28/05/2026
Here’s to all the dog walkers who have had to cancel walks this week.
To the ones living paycheck to paycheck, making the heartbreaking decision to put the welfare of the dogs first — even when rent is due, bills are piling up, and the food shop still needs paying for.
You are my heroes.
I feel incredibly lucky that my main outgoings are my vehicles, because I know for so many others, these weather extremes are hitting hard. And sadly, this is becoming our new normal — wet winters, unbearable spring and summer heat, one extreme after another.
Over the couple of years, so many new dog walkers have started their businesses, stepping into this industry at one of the toughest times imaginable.
The weather hasn’t just affected our income — it’s affected our mental health too. The stress, the uncertainty, the constant worry… it takes its toll.
And on top of all that, the cost of living has risen so dramatically.
Fuel costs, vehicle maintenance, insurance, food prices, rent, mortgages, utilities — everything has gone up, while many of us are earning less because of cancelled walks and unsafe temperatures.
It’s an exhausting balance trying to keep a business afloat while also trying to survive personally. For so many dog walkers, it feels like no matter how hard we work, we’re constantly trying to catch up.
But still, we keep going.
Why?
Because this is more than just a job to us. It’s a lifestyle. It’s a passion. It’s something we pour our whole hearts into every single day.
No matter the weather, no matter the setbacks, we continue showing up because we love these dogs like they’re our own.
So to every dog walker struggling quietly this week — I see you, I respect you, and I hope you’re proud of yourself for putting the dogs first, even when it costs you.
