Michael D.
Abbotsbury




Services
Michael can care for
Availability
I currently work full-time with a 4-on-4 schedule for the ambulance service, so I will be marking my availability around those shifts. Some of those work days, I may have availability in the afternoons or late evenings in the summer.
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About Michael D.
Dog skills
Safety, trust & environment
I have medical experience not only with the two-legged species but also with four-legged ones. Coming from a conservation background in South Africa has helped with this. I am a strong believer in force-free training and focus on rewarding good behaviour, which I find works amazingly with my four rescues who come with an unknown history and get very nervous around people. Out on walks, I try to utilise scent work and other forms of enrichment to make the walk more enjoyable and enriching for the dogs not only working the body but the brain.
Information Michael D. would like to know about your pet
I'm happy to work with all breeds and backgrounds. If your hound needs a bit of TLC on a walk to deal with a quirk or two I'm always happy to adjust my style of working.
A typical day
Out on walks or when popping in to check on them I love to use different enrichment activities to keep the mind just as busy as the body.
Location
Abbotsbury, United Kingdom
Pets
Experienced walker for anxious and rescued dogs
Pet care experience
I have grown up around animals, having dogs for most of that time. I moved over from South Africa in 2020, bringing my wife, Savannah (who will occasionally join on the walks) and more importantly, two rescues with us. Our family has grown to include two Romanian rescues. One foster that ended up being an adoptee and the other is a fostered while he learns to be around people and adjusts to a new way of life before he moves onto his forever home (unless he just ends up staying forever). I understand the complexities of walking with dogs that don't come from traditional local backgrounds and require a different style of walk to make them feel safe and comfortable while out and about. I am always happy to adjust the walk to match the dog from a nice chilled walk around the block for the golden oldies to a brisk, enrichment-filled walk for the younger, more energetic hounds. Currently, I am taking an online dog first aid course and working my way through a Reactive Dog Training course, designed primarily for Romans but suitable for all dogs. With long-term plans on becoming a dog behaviourist to try help more people with anxious dogs.
About Michael D.
Dog skills
Safety, trust & environment
I have medical experience not only with the two-legged species but also with four-legged ones. Coming from a conservation background in South Africa has helped with this. I am a strong believer in force-free training and focus on rewarding good behaviour, which I find works amazingly with my four rescues who come with an unknown history and get very nervous around people. Out on walks, I try to utilise scent work and other forms of enrichment to make the walk more enjoyable and enriching for the dogs not only working the body but the brain.
Information Michael D. would like to know about your pet
I'm happy to work with all breeds and backgrounds. If your hound needs a bit of TLC on a walk to deal with a quirk or two I'm always happy to adjust my style of working.
A typical day
Out on walks or when popping in to check on them I love to use different enrichment activities to keep the mind just as busy as the body.
Michael D.
Abbotsbury
