Bark and Stride

16/01/2025

POSING PUPS

It’s hard to understand exactly how much the dogs benefit from the walks we go on. I’m not trying to blow my own trumpet, but when I observe them, daily and see how they fit in and how their confidence grows, I can’t help but want to tell everyone.

We are so lucky to have so much accessible land, Downs and beautiful woodland, so close by. This bit of freedom in their day makes such a difference.

Can you imagine having your whole life totally controlled by someone else? Told where to sleep, when and what to eat, when to step outside, who you can talk to, friends chosen for you, or none at all.

Their freedom on a walk is immense, sniff what they like, p*e and poo where they like, play or not play, stay by me or go out of sight.

During all of our walks, we take time to explore. We mess about on fallen trees, we splash about in water, we greet other dogs and people. We may approach strange objects, get to see horses, have runners go by, unexpectedly meet some sheep or a motorbike.

We run, hide, play, jump the streams, paddle and swim. We climb trees and occasionally find or catch other creatures.

This gives an immense boost to our confidence. It illuminates our proprioception, we can run, jump and climb, always knowing where our feet will land.

We are living, and feel incredibly sorry for the poor pups who never get to experience this little piece of freedom.

Rain, wind, snow or sun, anything goes, bring it on 🐾🐾🐾

16/01/2025

Luna was up for lots of laughs today. Getting everyone to chase her, jumping over and in the stream.

15/01/2025

FIND IT LUNA

And what a persistent young lady, doesn’t give up until she has that ball back in her mouth 🐾♥️

08/01/2025

Bill just loves running as fast as he can, just for the joy of it. He is an absolute pleasure to watch. He even gets Ted to chase him occasionally 🥰

31/12/2024

HAPPY NEW YEAR

To all my wonderful customers. Thank you for letting me walk your beautiful dogs.

Here’s a few highlights from 2024. I’m so looking forward to 2025, when Bark and Stride celebrate 10 years of running a dog walking business 😊

31/12/2024

My son got me a garmin watch for Christmas, so it’s fun to see the routes we take 😊

21/12/2024

❤️ ❤ 🐾
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14/12/2024

COLD WATER THERAPY

I figure if cold water has so many positive benefits for humans, then it must have the same for our 4 legged friends.

Improved circulation, better immune response, improved sleep, reduces inflammation, boosts metabolism, improves mental health and boosts the cardiovascular system.

With so many benefits just think how much all the wet and mud is helping them.

Well there has to be some positive spin on having wet dirty dogs daily. Let’s not get upset and remember the benefits of immersing in cold water.

Perhaps we should all give it a go? Wild swimming, ice baths or just put the shower on cold 😊

16/11/2024

What a splash!! 💦
(The aim is always to get as muddy as possible!)

16/11/2024

16/11/2024

A LITTLE BIT OF ACTION

As usual, lots of walks filled with fun, friends and some challenges. It’s great to ask the dogs to problem solve, work things out. It’s helps with cognitive function and enriches their lives, creating sparks in their brains leading to the creation of new neural pathways.

It doesn’t have to be rocket science, just some recall throughout the walk, a quick game of catch the treat, asking to go over a fallen branch, jumping on a bench with a paws up, asking for a sit and wait the list is endless. Most of all talk to them, it’s amazing how much language they pick up on. They are such clever creatures.

16/11/2024

16/11/2024

THURSDAY AFTERNOON

Just a perfect day, dry, sunny, blue, green. What more could we ask for.

I’ve noticed that like us, the dogs mood can change with the weather, they definitely prefer the dryer days and are happier in the crisp autumn leaves, as opposed to the squidgy wet slippery ones.

I love the diversity of this group, and how well they all get on, run, play and enjoy themselves. The space on the Downs is immense, uplifting and joyous. We’re making the most of these beautiful autumnal days, waiting to see what winter brings.

10/11/2024

HOPEFULLY NOT AN OVERLOAD

But just wanted you to see what our beautiful pups have been up to during the week.

It’s been great that the woods are drying out, but as you all know, some dogs love mud and water regardless of the dry and will seek it out and immerse themselves into it.

Some like to tiptoe around and never seem to get any mud on them. I expected our little Alfie (Shi Tzu) to be on tiptoes, but alas he’s yet another mud magnet 🤦‍♀️, when he finds mud he first dips in his whole face, then goes the body in, leaving one very mucky puppy!

Anyway here’s hoping we have another dry week 😊

09/11/2024

03/11/2024

SUNDAY MORNING WALK

With the magnificent Pointers and uncle Oscar our beautiful French Mastiff. This is quite a feat to get the 4 of them together and as you can see only 3 are sitting, but looking like model dogs.

It took several photos to get the 3 Pointers to sit and wait, they are in the woods, they are having a great time running and playing, no time to sit with all the other exciting things to do. Sometimes our expectations of what we want them to do and what they are capable of in certain situations don’t match. Can you imagine taking a child to a birthday party and asking them to sit quietly when everyone else is running around having fun?

I just think we have to be realistic, the only way we can truly get our dogs to behave is by understanding their capabilities, reading their body language, having insight to what’s going on for them. The main thing is maintaining a positive relationship with them. By this I don’t mean letting them have their own way all the time, we all need boundaries and we all have some days that are not as good as others.

When we start to understand why our dog behaves the way they do, we will know if our expectations are too high.

Dogs have a brain and they have free will, let’s help them to express themselves and not take away their
individual personalities.

I know they all drive me mad on an occasions but I wouldn’t be without our mad bunch or in any other job.

02/11/2024

OUR WEEK OF WALKS

Plenty of sniffing, running, jumping playing, making new friends and best of all, being in nature.

The science is here, the importance of spending time outdoors and experiencing the natural world. This applies to all species and dogs need it just as much as we do.

They gain so much from being able to run free, learning how to navigate, explore space, find out how their bodies work in space, know where their nose begins and there tail ends. Learn about the seasons and the other creatures that live in the wood.

It helps improve their mental health, improves vision, provides exercise which strengthens their muscular, skeletal, nervous, respiratory and endocrine systems. A winner in all ways as well as having fun, and plenty of social interaction. A win, win in every way ♥️

02/11/2024

LOVE THIS

Little Alfie, asking uncle Finn how he got to be so tall.

I love the way this little guy is not phased, at all, by the size of Finn, he just wants to make friends, as he learns about the world and group etiquette. Dogs are amazing creatures.