Blanka the Dog Nanny

10/04/2025

Note to new and existing clients:
My work situation has changed and I can now offer you sits only over long weekends/bank hols.
Thanks

03/03/2025

Doodles = regular coat maintenance

Thinking about getting a Doodle, Cockapoo or any Poodle mix? Have you been told they "don't need grooming until 1yrs old" or "coat maintenance is easy"?

*PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING piece written by a groomer..in the pic that's known as a pelted coat /Pelting. A dog’s fur gets so matted & tangled it will come off in one piece. It's outs tension on the skin, can damage the skin causing horrible infections and sometimes renders the dog helpless,unable to move and it can then cause fatality
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Poodle crosses (cockapoos, doodles, maltipoos etc.) are not "easy breeds" to maintain. The photo attached (shared from another groomer) shows how matting forms at the skin. By looking at this dog's top coat, you may not see the knots and you may not feel them as you would a knot on the ends of the fur but under that fluffy top layer this is going on. Once it starts its very difficult/ impossible to brush out... and even if you could it would be cruel to put the dog through it. Maintenance at home has to be more than a quick once over for these dogs if you want to keep them in that fluffy coat which was probably one of the reasons you chose a poodle cross in the first place. You really need to sit down with a brush and then a metal comb and make sure you can get it through the entire body at least 2 to 3 times a week.

I often feel like owners don't believe groomers when they say their dog has to be clipped very short. I always hear "I know he/she is matted, but leave as much as you can". You cannot clip through matting, you can only clip under it. As this photo shows, clipping under the matting means taking the coat back to the skin.
I promise you, your groomer really doesn't want to do this but they won't hurt your dog by putting it through dematting, they also don't want to hurt their reputation when the clients go around complaining about how the last groomer "scalped" their dog but there really is not any alternative. Instead of being angry with your groomer if they clip your dog very short please respect their commitment to do what is in your dog's best interest, accept responsibility for not having brushed your dog properly at home, and work with your groomer because, together, you can prevent this happening again. All groomers will be very happy to demonstrate a technique called line brushing which will help make your grooming at home more effective. Just ask! We all want owners to know how to do this

Poodle crosses are easily one of the highest maintenance dogs in reference to their coats. The combination of the soft coat they are mixing poodles with these days is a coat that is extremely prone to matting.

If you like a fluffy pup, you probably need to consider no more than 3-5 week intervals between grooming and set aside time for regular brushing AND combing at home.

Please know, if you bathe your poodle cross you really need to blow dry and brush out right after. Moisture, be it a bath, rain, swimming, snow etc are all going to make matting worse. If you know your dog is already matted-- bathing is only going to make it worse! Brush out before the bath.

Lastly "breeders" who say these dogs can't or shouldnt be clipped and not to give them a hair cut until they are one year old are misleading potential owners in order to sell$$$$ puppies and setting them up for a sad day when they finally take their pup to the groomer!!!

If this hasn't put you off buying one please schedule your puppy's first groom immediately after they've had their vaccinations and then be prepared to do the maintenance at home between regular professional grooms.

07/01/2025

If dogs could rate my walks and cuddles experience 🥰

"Blanka is awesome! We played in the mud, and then she dried me and gave me cuddles 10/10😁"

27/12/2024

Frozen walk with Rori in my hometown Havlickuv Brod. It's so nice to be back in familiar places with Sazava river, woodland, and open fields.

Place where I first experienced and later on developed my love for nature, animals, insects, plants, and trees. Passion for exploring and learning about our beautiful Earth.

Living abroad has It's perks but part of me feels that this is and always will be my (childhood) home.

24/12/2024

Merry Christmas to all my pawrents and clients 🐾🫶🏻🎄✨️

Great photography 🥰

19/12/2024

I love these unexpected gifts from my pawparents 🥰🥹
The dogs I look after get my full attention on our walks, cuddles, playtime and treats. I mean the cuddles are also for me, right? 😉🐾

11/12/2024

07/12/2024

It's official! I've received my ofqual Canine First aid certificate! 💃🏼🐾

22/10/2024

Last Friday play date with 🥰

11/10/2024

Another BMD pal, Penny

Do you live close to N15 and have a dog that would love an extra walk, but you don't have time?

Drop me a message, let your doggo experience solo walk with me. 🐾

22/09/2024

Very productive Sunday spent learning Canine first aid from the best in a small class setting.
Practical bandaging exercise included - see pic of my black "patient"

Loved the course and highly recommend it to dog owners and any professionals handling dogs.

15/09/2024

Sunday chill with my regular client 🐶

Listening to a webinar expert panel talking about the emotional needs of dogs. Hearing a soft breath of my furry companion.

I'm feeling grateful that the dog training industry is moving towards empathy and understanding. Away from threat and fear and use of dominance.

If you are a dog owner who uses choke/prong/shock collars, I respect your choices. However, I will not dog sit for you.

The use of fear goes against my values

I'm trained in "human" therapy, and my approach is all about harmony, empathy, and creating safe space for my clients. Be those humans or dogs.

08/09/2024

Cockapoo weekend!

First Saturday walk getting to know my new BMD friend Freya 🥰

And then Sunday walk in the marshes with Brewster. Reintroduced myself after few months of not seeing each other. We spend 2 hours on the walk by the canal and I think we are both ready for our upcoming sit 😍🐾

26/08/2024

Bank holiday Monday another dog sit!

This one was pretty much last minute booking with one of my regulars.

And as it's international dog day today I've tasked my client Bobby to get us to the park. Last time I was here we went to a different park. But Bobby seemed very confident in leading me up via new road so I let him to do just that (and was checking Google maps every now and then to ensure I know where we are🤭).

And he did excellent!

I haven't been to Grovelands park before and would highly recommend it. Beautiful woodland, big lake, open fields and majestic oak trees 💚🐾

24/08/2024

Busy bank holiday weekend looking after this gorgeous duo 😍 Friday PM - Sunday PM

Dog is rescue, cat rules the house and he likes to taste (read steal) my food

Next booking is for Monday, then a bit of rest to unpack and sort my life out.

Bookings are open for begging of Sept until 13th September
And from start of October

I'm covering London, Essex, Sussex and anywhere else that has great nature and accessible dog walks.

19/08/2024

So here is a thing, I used to be allergic to cats. When I was little and was playing with cats I used to get skin rash and running nose.
Then at one point few years ago I even had allergic reaction to my sister's dog. She's a small shepherd mix.

And now I'm looking after large shepherd and a cat.
And nothing

Kitty chosen to get some cuddles on my lap.
The owners are amazed, and so am I

No allergic reaction
Purring kitty that rarely comes for cuddles
Lots of fur everywhere
Shepherd mix dog in my bed (her bed lol)
And I'm OK!

So even though dogs are still my top priority and focus, I can also safely look after cats.

Preferably in a house where there is also a dog

After all I'm a Dog Nanny 🐕 😉

The interaction with cat lasted whole 5 minutes 😆
I think I should feel honoured that her majesty graced me with her purring presence.

15/08/2024

We have bonded
Last night she slept in my room, by her choice
This afternoon I found her in my bed
She refused mid day walk and just sat on the pavement opposite the house

But this evening we went for an actual short walk!
I'm not sure what exactly changed in those few hours

Maybe it's the 3rd day evening magic?
Maybe it's the cooler temperature in the evening?
Or is it my patience and dog whisperer skills?
🤔🤫

Both me and her owners are over the moon, celebrating each small progress we make.

So grateful for this breakthrough

I got you girl 🙏🏻❤️