I’d always worked in admin, it was something I fell into when I was 18 and wasn’t sure what I wanted to do or what career path I wanted to go down. It will do for now I thought. 11 years later and with the prospect of turning 30 and still not feeling like I was where I wanted to be, I decided I needed to make some changes. I’d thought about the idea of starting a dog walking and pet sitting business many times over the years, even came up with a name and logo at one stage but always ended up telling myself I couldn’t do it or it would be too difficult and many other excuses. It did seem a risk going from a guaranteed monthly income to being self-employed but it was always in the back of my mind and having had such special bonds with my own dogs I knew I wanted to work with them in some way.

I can’t remember exactly what that final push was. Maybe it was being told that I had to start recording my every move, including how long I stopped to talk to a colleague and how long I was in the toilet for, seriously?! Or having to come up with 3 things I wanted to achieve in my admin role for a personal development review with my manager. I couldn’t think of 1 let alone 3! My heart really wasn’t in it. I looked at all the research I had done into starting my own business and daydreamed of what it would be like to be my own boss as well as working with animals all day. I looked out the window from my office one day with its scenic view of the car park opposite and thought do you know what I’m going to go for it!

After a lot more research and planning I came up with a business plan and that was it, I’d made up my mind, no going back, it was going to happen. When I started telling people my plans I was mostly met with surprise as I had kept my plans so quiet but also a lot of positivity and wishes of good luck. There were of course a few negative comments, “Ooo do you think that’s a bit risky?”, “Are you sure?”, “What if it doesn’t work?”, “Who’s going to pay someone to walk their dog?” This only served to make me want to go for it even more.

My last day in the office was a strange one, I was excited to start my new career but also sad to be leaving the team I had worked with for the last 4 or so years. They weren’t just colleagues but friends and we had so many laughs and good times in between the seriousness, sadness and stress of a Children’s Social Care department. Although when I walked out those doors for the last time I did feel a sense of relief and freedom!

A week or so later I had my first walk with one of my first customers, a handsome black Labrador called Rocky, such a lovely natured boy and a real character. I soon came to realise he had a talent for finding the biggest stick and not letting go of it for the whole 1 hour walk, and sometimes this big stick was more like a small tree! He also seemed to enjoy whacking me on the back of the legs with it! From then on I knew I was going to love my new job 🙂

If you work in the Pet Industry or you’re considering it, come and join The Petpreneur Network! Head over to our Facebook Group for support, advice, free workbooks and connect with other Petpreneurs! https://www.facebook.com/groups/391514318013949/ or take my online course! Find out more!

You can also follow us on Instagram @thepetpreneurnetwork

So here goes my very first blog post!

It was my first day back today after 10 days off over Christmas and New Year and boy did my legs get a shock! My arms and shoulders too for that matter! After not much physical exercise and eating my weight in chocolate over the festive period I was not prepared for that first cold and energetic power walk of 2017. I’m starting to think I should do warm up exercises in the mornings as I definitely felt like I’d had a full body workout after an hour of brisk walking along with my arms being pulled in every direction trying to stop Obi the Doberman cross from grabbing the loaf of bread somebody had kindly left on the path, I’m assuming for the birds. Obi can sniff out a dropped slice of pizza, half eaten sandwich and random edible objects from a mile away. She could be a police sniffer dog if there were ever a crime involving a cheesecake that is…

Like Obi I was greeted by my other buddies throughout the day with excitable barking, wagging tails and licks to the face. I like to think their greetings are because they’ve missed me as much as I’ve missed them but It’s probably more to do with me being ‘the one that takes us for long walkies and then gives us a treat!’

One of my 1 hour walks was with a beautiful Labrador who is just bursting with energy and so I decided I would put her on an extendable lead so she could have more room to have a wander around and a little run. Unfortunately for me I didn’t anticipate that she was going to start sprinting like Usain Bolt! With me still attached to the other end of the lead you can use your imagination as to what happened next, ouch!  Most of my customers like me to keep their dogs on lead so I seem to have something inside me that says ‘DON’T LET GO!’

My last walk today (now with muddy jeans) was with Jack, I walk him once a week through The Cinnamon Trust which is a charity that I signed up with last year. It’s an amazing charity that helps elderly and terminally ill people and their pets, finding volunteers to walk or foster pets if the owners are not able to themselves. Very rewarding and something which I’d love to write about in more detail in the future.

When I got home I have to say I was pretty tired and my calves were aching, probably from trying to stop myself face planting the mud earlier! Still, I’m looking forward to whatever the day has to bring tomorrow 🙂

If you work in the Pet Industry or you’re considering it, come and join The Petpreneur Network! Head over to our Facebook Group for support, advice, free workbooks and connect with other Petpreneurs! https://www.facebook.com/groups/391514318013949/

You can also follow us on Instagram @thepetpreneurnetwork