Welcome to my page. I love photographing dogs so feel free to have a browse.
So, a little about myself and my dog walking business. I started The Dog Walker Leicester way back in 2009.
I was fed up in my old catering job, the boss and I didn’t get along and no matter how hard I worked it was never appreciated.
I had been thinking of a career in dog walking for a year before I decided to give it a go. Having recently become a Mum to a black Labrador who I named Champion I wanted to spend more time with him. He was 18 months old and we were his third home in two weeks. Needless to say, he was pretty messed up and a bloody pest. Luckily, he loved other dogs and people, so we embarked on our new career together.
I’ve always had dogs so training him took time but with my experience it paid off and he started to show the new comers how to behave.
Dogs need walks for both exercise and mental stimulation and it helped Champ and I form a strong bond. At 11 he is my oldest now and can’t manage all the walks but I love him more than anything. He is my boy, my dog, my fur child and now and again still a bloody pest :-)
OK, so back in the day when I started there was about five dog walkers in the whole of Leicester. Now there are hundreds. So why choose me? Well after nearly ten years in the business there isn’t much I haven’t seen or done.
I walk in groups of five or less. You may think this sounds a lot, but I always have an assistant with me and over the years I have developed a serious hawk eye.
The dogs know if they start to wander they will be called back into the group. I think some of them think I have eyes in the back of my head. :-)
When they are new to the group I put my heart and soul into training them to stay with me, come when called and stop what they are doing if they are getting a little over excited while playing.
Yes, it’s great watching them play but you must know when to step in if a dog doesn’t look like a willing participant.
I will not have any aggressive behavior or bullying.
Safety is another strong point of mine. All dogs are kept on leads until we are in the fields well away from roads. New dogs are attached to long lines until we have established a good recall.
My van has built in cages with rubber matting and I drive as though I’m carrying eggs so I’m sorry if you get stuck behind me, but I have precious cargo. It’s also locked each time I pick up a dog, no one can see inside, and it isn’t sign written.
A little about what goes into a Dog Walking business. Not everyone realises what goes into a dog walking business. Some people think its just a stroll in the park which we appear to charge a fortune for.
Firstly, there is the public liability insurance I must pay yearly then the business insurance on the van. The cost of diesel and the wear and tear on the van. The new tyres, screen wash and the constant cleaning of it.
When it has rained there are towels to wash, leads to buy as I like to use my own then I know they are decent. I get through a lot of walking boots, waterproof clothing, warm clothing and clothing that will stand up to me slipping over in the mud. (My assistant will chuckle at that bit. How he managed not to laugh last year I really don’t know. When I got up I was covered in it. He was a true gent. I know he wet himself when he got home though.)
Then there are the balls, poo bags, toys and treats. Your dogs get the same as my own dogs which I are natural treats with no added colourings or preservatives.
The website fees and accountancy costs.
A little about our walks.
Pick ups can take up to an hour. If your dog is first to be picked up and last to be dropped off they could be out the house for three hours. Less time to be bored at home and more time with their mates. The walk will be for a full hour. I never cut corners and usually we will be out longer as I enjoy it. Then there is another hour for drop offs. If it’s wet or muddy those towels I mentioned earlier will be rubbed all over your dogs to dry and clean them up as best I can. (Tip of the day. Purchase some microfiber towels as I couldn’t live without them. So much better than ordinary towels.)
If your dogs water bowel is empty it will be filled, and any food or meds given.
I make sure each dog is given the time that they need.
I have gained a lot of knowledge and experience over the years and I will always offer advice on behaviour, diet and anything else you would like to pick my brains for.
So that’s me and my little dog walking business folks. Thanks for reading and I hope I haven’t waffled too much.
Michelle