Advice on finding a dog walker

There's a lot of trust involved in this. Think about it - you're giving someone the keys to your house on a permanent basis and letting them take your precious boys and girls out every day. You're relying on them to make sure your dogs get a good walk every afternoon.

However, if you want a dog and you work then you don't really have any option. So here's some tips to avoid the worst.....

* Try and get a recommendation if you can. Ask around people you know and if you can't find anyone, try the local kennels/vets/clubs etc.
* If you go from a directory, make sure you vet the dog walker thoroughly. Firstly, talk to them - do they sound like "dog people"? Are they insured? Can you get references? How long have they been doing it?
* Go out with them - it means a day off work occasionally but it must be done. I grew suspicious of our first dog walker over about 6 months standing when I went out with her - she couldn't control the pack and just stood in the field and shouted at them - no empathy with the dogs. She quit not long after that.

Find a Dog Walker

Dog walkers in the South West

Dawn's Pet Care Service
35 Blackberry Grove
Bishops Cleeve
Cheltenham
Glos    GL52 8WL
Tel: 07977 575408
Email: petcareservice@hotmail.com
"Offering a local and personal service to those living in Bishops Cleeve and the surrounding area"

Mind My Pets
28, Athelstan Rd,
Bournemouth,
Dorset
BH6 5LY
Tel: 01202 386285


Pet Maid
Swallowdale,
Glebe Close,
Exeter,
Devon
EX5 5JB

Tel: 01392 840098
Mob: 07960 360056

Animal Magic
2, Churchtown,
St. Enoder,
Summercourt,
Newquay,
Cornwall
TR8 5DF
Mob: 07968 662045
Tel: 01726 862686

Paws 4 Walks
51, Mays Crescent,
Northleach,
Cheltenham,
Gloucestershire
GL54 3HR
Tel: 07967 533565

www.kaemingundogs.co.uk
4, Nursteed Close, Devizes, Wiltshire SN10 3ET
Tel: 07980 383243

City Hotshots Dog Services
70, Dydale Rd, Swindon, Wiltshire SN25 1AH
Tel: 07595 542870

Carole's Pet Sitting Service
14, Waterdown Close, Swindon, Wiltshire SN25 1FB
Tel: 01793 702098

Lead On
15, Boverton Drive, Brockworth, Gloucester, Gloucestershire GL3 4DB
Tel: 01452 530359

R.S Pet Care & Dog Training Services
70, Deer Park Avenue, Teignmouth, Devon TQ14 9LJ
Tel: 01626 777519

Walkies Professional Dog Walking
Flat 1, Clifton Court, 14, Clifton Rd, Bournemouth, Dorset BH6 3PA
Tel: 07711 946436

Wooferz Dog Care
98, Theynes Croft, Long Ashton, Bristol, Avon BS41 9NN
Tel: 01275 394835

Just Walkies Pet Services
12, Frenchs Farm Rd, Poole, Dorset BH16 5RT
Tel: 07717 266102

Walkies with Ian
5, Cousins Mews, St. Annes Park, Bristol, Avon BS4 4LH
Tel: 0117 977 3353

Animal Magic Pet Care
18, St. Albans Close, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL51 3DP
Tel: 01242 702222

County Pet Services
150, Bulford Rd, Durrington, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 8EZ
Tel: 01980 591740

WorkWithPets.co.uk
182, Witcombe, Yate, Bristol, Avon BS37 8SQ
Tel: 07713 013501

Cats at Home Petsitting Services
64, Albert Rd, Poole, Dorset BH12 2DB
Tel: 01202 773381

Walkies
16, Bussex Square, Westonzoyland, Bridgwater, Somerset TA7 0HD
Tel: 01278 691669

Wags & Whiskers
20, Fairleigh Rd, Clevedon, Avon BS21 7XA
Tel: 07982 250852

Spot on Pet Care
36c, Stoke Gabriel Rd, Galmpton, Brixham, Devon TQ5 0NQ
Tel: 01803 845561

4 Dogs - Dog Walking
34, Larkhill Rd, Durrington, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 8BJ
Tel: 01980 653996

dogwalkexeter.com
Pinn Court Farm, Pinn Court Lane, Exeter, Devon EX1 3TG
Tel: 07977 786161

Ken's Dog Walking
661, Muller Rd, Eastville, Bristol, Avon BS5 6XS
Tel: 07950 388564

Sniffs, Dog Walking Truro
44, Carew Pole Close, Truro, Cornwall TR1 1QZ
Tel: 01872 277010

Walkeez.com
Farlacombe House, Bickington, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 6PD
Tel: 01626 821628

Rosies Dog Walking Service
25, Hendra Prazey, St. Dennis, St. Austell, Cornwall PL26 8DZ
Tel: 01726 824760

My Pets Best Friend
Trelisa, Brooks Rd, Street, Somerset BA16 0PS
Tel: 01458 839305

Safe Hands Pet Services
4, Park View Terrace, Bristol, Avon BS5 7JF
Tel: 0117 941 1632

Contact Pawstretchers
The St, Alveston, Bristol, Avon BS35 3SX
Tel: 07765 402548

Animals at Home (Swindon) Ltd
5, Henley Rd, Swindon, Wiltshire SN3 2BT
Tel: 01793 336258

Woofz
42, Cadogan Rd, Beacon, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 7RY
Tel: 01209 716103

Lucy Pet Carer
51, Morstone Rd, Wootton Bassett, Swindon, Wiltshire SN4 7DH
Tel: 01793 330067

Jessica's Pet Care
Hillview, Blackmoor, Chew Stoke, Bristol, Avon BS40 8UL
Tel: 07917 802849

Barkys Dog Walking & Pet Service
9, St. Marys Park, Paignton, Devon TQ4 7DA
Tel: 01803 666390

Plymouth Pet Minders
4, Carew Gardens, Plymouth, Devon PL5 3PB
Tel: 01752 779940

Dog Days & Cat Naps
Church Hill Cottage, Church Hill, South Perrott, Beaminster, Dorset DT8 3HZ
Tel: 01935 891077

Kdwalkers
18, Kirkdale Gardens, Plymouth, Devon PL2 2RQ
Tel: 07768 974768

Walkme
Flat 46, Hampshire Court, Bourne Avenue, Bournemouth, Dorset BH2 6DW
Tel: 07884 394153

Mutt in a Rut
36, Wardlow Gardens, Plymouth, Devon PL6 5PU
Tel: 01752 518572

Walkies
24, Saltmer Close, Ilfracombe, Devon EX34 8LY
Tel: 01271 866529

Animals at Home Taunton
6, Victoria Avenue, Chard, Somerset TA20 1HE
Tel: 01460 64085

Paws & Whiskers
Flat 1, 23, Sandford St, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL53 7JW
Tel: 01242 691958

Paws 4 Walks
4 Hillview, Mill End, Northleach, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL54 3HJ
Tel: 07967 533565

Happy Hounds
1, Dale Walk, Bishops Cleeve, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL52 8PQ
Tel: 01242 771587

Carestrides
25, Collins Avenue, Little Stoke, Bristol, Avon BS34 6JZ
Tel: 07920 037697

Happy Hounds
18, Hill Park Rd, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 1NU
Tel: 07738 908039

Canine Coach
37, Royal Way, Starcross, Exeter, Devon EX6 8EQ
Tel: 01626 891630

Penny's Dog Care
6, Barrow Lane, Winford, Bristol, Avon BS40 8AG
Tel: 01275 475687

Time 4 Walkies
12, Laxton Rd, Taunton, Somerset TA1 2UP
Tel: 01823 253531

Pets Day Care
Huxham Wood Farm, Poltimore, Exeter, Devon EX4 0AA
Tel: 01392 841337

Pads & Paws
Boxers Retreat, 61, Blatchcombe Rd, Paignton, Devon TQ3 2JY
Tel: 01803 665364

Dogs Life
95, Underlane, Plymstock, Plymouth, Devon PL9 9LB
Tel: 07774 270077

Hotdogs K9 Walking
12, Kestell Parc, Bodmin, Cornwall PL31 1HP
Tel: 07702 831574

Susan's Pet Services
18, Pickford Rd, Bournemouth, Dorset BH9 2RS
Tel: 01202 462360

Walkies
12, Winifred Rd, Poole, Dorset BH15 3PU
Tel: 01202 387783

Dogfriends
1 Carron Farm, Bredons Hardwick, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire GL20 7EE
Tel: 07889 774990

Walkies
6, Claylands, St. Breward, Bodmin, Cornwall PL30 3PY
Tel: 01208 851764

Barnwood Dog Walking
9, Armscroft Court, Gloucester, Gloucestershire GL2 0TE
Tel: 07813 874898

Muddy Pawz Dog Walking
12, Sheldare Barton, Bristol, Avon BS5 8PN
Tel: 07786 145429

2 Feet 4 Paws
71b, Fore St, Bovey Tracey, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ13 9AB
Tel: 07876 573687

Doggie Day Care
34, Manor Park, Norton Fitzwarren, Taunton, Somerset TA2 6SG
Tel: 07739 126879