I’ve grown up with dogs since I was 10 years old and was always involved in their daily care and routines from a very young age. Growing up around them helped me naturally understand dog behaviour, and how important consistency and affection are for them. A huge part of my childhood was growing up with two Dobermans and Great Danes, so I’ve always been around large dogs with strong personalities and lots of energy. They shaped me massively growing up and taught me responsibility, patience and confidence around dogs from an early age. Two years ago I got my own dachshund, Chef, who completely changed my life and made me feel even more connected to dogs. Having my own dog has given me much more hands on experience and helped me understand how much trust owners place in the person caring for their pet. Chef is my family, and I would treat any dog in my care with the same level of love and attention as I do with him. It’s also been lovely experiencing both sides of dog ownership, from growing up with big breeds to now having a smaller dog with his own funny personality. Over the last decade, living in different countries also gave me opportunities to do pet sitting and spend time caring for different dogs. I currently work in a hybrid role, which gives me flexibility for pet sitting during the week and weekends. I’m used to daily walks, feeding routines, playtime, supervision and making sure dogs feel happy and well looked after while their owners are away.