Alice has a great reputation; she walks dogs for a lot of people. We liked her immediately and felt we could trust her - there's a great deal of trust involved. Kai is our baby, a member of our family. We wouldn't just send him off with anyone. We also hand over our house keys to Alice. She comes in every day to get Kai. He is always dried after his walk, and everything is always how we've left it.
Dogs can be left up to eight hours on their own, but we didn't get a dog to leave him on his own all day. Steven takes him out for a big walk before he goes to work. Alice walks him at lunchtime. We get in about 5.30pm and take him for a big walk. He gets a run with the other dogs in the neighbourhood.
Alice has done things other than dog walking for us. When it was our daughter Holly's christening, she took Kai for the whole day so we could concentrate on Holly's big day. She's kept him when we've gone on holiday, sometimes for up to two weeks at a time, as she provides a boarding service for dogs. She's come in and fed him if we've been out for the evening and not been able to get back. Alice has always accommodated us, and over the years has become a good family friend. When I was pregnant with Holly and on maternity leave, I saw her a lot. I still see her every day - typical women just having a gab.
ALICE ASHFORD, 46, OWNER OF JACK-AL DOG WALKING SERVICE
I worked in an office for 24 years, doing accounts. I became disillusioned with working in the same place doing the same job for so many years. Friends had given me their dogs to look after in the summer and had always encouraged me to do it full time. One summer I looked after three friends' dogs, and that's when I decided to chuck in my job. The office I worked in was within a mile of my home so I used to go home during my lunch hour to see the dogs, feed them and walk them. I've always had an affinity with dogs, but that summer gave me the impetus I needed to do this as a career.
It had a huge impact on my life. I was becoming stressed out in my job, and was no longer enjoying it. I was off sick when I thought I should give it up and go for dog walking. My health has improved - I am happy to get up in the morning. I love going to get the dogs because they are so happy to see me. They are better than people in my opinion, because they don't bitch. They all sit and wait at the door until I get there.
You need to invest time teaching your dog manners. I found Kai was well looked after and well trained. He is a good laugh, a brilliant dog. He's an alpha dog - he's the leader of the pack but at the same time he looks after all the wee dogs. If one of the dogs is still in the bushes, he stands and waits until it is done, then wags his tail when the dog comes out, because he's a caring, loving dog.
The McGarrys are really nice - very down to earth - and have recommended me to other friends. I was worried when Holly was born. I thought they would no longer require my services, and the thought of not being able to walk Kai any more broke my heart. You form such a close bond, not only with the dog, but with the family. You get to love them. Luckily they kept me on.
©2009 newsquest (sunday herald) limited.
June 7, 2009
UK: Me and my ...Dog Walker
.
GLASGOW, Scotland / Sunday Herald / Life / June 7, 2009
Me and my ... dog walker
Two women, one four-legged friend, and a relationship that has developed over time
PAULINE MCGARRY, 31, HOUSEWIFE AND OWNER OF BOXER DOG KAI
Kai was a newborn pup when we bought him, and we've had him for five years. We really wanted a dog - my husband Steven loves dogs, and had to get the biggest dog available. We stayed in a flat in Townhead, Glasgow when Kai came to live with us. I worked nearby, so I used to come home at lunchtime to walk him. Then we moved to the southside, which was too far from my work, and didn't have a solution as to who would walk Kai. Steven's aunt had sold her car to Alice, who walked dogs. It was a match made in heaven for us - they were both comfortable with each other from the offset.
Alice has a great reputation; she walks dogs for a lot of people. We liked her immediately and felt we could trust her - there's a great deal of trust involved. Kai is our baby, a member of our family. We wouldn't just send him off with anyone. We also hand over our house keys to Alice. She comes in every day to get Kai. He is always dried after his walk, and everything is always how we've left it.
Dogs can be left up to eight hours on their own, but we didn't get a dog to leave him on his own all day. Steven takes him out for a big walk before he goes to work. Alice walks him at lunchtime. We get in about 5.30pm and take him for a big walk. He gets a run with the other dogs in the neighbourhood.
Alice has done things other than dog walking for us. When it was our daughter Holly's christening, she took Kai for the whole day so we could concentrate on Holly's big day. She's kept him when we've gone on holiday, sometimes for up to two weeks at a time, as she provides a boarding service for dogs. She's come in and fed him if we've been out for the evening and not been able to get back. Alice has always accommodated us, and over the years has become a good family friend. When I was pregnant with Holly and on maternity leave, I saw her a lot. I still see her every day - typical women just having a gab.
ALICE ASHFORD, 46, OWNER OF JACK-AL DOG WALKING SERVICE
I worked in an office for 24 years, doing accounts. I became disillusioned with working in the same place doing the same job for so many years. Friends had given me their dogs to look after in the summer and had always encouraged me to do it full time. One summer I looked after three friends' dogs, and that's when I decided to chuck in my job. The office I worked in was within a mile of my home so I used to go home during my lunch hour to see the dogs, feed them and walk them. I've always had an affinity with dogs, but that summer gave me the impetus I needed to do this as a career.
It had a huge impact on my life. I was becoming stressed out in my job, and was no longer enjoying it. I was off sick when I thought I should give it up and go for dog walking. My health has improved - I am happy to get up in the morning. I love going to get the dogs because they are so happy to see me. They are better than people in my opinion, because they don't bitch. They all sit and wait at the door until I get there.
You need to invest time teaching your dog manners. I found Kai was well looked after and well trained. He is a good laugh, a brilliant dog. He's an alpha dog - he's the leader of the pack but at the same time he looks after all the wee dogs. If one of the dogs is still in the bushes, he stands and waits until it is done, then wags his tail when the dog comes out, because he's a caring, loving dog.
The McGarrys are really nice - very down to earth - and have recommended me to other friends. I was worried when Holly was born. I thought they would no longer require my services, and the thought of not being able to walk Kai any more broke my heart. You form such a close bond, not only with the dog, but with the family. You get to love them. Luckily they kept me on.
©2009 newsquest (sunday herald) limited.
Alice has a great reputation; she walks dogs for a lot of people. We liked her immediately and felt we could trust her - there's a great deal of trust involved. Kai is our baby, a member of our family. We wouldn't just send him off with anyone. We also hand over our house keys to Alice. She comes in every day to get Kai. He is always dried after his walk, and everything is always how we've left it.
Dogs can be left up to eight hours on their own, but we didn't get a dog to leave him on his own all day. Steven takes him out for a big walk before he goes to work. Alice walks him at lunchtime. We get in about 5.30pm and take him for a big walk. He gets a run with the other dogs in the neighbourhood.
Alice has done things other than dog walking for us. When it was our daughter Holly's christening, she took Kai for the whole day so we could concentrate on Holly's big day. She's kept him when we've gone on holiday, sometimes for up to two weeks at a time, as she provides a boarding service for dogs. She's come in and fed him if we've been out for the evening and not been able to get back. Alice has always accommodated us, and over the years has become a good family friend. When I was pregnant with Holly and on maternity leave, I saw her a lot. I still see her every day - typical women just having a gab.
ALICE ASHFORD, 46, OWNER OF JACK-AL DOG WALKING SERVICE
I worked in an office for 24 years, doing accounts. I became disillusioned with working in the same place doing the same job for so many years. Friends had given me their dogs to look after in the summer and had always encouraged me to do it full time. One summer I looked after three friends' dogs, and that's when I decided to chuck in my job. The office I worked in was within a mile of my home so I used to go home during my lunch hour to see the dogs, feed them and walk them. I've always had an affinity with dogs, but that summer gave me the impetus I needed to do this as a career.
It had a huge impact on my life. I was becoming stressed out in my job, and was no longer enjoying it. I was off sick when I thought I should give it up and go for dog walking. My health has improved - I am happy to get up in the morning. I love going to get the dogs because they are so happy to see me. They are better than people in my opinion, because they don't bitch. They all sit and wait at the door until I get there.
You need to invest time teaching your dog manners. I found Kai was well looked after and well trained. He is a good laugh, a brilliant dog. He's an alpha dog - he's the leader of the pack but at the same time he looks after all the wee dogs. If one of the dogs is still in the bushes, he stands and waits until it is done, then wags his tail when the dog comes out, because he's a caring, loving dog.
The McGarrys are really nice - very down to earth - and have recommended me to other friends. I was worried when Holly was born. I thought they would no longer require my services, and the thought of not being able to walk Kai any more broke my heart. You form such a close bond, not only with the dog, but with the family. You get to love them. Luckily they kept me on.
©2009 newsquest (sunday herald) limited.
