Smith and Snout

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Smith and Snout

West Cornwall
Positive dog training 🐶 Dog walking 🐕 Reactive/Anxious dogs welcome. Animal care

05/08/2026

Follow me around. WEDNESDAY edition☀️ ☀️

04/08/2026

The start of August means the summer holidays are officially in full swing! ☀️

I have to admit, I always dread the school holidays a little. Not only can they be a challenging time for the business, with MUCH more traffic and busier walk locations, but as a mum of two young children, I’m constantly battling that feeling of guilt that I’m not spending every minute with them.

Luckily, they have the most amazing grandparents who help us out so much, and I’m so grateful for them ❤️

And then there are all these lovely faces, who always brighten my day and remind me why I love what I do 🐾 🐶

A huge shout-out to all the working mums, dads, and business owners juggling it all this summer. I see you, and you’re doing an amazing job 💛

26/07/2026

Happy National Dog Photography Day! 📸🐶

Some days I honestly feel more like a photographer than a dog walker!

These are just a handful of photos from Thursday and Friday’s walks, whittled down from around 500 taken over just those two days. They’re nothing particularly special, but every now and then I manage to capture a moment that really makes me smile.

I spend a lot of time in the evenings going through the day’s photos and sending updates to my clients. It’s not an essential part of the service, and it’s certainly not something I have to do, but I know how reassuring it is to see your dog happy, having fun with their friends, and enjoying their adventures. If I were using a dog walker, I’d love those little updates too.

Do you enjoy getting photo updates of your pets when you’re not with them? 🐕 🌳 🌊 📸

24/07/2026

This might be one of those marmite like posts

Yesterday on TikTok, I said we should probably anthropomorphise our dogs a little more.

Not because they are children.

They aren’t.
They’re dogs.

But, here’s what I think we get spectacularly wrong…

Somewhere along the way we’ve convinced ourselves that because dogs aren’t human, they shouldn’t be treated with the same empathy we naturally give to people.

A toddler screams because they’re overwhelmed?

We wonder what’s happened and start to tend to their needs.

A dog barks because they’re overwhelmed?
We only wonder how to stop it.

A child refuses to walk into a room because they’re frightened?
We slow things down and support them through.

A dog refuses?
We call them stubborn and drag them in 🫠

A child struggles to regulate their emotions?
We teach them.

A dog struggles?
We punish the behaviour that made us feel uncomfortable.

It’s fascinating when you think about it

The species changes…But, our expectations completely changed with it too.

No, your dog doesn’t need to be wrapped in cotton wool.

No, they don’t get a free pass to behave however they like.

Boundaries matter.
Training matters.
Accountability matters.

But, so does compassion.

Because behaviour is communication regardless of whether it comes from a two-year-old child or a two-year-old German Shepherd.

Maybe the biggest mistake we’ve made isn’t anthropomorphising dogs…

Maybe it’s forgetting that every nervous system, whether human or canine, is trying to answer the same question.

“Am I safe?”

Everything changes when you start there.

22/07/2026

4 lovely walks and a dog sit this evening☀️🐾 🛋️
The first and last day of normality today before the chaos of the summer holidays begins tomorrow!

Please get your walks booked in as soon as possible — it’s going to be a busy one!

Thank you so much for all the lovely messages, they’ve been really appreciated. 🤍

21/07/2026

Returning to work as a Ridge 💙

On Saturday, I married my best friend, surrounded by all the people we love. I feel incredibly lucky and grateful for such a special day 🩵

I’ve had a few people ask if that means the business name will be changing. And the answer to that is absolutely not

Smith & Snout is so much more than just a business name. It’s part of my story and my roots. Little Jessica Smith dreamed of one day working with animals, and building this business made that dream a reality. Keeping “Smith” in the name is a little reminder of where it all began and how far I’ve come.

So while I’m now Jessica Ridge, Smith & Snout is here to stay. Thank you all for being part of this journey with me 💛

16/07/2026

Wow, what a few weeks we’ve had! ☀️

I absolutely love the sunshine—the hotter, the better! But it’s a completely different story for our poor animals. The heat has meant many dog walkers have taken a big financial hit, and our diaries have been turned upside down with very early morning and late evening walks.

After only doing 6 walks this week, I’m now taking a week off to relax and celebrate with my wonderful family and friends, and it couldn’t have come at a better time! 🌞🥵

I won’t be responding to messages until Tuesday evening.

Love you all! ❤️

14/07/2026

Meet Benji. 🤍
I’m convinced he’s part polar bear, part sheep, and part dog! 🐻‍❄️ 🐑 🐶

Benji was rescued from Romania in quite a state, but it was obvious he’d been loved at some point—he was very overweight and incredibly friendly.

Thanks to the amazing Jo White, he found the perfect home with Linda and Ralph.
After settling in, they started having problems getting his lead on. As soon as they approached him with it, he’d tense up, back away, and refuse to move.
We worked together on helping Benji build a positive association with the lead using gentle techniques, patience, and plenty of rewards. Within a couple of weeks, Linda and Ralph had cracked it, and we took Benji on his very first walk—which he absolutely loved!

Then came the next challenge… the car. 🚗
Benji wouldn’t go anywhere near it and would immediately back away. Being such a big lad, picking him up wasn’t exactly an option! So, once again, we took things slowly, helping him associate the car with treats, praise, and the promise of exciting walks. I’ll admit, at the beginning it involved a fair bit of persuasion (including me straddling him and lifting his legs in two at a time! 😂).
I’m so happy to say that over the last week, Benji has been happily jumping into the car on his own, and Linda and Ralph are now enjoying lots of new adventures with him 🥰

Seeing a dog grow in confidence and watching owners put the work in and reap the rewards is so so lovely ☺️

Well done, Linda, Ralph, and of course, Benji. I’m so proud of you all! 👏❤️

08/07/2026

Wow, that really did feel like a proper hump day! 13 hours 🤣

6 hours of walking and 7 hours of driving… a day I genuinely thought was never going to end.

It definitely didn’t help that I’m stuck using my little car while the van’s in the garage. Smaller groups walking closer to home meant a lot more trips back and forth for me.

I’ve seen more woods today than most people probably see in a year, been bitten by approximately 10,000 horse flies, and somehow haven’t actually been out in the sunshine once! 🌳🪰😂

🐾 Walk 1 – Pendarves/Stennack Woods (5 dogs)
🐾 Walk 2 – Steeple Woods (4 dogs)
🐾 Walk 3 – Steeple Woods again (4 dogs)
🐾 Walk 4 – Godolphin Woods (2 dogs)
🐾 Walk 5 – A very slow mooch in Hayle with my solo oldie ❤️
🐾 Walk 6 – St Erth Pits (3 dogs)
🐾 Walk 7 – Pendarves woods again (solo)

Now it’s 9pm and my day still isn’t over… I’ve still got to walk my own dogs and head off to see my horse! 🐴🐶

It’s a good job I love animals! 🥱❤️

07/07/2026

RIP, beautiful Jasmine 🤍😢

Jasmine was one of the most stoic dogs I’ve ever met. Even with declining health and wobbly legs, she was always determined to get out, enjoy her walks, and make the most of every day.

I got to spend quite a bit of time with her over the last couple of weeks. I’ll always cherish the time we spent together, and I’m so glad I was able to get her out for those walks 🥰

Louise & John, I am so incredibly sorry. I know how deeply you loved her. I hope you can find comfort in knowing what a wonderful life you gave her 💜

Fly high Jas🕊️🤍

Address

Hayle

Telephone

+447969208319

Website

http://smithandsnout.co.uk/

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