I'm afraid I'm unable to host dogs with joint problems since there are many stairs leading up to my flat, though I can carry small dogs up and down the stairs. I'm afraid I'm unable to host dogs who are incontinent or not house trained yet. Pets must be well groomed and without fleas.

I can reach Hyde Park and Holland Park for longer walks, and Athlone Gardens and Avondale Park for enclosed off-lead play. Sometimes we’ll head out with my rucksack of stuff and no intention to return home for several hours. Often I walk dogs who have a nervous disposition when outside. They’ll try to run ahead to assess potential threats, or to pee in as many places as possible, or want to flit about. For this I try to introduce as much calm as possible to every walk. The lead can be kept short, literally a forearm’s length - indicating that I will be keeping the dog safe, not the other way round. I will walk at a comically slow pace, to highlight the fact that there actually aren’t any threats in the environment and allow the dog to remain grounded through their feet. I’ll be conscious to make the walk about what I want to achieve - perhaps I want to go to this place or that next - this way the dog is joining me on a quiet walk and with a destination goal to focus attention on. Nonetheless, as a cross-country runner I’m able to jog along with dogs who are running happily on the lead, and I can give a bit of lead room and time to remain harmonious and respectful of their nature. I'm very patient and can ignore/wait past bad behaviours while making sure to highlight good behaviours. Although dogs love spending time with me, a dog’s main wish is to be able to welcome you back into the home when you return, and ideally to spend time there during the day. I can do day-care during the day, but am increasingly of the opinion that drop-ins and walks are a good approach, unless the dog is highly social in nature - in which case you should aim for a stay-at-home couple, ideally with their own dog(s) instead. Having said that I do love to play. I will run along with dogs in a playful manner in the park, and spend whole afternoons with a dog who wants to play.