Walking with me means that your dog receives a lot of off-leash exercise, plenty of socialization with other suitable four-legged friends, reasonable amount of basic training and a huge amount of fun.
Due to expanding the walking team in the near future, we are now accepting new dogs from Wanstead / Leytonstone / Forest Gate area. Limited spaces will become available from 1 July 2010 but due to a popular demand it is advised to book early.
I walk dogs in small groups only (maximum 5) as this allows me to make sure all of them receive a fair amount of attention and that no one is frightened, bullied or left out. Dogs have different temperaments, breeds, levels of energy, ages and sizes and all these factors do matter. A good dog walker should always take it into account.
I try to walk dogs as locally as possible because I know from my experience that long commuting in a car can destroy the pleasure and positive impact of even the best walk. For this reason I cover only a relatively small area around Wanstead Park and Flats and Hollow Ponds.
My car is fully adjusted to dogs' needs and I always make sure they travel safely and comfortably.
I offer group walks Monday to Friday, in 2 slots - at 11 am and 1 pm. Each walk lasts full 1 hour of exercise in a park. I know that the lunch break is the most popular and sought after time but I can assure you that dogs can adjust to being walked at a different time and it is much more important for them to be matched with suitable friends and to spend a quality time than to go out precisely at 1 pm. So please be flexible when booking! :)
I also offer individual walks but please note that due to being fully booked with group walks, one-to-one walks are held on occasional basis only in the mornings (8.30-9.30 am), afternoon / evenings (after 5.30 pm) and on weekends. Please contact me for details.
General rules for group walks:
- your dog needs to be walked at least twice a week for a month
(Group walks are only for regular customers, because I need to know your dog to be able to match him/her with a proper group. If you are interested in a one-off service, I can offer an individual walk.)
- your dog needs to be dog-friendly
(If you think s/he isn't, please contact me - we can discuss the problem and I can meet you and your dog: very often things an owner considers a dog-to-dog aggression are simply effects of nervous handling or other mistakes on the owner's side, which are easy to correct!)
- your dog needs to have a reliable recall
(This is crucial as my walks are held mainly off-leash. If your dog is reluctant to come when called, please contact me - we can discuss the problem and I can teach you how to train your dog to come back. We can also put your dog for individual walks for a month, I will train him/her to come back to me and later s/he will join one of my groups.)
- your dog needs to be over 6 months old
(Puppies need a very careful socialization as they can be easily scared for life. I offer puppy visits for young dogs though - subject to availability.)
- your dog needs to be fit and healthy enough to walk for a full hour
(For older, sick and disabled dogs I offer individual walks and oldie visits, subject to availability.)
- your dog needs to travel happily in a car
(Although sometimes I walk dogs to the park as some of them live just few minutes walking from woodlands, I need to be sure I can transport all dogs in my car if needed, to be able to organize my job effectively. Distances are short but if your dog has a strong car-sickness, please consider individual walks).
For prices look here.
