Doggie Hikes

18/08/2025

Walking dogs for me, is not just about a stroll in the woods. As much as I enjoy it, my main priority is the dogs in my care. That's why I don't have my phone out or listen to music on during walks.

I always make sure I am aware of my surroundings and that I can see what all the dogs in my care are up to. You never know what or who is going to cross your path or head towards, so it's best to ensure there are as few distractions when out and about. I also make sure that I am continuously watching their body language, as a dog's body language is a good indicator of how they're feeling or what they're about to do; especially when there's another dog heading our way.

That does mean that I don't take many pictures on walks and often I have many messages to get through once I'm back home.

And yes, that does mean that I walk around talking to the dogs 😂

15/08/2025

Here’s how I measure success (and it’s not what you think!)....

Seeing all the dogs I walk, have their noses in bushes, tall grass and stuck to the ground, shows me that the walks I provide are more than just walks; they are mid-week enriching adventures for each of them.

Every dog has their own way of using their nose, some like to follow smells deep into the woods, whereas others are happy to sniff a single leaf until there’s no more information to gather! It really makes me smile seeing how I provide such an outlet for the dogs I walk and this is what success is to me. 💖

If you’re interested in booking your dog in for a mid-week enriching adventure in the woods, then drop me a message! 🐾🌲

14/08/2025

Ever get the feeling that someone is watching you from a distance? 👀

Well, I was on a walk one day and I thought Milo had run ahead like he usually does; only for me to get a horrible feeling and turn to see Milo stood in the distance, staring at me like Mike Myers 😅

What's the funniest/creepiest thing your dog has ever done on a walk? Let me know in the comments below!

13/08/2025

How did I decide to start walking in woodlands in Chepstow and further afield?

It all started when me and my partner took on our first foster dog, Zeus. He was scared of a lot on walks and due to the amount of unsocialised dogs that bothered Milo, I was already walking at 6am on weekdays.

Weekends were difficult to manage, so instead of walking in Bristol, we'd drive over to Chepstow as it meant that I was less stressed and both the boys were as well. They were free to roam and run around as there weren't many dogs about; and the few we'd come across, were socialised which in turn gave Zeus more positive experiences with other dogs. Zeus left our home a more confident young lad, who could learnt how to communicate with other dogs.

Then, we took on Phoebe (pink harness), who was with us for 3 months. Phoebe was scared of a lot and needed her space on walks, so this meant going to Chepstow as many days as we could. She had a lot of fun chasing the sound of rustling leaves and smells.

I saw the difference in the three dogs when walked in our local walks vs the different woodlands we'd go to and it's safe to say the was much more interaction and fulfillment in the woodlands.

Whilst I had both Zeus and Phoebe in our care, I did look for a dog walker that would take dogs outside of Bristol, but come up with nothing. So, once the opportunity came along, I decided I would offer the service I do now.

Because seeing the difference in the dogs in my care from the local walks to the woodlands made me realise they needed something more.

Have you had a moment like this with your dogs? Let me know!

12/08/2025

The most common question I get asked, is why I drive so far to walks dogs rather than keep to local walks, so let's jump into it!

The locations I go to are quiet, this in turn eliminates the chance of random dogs running up to yours; reducing stress and giving your dogs more freedom to roam

Where we head to for our doggie adventures, will be different to your dogs normal daily walks. This increases the enrichment they get from our walks (see previous post about enrichment).

No matter the time of year, the woods are always a great place to be for dogs. In the summer it's nice and shaded and in the winter the rain stirs up all sorts of smells into the air (and of course, there's muddy puddles to jump into! 😅)

If you could take your dog to big and quiet woods everyday, would you do? Let me know! 🥾🐾🌲

11/08/2025

What no one tells you about dog walking. . .

It's not just about taking dogs out for a walk, it's about providing an enriching experience to your dog!

Let's deep dive into what enrichment is, why our dogs need it and what we can do to provide it!

Already know about enrichment? Let me know what you do with your dog to give them an outlet, in the comments down below!

08/08/2025

Want to find the reels on enrichment ideas but don't want to trawl through all the posts?

Well look no further! I have created a playlist for the enrichment ideas reels on the page, so you can find the one you're looking for quickly 👌

To find the playlist, click on the "Videos" tab, and you'll see a playlist called "Enrichment Ideas". As far as I'm aware, this feature is only available via the app not desktop.

Happy watching! 📺

07/08/2025

06/08/2025

We're going LIVE tomorrow morning at 8:10am! 🤩

Come join me and Charlie to see his acclimatisation in action! 👌

Charlie showed high amounts of stress from being in the crate and van; that once he was out he would pull in the opposite direction. Charlie's owner has booked him in for acclimatisation sessions, which are being done at Charlie's pace.

Within 4 weeks, he's gone from pulling in the opposite direction from the sight of the van, to excitedly jumping around at home when he hears it. Charlie now hops into the crate and settle without prompting and without treats; which is so impressive! 👌

So come along, sit with us and asking any questions you have!

05/08/2025

Come sit with me and Charlie!

04/08/2025

Another tip on how to encourage enrichment, this time using a ball!
This tip came from Rosie Bescosy: https://www.facebook.com/RosiePetSense

01/08/2025

My week in photos! Got to spend time with some awesome dogs as well as getting to meet new ones, who are assessed and ready for to get book in for their first adventures with Doggie Hikes!

If you're interested in the locations we go to or booking in with Doggie Hikes, then drop us a message using the button below! 👇