More About Me (if you wanted the life story)

Hi - I didn’t want to bog down the ‘About’ section by talking about myself too much, but I understand how important it is to know about the person caring for your pet, especially when they’re coming into your home. If I were in your shoes, I would want to know as much about a potential dog walker/pet sitter as possible too!

Prior to going to university, I worked as a Domiciliary Carer. Not only did I gain experience in care, but as I was caring for people in their own homes, I became experienced in secure key management and housekeeping also. At university, I started my studies in Accounting, but of course, I began to miss having a role where I could help others.

It was by chance that one day I was driving down a dual carriageway when I saw a Springer Spaniel running alongside it, alone. Here, I made a bit of a risky decision to stop the 70mph traffic on my own to try and catch the frantic Spaniel. After a few attempts, I was lucky to have it bound over to me once I had got down low and began calling it over. A man in a van then came over and said he would take it to the RSPCA and as I was shaken by the experience, I let him get on with it. As I was driving away, a part of me questioned whether that was the right thing to do, how did I know whether he would actually drop it off? But after visiting the RSPCA and then two local vets, I was able to confirm that he had dropped the Spaniel off and that it was safe and waiting for its owner. That same day, I picked up forms to start volunteering at the RSPCA.

Volunteer Work

• Wildlife Volunteer, RSPCA Stapeley Grange (May 2019 - April 2020)

• Rabbit and Guinea Pig Volunteer, Animals in Distress (October 2023 - March 2024)

• Dog Walker and Short-Term Fosterer, Cinnamon Trust (June 2024 - Present)

Career Switch

After university, I secured a place on an Engineering Graduate Scheme where I later ended up landing a role responsible for testing your home telecommunications devices. But due to personal circumstances meaning that I needed to relocate to Devon, 3 hours away from my office, I had to decide what to do next. And that is how The Playful Paw Collective was born.

Since deciding to set up The Playful Paw Collective, I wanted to become qualified in the field. Even though I have first-hand experience with dogs, from having a family Westie to looking after and walking family and friends’ dogs from smiling Staffies to strong Huskies, it is important to me to gain as much knowledge as possible to provide the highest-quality care.

Relevant Qualifications, Certificates and Continuous Professional Development

• Level 2 Dog Training and Husbandry, Bicton College

• Canine First Aid (in-person course led by vet Dr. Sophie Bell)

• DBS Check Certificate valid from 20/05/2024

• Member of the Professional Dog Walkers Association

Favourite Books

• The Other End of the Leash - Patricia McConnell PhD

• The Book Your Dog Wishes You Would Read - Louise Glazebrook

Favourite Podcasts

• Shaped by Dog with Susan Garrett (for positive reinforcement and game-based training techniques)

• Enrichment for the Real World

If you’ve read this far…

Thank you for taking the time to get to know me a bit better. Hopefully, this information will give you some peace of mind if you decide to use The Playful Paw Collective services. However, I am always happy to answer any further questions if you have any!