31/05/2026
Bit of a soppy one today but I just wanted to take a minute to talk about my fellow dog walkers and my journey into this business.
When I first started this business I felt quite isolated. After ten years in the NHS, I'd been used to busy wards and offices, colleagues that became friends and very little time to myself in a working day.
When I started this business I suddenly had no colleagues, and comparatively little social interactions. Of the few dog walkers I knew, one was very cut throat, for them it was about eliminating the competition, monopolise the area and drive all the other walkers out of business. It felt cold and frankly, quite lonely being pushed towards that mindset.
Thankfully, over the last couple of years I've been able to get away from people with such a mindset and have actually been able to mingle with a lot of the other dog walkers in our local area and I'm grateful to say that the wider community is not the same as what I experienced at the start of this journey.
The dog walking community, minus small exceptions is one of warmth and support. There's no big competition, and no hostility. From stopping for a quick chat when I get back to the van, to messaging for advice about a particular issue, to referring on potential clients that they could not accommodate, the dog walking community really is a lovely place to be and I now feel like I have colleagues again.
Despite being a one-person operation, I do feel like I have my own little team. We shouldn't need to put another business down to make our own look better, we can all just be proud enough of what we offer to not need to try and point out someone else's short comings.
Without further ado, I'd just like to say thank you to the following dog walkers. Big or small, you have in someway shown kindness and support and made me feel welcome in what was initially quite a lonely journey.
Wags2Walkies
Four Paws
Pick Up The Paws - Dog Walking
Happy Paws Dog Walking and Pet Visits
The Lune Wolf
Dogs Unleashed
Steve and Chris (I don't know your socials but I love our chats at Crook O'Lune)
So thank you, and let's keep this community a welcoming one, with the dogs at the heart of it 🥰
And to the other local pet professionals I haven't yet had the pleasure to meet, I'm sure you're all lovely too 😊
