Dogs have been a huge part of my life, and I’ve always loved getting to know their individual personalities and quirks. I have experience caring for, walking and training my own dogs as well as friends’ dogs, from puppies through to older dogs and from confident characters to more anxious or reactive ones. I hold a Level 3 qualification in Canine Care, Behaviour & Welfare and enjoy positive-reinforcement training, using clicker training and other reward-based techniques to teach plenty of fun tricks, as well as basic manners and boundaries, and to help dogs feel comfortable and confident in the world around them. I’ve also volunteered at a dog shelter, helping with walking and enrichment for dogs who needed a little extra patience and understanding. What I particularly enjoy is working out what makes each dog tick. Some love chasing a ball, some want to sniff every blade of grass, some enjoy learning tricks and others need time and space to build confidence. I don’t believe every dog needs the same walk or the same approach. I believe a good walk should provide plenty of physical exercise, while also giving dogs opportunities to explore, sniff, play and use their brains. I like to incorporate training and enrichment naturally into our adventures, whether that’s practising recall, learning a new trick, playing a scent game or simply giving them time to investigate their surroundings. I’m insured for dog walking and take safety seriously, but I also want dogs to have a genuinely lovely time with me to come home happy, stimulated, tired and ready for a good sleep!