Roving Spirit Canine Coach

29/10/2026

🐾🐾💀💀 "But what if I died?" 💀💀🐾🐾

This is a question I often ask myself when I'm dog sitting in someone else's home...

Most dog sitters have partners, or kids and friends who they check in with, and they would notice if they haven't heard from them in a few hours.

And then there's me. I'm a solitary creature, I have no partner and never really have had. No children, no real friends I check in with every day, more rather I send sporadic messages through the month and random times of the day and get replies days later.

So what if I choked on a cheese stuffed pepper, or perhaps slipped on a random slug and knocked myself out on the kitchen sink? Who would actually know?

Stranger things have happened on my dog sits, so it's something I have been considering lately.

Once I had a random man appear outside my bedroom door. Another time I came out of the shower and there was a little old lady stood there with her back to me as I clung on to my micro towel.

Another time I was collecting eggs from a coop, putting them in a hoodie hammock and squatting down, I didn't realise how long my dreadlocks were at the time and as I put my heels down to stand up, they were under my feet, so eggs flew through the air, my neck got whiplash and there I lay covered in mud, chicken p**p and with, dare I say it, egg on my face. 2 out of 12 eggs survived that ordeal. I could have easily been pecked to death by chickens or snapped my head clean off but I'm a survivor.

I am now texting my dear mother every night to say "I have not passed away". I think it's for the best.

What other safety methods should I have in place?

23/10/2026

"What you should be looking for when looking for a good trainer is video proof"

That's some advice I just heard online and personally, I think it's utter rubbish.

There ARE plenty of amazing trainers that make videos and give fantastic tips, advice and methods. Of course there are. But should you judge the quality of a trainer by their camera and editing skills alone?

Absolutely not.

Good trainers may be listed on sites such as positively.com or IMDT. But some may not.

Some may have a master's degree in clinical animal behaviour, but still be an awful trainer and choose to use cruel and outdated methods even after completing their education. (Yes. It's happened. One such trainer with a Masters degree who pinned a nervous spaniel down until it soiled itself and learned who was "boss"...I hear it all.)

Some may appear to have amazing skills online in their videos but still use e collars on the sly....(Very well known on the social media scene!)

There's no right or wrong way to find the best person for the job, but checking qualifications, experience, reviews and actually meeting with them to discuss how they train might help you get on the right path.

Personally, I don't have a dog at the moment and find it difficult to film in my training sessions because....well, I'm training.
I don't think it's fair to be constantly fiddling with a camera when I'm being paid to train someone's dog. I don't have anyone to help me film my sessions, and this is why I rarely show any videos of me training.

I have treats in one hand, leash in the other and I'm demonstrating, explaining, setting up the environment and generally on full on work mode. Sometimes I get the owners to film me so they can send me the footage to edit. But I often forget!

So I guess what I'm saying is, just do your own research and get a feel for the person you call in to help. Don't believe everything you see on social media. Some of the lesser known trainers are just getting on with it quietly, but it doesn't mean they aren't bloody good at what they do.

18/10/2026

Enrichment for your dog doesn't have to be costly, this is a fabulous idea for a cheap and entertaining exercise for your dog!

Dogs love figuring things out and using their brains to solve puzzles, even better when there's treats involved.

Even better, it can really tire them out as much as a walk can.

If you can't walk your dog today, then this can be a great substitute for exercising their minds and giving them something fun to do.

What brain games do you play with your dogs?

16/10/2026

13/10/2026

Ok, who's got a dog with a percentage greyhound in its genetics??

23 hours a day are spent chillin in this household..

Show me your sighthound sleeping!

06/10/2026

PLEASE REPORT DOG TRAINING ABUSE

It's time to be the voice for all abused dogs!

Click this link to upload a photo or video and add details about the situation. The content you post may be used as evidence.

INTERNATIONAL CANINE LEGISLATION ACTION COMMITTEE
https://iclac.org.uk/report-abuse.php

You can view reports here: https://iclac.org.uk/reports.php

We are committed to advancing the global welfare of dogs through evidence-based legislation. Join us in banning aversive tools and promoting force-free training worldwide.

27/09/2026

A heartwarming story of an unexpected visitor....

Today I received a phone call from a lady who had been feeding a cat through the summer.

She requested me to come to scan his microchip as he had been frequenting various peoples homes in her cul de sac, but nobody knew who the cat belonged to.

I scanned, then called the chip company who advised me he was listed as "missing"....

When I was connected to the owner, he was stunned. His cat had been missing since February....8 months ago.

The owner said that he lived in Shifnal, yet Barnaby was now in Codsall.

But the story doesn't stop there. Barnaby had been fitted with a tracker. In February, the neighbours had had some work done on their house and it seems Barnaby had got into the work truck and been taken all the way to a recycling centre in Birmingham, and then exited the van.
His tag had then got lost, and it seems, so had Barnaby.

In an unfamiliar place, miles away from home, a stranger to a busy city....this young little cat would have been confused, scared and probably getting very hungry.

Somehow, Barnaby almost found his way home. He was so close. He must have decided to stay in Codsall and sofa surf, maybe he had given up, maybe he was hungry, tired, lonely.

Until a wonderful woman called Carole decided to take him in and find out about his past by phoning me to come and scan his chip.

The chip was one of very few that had up to date details on it. This rarely happens.

The owner came straight away to pick him up and there were tears all around. Even from Carole as she had become quite attached.

Barnaby wasn't a fussy cat, until his owners arrived....reached out their hands, and he completely turned to mush. He remembered them. Tonight....Barnaby has finally finished his adventure. He is home.

Check your microchip is up to date so that chip scanners like me can help reunite other lost pets as wonderfully as this.

What an absolutely gorgeous experience!

25/09/2026

After recent events with Hatton boarding kennels and others such as the horrendous Oaveed, I decided to write a letter to my MP expressing the need for more regulation in the pet/animal industry, specifically dog related ones....obviously.

Just trying to keep the pressure on.... For the sake of our besties.

Also. I am now a man. Pass it on.