From Office to Outdoors: My Path to Dog Walking 

Let me fill you in on my journey to becoming a dog walker. It wasn't a typical career path for me. I didn't have any connections or experience to fall back on. However, with determination and a deep love for dogs, I turned my dream into reality.  

Like everyone working in this area, I have loved animals since I was little and had dogs in the family all my life. I dreamed of working with animals during my childhood but life happened and I became a business administrator. 

When I brought Fiona home in 2014, she was 3 weeks old and very debilitated. I was completely unprepared for the challenge. I had no clue why she was so scared or how to communicate with her.

Fiona was a challenging dog, with plenty of traumas and behavioral issues. After a few weeks of her arrival, I became determined to understand her better. To deepen my knowledge, I enrolled in a canine behavior course. Balancing this new passion with my full-time job, I spent several months learning and working closely with dogs.

Fiona was a rescue pup, pulled from an abusive home. Severely traumatized, she was terrified of everything and everyone, displaying extreme reactivity.

My second rescue, Jack, was a five-month-old when he came into our lives from a shelter. He struggled with intense separation anxiety and didn't get along well with other male dogs.

Fiona and Jack have come a long way! With lots of patience and training, they're now happy, well-behaved dogs.

Their remarkable progress inspired me deeply. The ability to connect with them on their level and help them thrive was incredibly rewarding. 

Having worked in the financial and business management industry for over a decade, I made the choice to leave my position and pursue my passion.

My dogs and I have changed each other’s lives. Our move from Brazil was quite an adventure, with months of preparation and a long journey. Thankfully, everything went smoothly, and they’ve adjusted to the English weather beautifully. We're both loving exploring the wonderful parks of southwest London.

I chose to be a dog walker because I believe a well-structured walk is essential for a dog's mental and emotional well-being. It's a fantastic way to build a strong bond while seeing them thrive every day.

It’s been four amazing years since I started this job. I’m lucky to have clients who’ve been with me since day one. We’ve learned so much from each other, and I cherish our bond. I miss them terribly when I’m away, and I like to think they miss me too!

They say when you love your job, it doesn’t feel like work, and I’ve finally found that to be true. Even on the coldest winter days, I wake up excited to start my day walking dogs.