon and reminder that just a hoody is not sufficient in November!

Archie didn’t seem bothered, though…

21/11/2024

It’s a chilly one but that’s not stopping me and Lenny!

Lenny needs solo walks at the moment, so I’m trying different things with him to help build his confidence. This morning we used a 15m long line and went off the beaten track. I did this because I want Lenny to have a bit of freedom that mimics being off lead.

This is a great way because it means I’m there to help him if he needs me, but at the same time means that he has freedom to explore his surroundings without feeling tethered to me. It took him a minute to get used to it but after that he was off exploring in his own way. It also gives us an opportunity to start working on his recall.

Go Lenny! 🌟

19/11/2024

Looking for more than just a walk?

My solo dog walks are tailored for dogs who need extra attention, focusing on training to help them build confidence and skills. These sessions are perfect for dogs who aren’t quite ready for group walks or need support with specific behaviours.

At £25 per session, these walks go beyond regular exercise, offering a calm, personalised experience in carefully chosen, quieter locations—ideal for your dog to focus and thrive.

Walks are available earlier or later in the day, during quieter hours, to ensure the best possible environment for your dog.

📩 Message me to find out more or to arrange your free meet & greet!

17/11/2024

Struggling to fit in weekday dog walks this winter?

Let Dave’s Dogs make life easier! I provide dependable dog walking in Colchester to ensure your dog gets the exercise & care they need, even when your day is packed.
I specialise in:

🟠 Group walks: Fun & sociable outings for dogs who love making friends.
🟠 Limited solo walks: For those who prefer their own space (available earlier or later in the day).

With me, your dog will stay happy, healthy & well-cared for—whatever the weather.

📩 Message me today to arrange your free meet & greet & take the stress out of weekday walks!

✅ 5-star reviews
✅ Fully insured
✅ DBS checked
✅ First aid trained
✅ Behaviourist in training

17/11/2024

Struggling to fit in weekday dog walks this winter?

Let Dave’s Dogs make life easier! I provide dependable dog walking in Colchester to ensure your dog gets the exercise & care they need, even when your day is packed.
I specialise in:

🟠 Group walks: Fun & sociable outings for dogs who love making friends.
🟠 Limited solo walks: For those who prefer their own space (available earlier or later in the day).

With me, your dog will stay happy, healthy & well-cared for—whatever the weather.

📩 Message me today to arrange your free meet & greet & take the stress out of weekday walks!

✅ 5-star reviews
✅ Fully insured
✅ DBS checked
✅ First-aid trained
✅ Behaviourist in training

16/11/2024

I’m working with lovely Archie on a 1-2-1 basis a couple of times per week to work on some training and to give him some decent exercise.

His friendly nature can bubble into over excitement around other dogs and he can be a strong boy on the lead. This is making walking a bit of a challenge for his dad, who has some physical challenges so I’m happy to be able to help him out.

We’re going to be working through a training plan together and hoping to add Archie to a small friendly group walk when the time’s right.

1-2-1 training walks are now available in Colchester for £25 per walk. Get in touch if you’d like your dog to join Dave’s Dogs!

15/11/2024

A little post-walk cuddle with my new friend Buddy.

It’s quite handy really because I call every dog I know Buddy!

15/11/2024

Albert meditating after a reactivity blip on his walk. How dare a lovely friendly elderly gentleman go about his lunchtime walk in peace?!

Training can sometimes feel like 2 steps forward then 10 steps back, particularly with rescue dogs, and when you have very limited information on their past life.

We’ve done over a year of second guessing his life, pre-us, and have put in a huge amount of work on helping him work through his issues.

A lot of us dog rescuers have periods where it feels like the hard work is for nothing. But it’s important to remember how your dog was when they first came to you and the frequency and intensity of their reactivity.

When Albert first arrived he was a wreck and would go off at EVERYTHING that moved. I think he will always have a difficult relationship with men, children and some dogs on walks, and I’ll never know why, but that’s ok. We just manage as best we can with what we know and keep training, remembering to praise the s**t out of the behaviours we do want.

Even so, the last couple of walks have been a bit rubbish and made me feel a little down in the dumps for Albert (and probably me as his guardian and trainer). I think that’s allowed though!