The Dog Walking Business Mentor

25/08/2026

Today has been one of those days that reminds you just how much responsibility comes with being a dog walker.

And quite frankly, it’s been horrific.

While out walking today, I heard one of the dogs yelp. I think he may have disturbed some wasps because suddenly I was being stung. And not just once.

They wouldn’t leave me alone.

I was literally being stung from head to toe while trying to keep four dogs safe.

One dog ran in one direction. Another ran in the opposite direction. Thankfully the other two stayed with me.

I was frantic.

The dog I’d heard yelp had been stung above his eye and despite being in a huge amount of pain myself, my immediate concern was him and the other dogs.

I managed to get everyone safe, rang the dog’s owners and took him straight to the vets to be checked over.

Only once I knew he was okay did I start thinking about myself.

I called 111 and was told to go to A&E, where I’ve subsequently spent most of the afternoon.

I’m now home, sore, exhausted and feeling rather sorry for myself. The stings on my hand and head are particularly painful. 😩

I’ve also had to cancel birthday plans this evening, which I hated doing.

But sitting here reflecting on today has reminded me of something I’ve spoken about quite a lot recently…

People don’t always see the emotional responsibility that comes with working with other people’s animals.

Dog walking can be the most amazing job in the world. I absolutely love what I do.

But it’s not just walking dogs.

You’re responsible for somebody’s family member.

And when something goes wrong, even when it’s completely outside of your control, that responsibility hits you like a tonne of bricks.

In over eight years of doing this, I’ve never experienced anything like today. I’ve never before had to take a client’s dog to the vets while in my care.

And I hope I don’t have to again for a very long time!

It’s also reminded me why lived experience is such an important part of the mentoring I offer.

I don’t mentor pet professionals from a textbook.

I’m still out there doing the job.

I’m a dog walker. A pet sitter. A dog trainer and behaviour consultant. I run pet businesses and deal with the brilliant, difficult, emotional and occasionally completely bloody unexpected reality of doing this work.

So when somebody I’m mentoring tells me about the responsibility they feel, the difficult client conversation they’ve had, something going wrong on a walk, the guilt, the stress or the pressure of holding everything together…

I understand it because I live it too.

Today I’d quite happily have done without quite so much lived experience, mind you. 😂🐝

For now, I’m going to take my own advice.

Everything else can wait.

I’ve seen the messages that have come through this afternoon and I promise I’ll get back to you. Just not right now.

Tonight I’m resting, recovering and being very grateful that all four dogs are safe. 💛

And perhaps feeling slightly sorry for myself too. 😩😂

Nathan 🌱

22/08/2026

🟧 Collaboration over competition. Always 🟦

I’ve received a rather lovely review from Dan today, but there’s a bit more of a story behind this one…

Dan is currently working towards starting his own dog walking business.

And he’s local to me.

In fact, he’ll be setting up in a nearby area.

So technically, you could look at him as competition.

I don’t. 😊

When Dan was researching the industry, he reached out to established dog walkers to learn more about the realities of the job. He came across Nathan’s Paw Trails and then discovered that, alongside running my own dog walking business, I mentor other dog walkers too.

We’ve chatted about starting out, I’ve shared some of the lessons I’ve learnt over the last eight years and I’ve been open with him about some of the realities of running this kind of business.

I even invited him to come out and shadow me on a dog walk.

Because I genuinely believe our industry becomes better when good people are prepared to help one another.

Keeping everything you’ve learnt to yourself isn’t going to stop another dog walker setting up.

But sharing good practice might help another professional build a safer, more ethical and more sustainable business.

And ultimately, isn’t that better for the dogs too?

Dan wrote something in his review that stopped me in my tracks:

“More than anything, Nathan has made me feel that his priority is genuinely helping others succeed rather than simply selling a mentoring service.”

That means an awful lot.

Because yes, mentoring is part of my business.

But I never want somebody to feel like they’re simply being funnelled towards the next thing I can sell them.

Sometimes someone needs mentoring.

Sometimes they need a consultancy session.

Sometimes they simply need someone with a few more years under their belt to say:

“I’ve been there. Here’s what I learnt.”

And I loved something else Dan said.

He hopes that one day he’ll be able to repay the kindness by helping somebody else who is just starting out.

That’s how we create a better industry.

One person helps the next.

Knowledge gets shared.

Standards improve.

And instead of seeing every person doing something similar as a threat, we recognise that there’s room for good people doing good work.

Collaborative over competitive. Every single time. 🧡💙

And Dan, I’ll be cheering you on as you build yours. 🙌🏻

The Dog Walking Business Mentor ~
Mentoring Dog Walkers With Real Experience, Real Results.

18/08/2026

Today I had one of those business conversations that reminded me exactly why having an outside pair of eyes can be so valuable. 🧡💙

I spent an hour with “James”, an established dog walking business owner who has built a successful business over a number of years, but has reached that point where the question is no longer simply:

“How do I grow this?”

It’s:

“What do I actually want this business to look like in the next five years?”

We explored things like:

🐾 simplifying services and reducing unnecessary complexity

🐾 pricing and premium positioning

🐾 whether additional capacity should be used for growth or to buy back the owner’s time

🐾 how to make the business less dependent on the owner day-to-day

🐾 stepping back from constant service delivery and spending more time actually running the business

🐾 creating space for another area of the business he wants to develop

🐾 making decisions based on where he wants the business to go, rather than simply maintaining the structure he already has

And that, for me, is one of the biggest benefits of a Business Consultancy Session.

Sometimes you don’t need another course.

You don’t necessarily need someone to give you a generic blueprint either.

You need someone independent to sit alongside you, look at the business as it actually exists, ask the questions that are difficult to ask when you’re right in the middle of it, challenge a few assumptions and help you separate all the thoughts whizzing around your head into the decisions that actually matter.

You can be running a profitable, established business and still reach a point where the business you’ve built no longer quite fits the life or role you want.

That doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong.

It might simply mean it’s time to redesign the next chapter.

One question I kept coming back to during today’s session was:

“Does this decision move you closer to the business you say you want in five years?”

Such a simple question, but a very useful filter when there are ten different options on the table.

We didn’t try to solve absolutely everything in an hour.

Instead, the aim was clarity, direction and a manageable action plan so he could leave knowing what needed attention first and what could wait.

That’s what these consultancy sessions are there for.

Not more noise.

Not more pressure.

Just dedicated space to step outside of the day-to-day and look properly at the business you’re building.

And if some of this feels familiar, it’s also exactly the kind of thinking I’ll be exploring in my FREE webinar this Thursday, 20th August at 7pm UK time.

We’ll be looking at how to step out of constant firefighting, create more clarity around where your business is heading and make decisions that support the business and life you actually want.

If you haven’t registered yet, there’s still time and if you can’t join live, register anyway and I’ll send you the replay. 🧡

👉 https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/webinar-registration/

07/08/2026

🟧🟦 “He was like a guiding light…” 🥹

Well… this was quite a review to receive today.

I’ve been working with Lorena, owner of Zoe’s Friends, over the last few months after she originally found me online while looking for help growing her dog walking and pet sitting business.

At the time, she felt she’d reached a plateau.

She’d tried different things to find clients but wasn’t sure what else to do. She lacked confidence, felt invisible and putting herself out there on social media felt incredibly uncomfortable.

She initially came to me looking for business support.

But, as so often happens in mentoring, we discovered there was something underneath the practical business stuff too.

Confidence.

Fear.

That horrible feeling of “Am I actually doing enough?”

And learning to recognise the progress she’d already made rather than constantly looking at how far she still had to go.

We’ve worked through it gradually.

No overnight transformation.

No “just be more confident!” 🙄

Small steps. Encouragement. Reflection. Practical action. Then another small step.

And today Lorena wrote:

“He was like a guiding light, helping me understand and trust my own feelings.”

She also shared that she’s now regularly putting herself out there on social media, has become much more visible, feels more confident in the services she offers and, importantly…

her business has grown. ❤️

She finished her review by describing me as:

“Professional, patient and incredibly reassuring.”

I’m not sure I could ask for three nicer words to describe the kind of mentor I want to be.

But there’s something I want to add.

I might have helped shine a light on the path…

Lorena is the one who walked it.

That’s mentoring.

Not building somebody’s business for them.

Not telling them who they need to become.

Helping someone recognise what they’re capable of, supporting them through the uncomfortable bits and gradually getting to the point where they trust themselves to take the next step.

What a privilege it is to get to do this work. 🥹🧡💙

The Dog Walking Business Mentor ~
Mentoring Dog Walkers With Heart, Insight, and Real Experience.

04/08/2026

🟧 One of the lovely things about what I do… 🟦

Yesterday I had a discovery call with a really lovely dog walking business owner based in Cambridgeshire.

He’s built a successful business over several years, has a fantastic team around him and offers a range of dog walking and behaviour services. Like many business owners though, he’s reached a point where he’s asking some bigger questions.

💭 What do I want the next chapter of my business to look like?

Sometimes that’s exactly what we need.

Not someone to tell us what to do.

Just someone who understands the industry, can listen objectively and help us explore the options without judgement.

Following our conversation, we’re going to start with The Dog Walking Business Consultancy session, where we’ll have the time to properly map everything out and create a clear direction for the next stage of his business.

Something else that really made me smile…

He told me he’d found me by Googling “Dog Walking Business Mentor”… and there I was! 😊

Even better, he’d been listening to episodes of The Pet Business Wellbeing Podcast while driving between clients and said he’d found several of the conversations really interesting.

As someone who spends a lot of time creating content, recording podcasts and sharing ideas online, it’s a lovely reminder that people are often quietly reading, watching and listening long before they ever reach out.

It also reminded me that I’m now fortunate enough to support pet professionals from all over the UK (and increasingly internationally too), all thanks to the power of online mentoring.

If you’re a dog walker who’s feeling a little stuck, wants to simplify your business, is thinking about taking on your first team member, reviewing your pricing, adding new services, or simply wants an experienced sounding board to help you think things through, my consultancy sessions are designed exactly for that.

You can find out more here:

👉 https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/consultancy/

Sometimes one conversation is all it takes to bring clarity.

The Dog Walking Business Mentor ~
You Walk the Dogs, I’ll Walk You Through the Business.

Practical support for dog walkers who want clarity, direction and confidence - delivered with warmth, experience and emotional intelligence.

02/08/2026

🟧 What Responsible Dog Walking Really Looks Like 🟦

Responsible dog walking isn’t about “getting every walk done no matter what.”

Sometimes it looks like:

• cancelling walks

• changing routines

• offering check-ins instead

• disappointing clients temporarily

• putting welfare before income.

And honestly?

Those are often the moments that show true professionalism.

The best dog walkers aren’t the ones who never adapt.

They’re the ones who know when they need to.

Apologies, for the lack of posts recently.
If you’re building a dog walking business and want support around professionalism, structure and confidence, my free guide is here:

👉 https://dogwalkingmentor.co.uk/5-steps/

The Dog Walking Business Mentor ~

🩵 Helping Dog Walkers Turn Passion Into Profession.

🌈 Proudly inclusive. Rooted in business experience. Led with heart.

With 5 Steps to Launching Your Dog Walking or Pet Sitting Business, your dream business can become a reality.

01/07/2026

🐾 Mentee Update: Celebrating the Small Wins 🐾

One of the things I love most about mentoring is watching confidence quietly grow.

Earlier today, I had another session with my lovely mentee, Lorena, who is building her dog walking and pet sitting business, Zoe' friends Dog Walking & Pet sitting.

When we first started working together, putting herself out there online felt incredibly daunting. Creating a page, posting publicly and promoting her business were all well outside her comfort zone.

Fast forward a few weeks…

✨ She’s posting regularly.

✨ She’s engaging in local Facebook groups.

✨ She’s building relationships with potential clients.

✨ She’s created her own client paperwork.

✨ She’s thinking more like a business owner every week.

One of my favourite moments from our session came when she shared that she’d secured a 16-day booking, from someone who had found one of her leaflets on a local community board.

A lovely reminder that marketing doesn’t always bring instant results. Sometimes people keep your details for weeks or even months before they’re ready to get in touch.

We also talked about something many pet professionals struggle with: confidence.

Not confidence around dogs… confidence in ourselves.

Charging appropriately.
Trusting our abilities.
Believing we’re good enough.
Remembering that building a business takes time.

Seeing Lorena beginning to recognise that some of the barriers aren’t practical but mindset-related is a huge step forward. Those realisations are often where the biggest growth begins.

I’m really proud of how far she’s already come and I can’t wait to see where the next few months take her.

Keep going, Lorena. Every small step is moving you closer to the business you’re working so hard to build. 🧡

The Dog Walking Business Mentor ~
Mentor. Walker. Guide. Let’s Grow Your Dog Biz.

🌈 Proudly inclusive. Rooted in business experience. Led with heart.

02/06/2026

🐾 Mentee Update 🐾

Today’s mentoring session was with the lovely Lorena from Zoe & Friends 💙

Lorena moved to the UK from Italy and has been building her pet sitting and dog walking business step by step in Staffordshire. Like many people starting out, one of the biggest challenges hasn’t just been finding clients… it’s been confidence, visibility and putting herself out there online.

Over the last few weeks though, she’s done some incredibly brave things outside of her comfort zone:

✅ Created her business page
✅ Started posting regularly
✅ Shared reviews/testimonials publicly
✅ Continued attending meet & greets
✅ Improved her follow-up communication with potential clients
✅ Started building her confidence around pricing and professionalism

And honestly? That matters.

Because building a pet business isn’t just about dogs.
Sometimes it’s about overcoming self-doubt too.

One thing I reminded Lorena today is this:

You do not need to become a different person to succeed.
You simply need to grow confidence in the strengths you already have 🌱

She’s warm, caring, thoughtful and genuinely passionate about animals and those qualities cannot be taught.

We also spent time today discussing:

🐾 Meet & greet confidence
🐾 Client communication
🐾 Follow-up messages
🐾 Reviews and testimonials
🐾 First impressions and trust
🐾 Insurance and paperwork basics
🐾 How to stand out on platforms like Rover & Tailster

Watching mentees slowly start believing in themselves a little more is honestly one of my favourite parts of this work.

Keep going Lorena - you’re making more progress than you realise 🐾

The Dog Walking Business Mentor ~

🧡 Supporting Dog Walkers to Grow With Confidence and Care.

🌈 Proudly inclusive. Rooted in business experience. Led with heart.

26/05/2026

🟧 The Hardest Decisions Are Often The Right Ones! 🟦

One of the hardest parts of running a dog walking business is making decisions that disappoint people… because safety has to come first.

Over the last few days, many dog walkers across the UK have had to cancel or adapt walks because of the temperatures.

And honestly?
Those decisions are never taken lightly.

We know dogs need exercise.
We know routines matter.
We know some clients may feel frustrated.

But we also know:

• heatstroke can happen quickly

• pavements can burn paws

• brachy breeds and older dogs struggle sooner

• dogs don’t always stop before they overheat

• and dog walkers themselves are working in physically demanding conditions too.

Professional dog walking isn’t just “walking dogs.”
It’s risk assessing constantly and making responsible calls even when they’re unpopular.

And that’s what good dog walkers are doing right now.

The Dog Walking Business Mentor ~

🩵 Mentoring Dog Walkers With Heart, Insight and Real Experience.

🌈 Proudly inclusive. Rooted in business experience. Led with heart.

22/05/2026

🟧 Let’s Talk 🟦

I’d love to open up a conversation today.

If you’re a dog walker (or thinking about becoming one)…

What’s the hardest part for you right now?

Is it:

• getting started?

• finding clients?

• pricing?

• boundaries?

• feeling overwhelmed?

• thinking about growth?

Or something else entirely?

Drop it below or send me a message - I read everything.

Because chances are, if you’re feeling it… you’re not the only one.

The Dog Walking Business Mentor ~

🐶 Helping Dog Walkers Turn Passion Into Profession.

🌈 Proudly inclusive. Rooted in business experience. Led with heart.