The Walkie Wagon
Dog walking service in Surrey/Sussex, offering tailored walks in Loxwood and surrounding villages. Including (but not limited to) Ifold, Kirdford, Plaistow, Wisborough Green, Dunsfold, Rudgwick, Ewhurst, Cranleigh and Alfold.
Please see my Social Media pages for daily photography and video clips of our walks and adventures!
Tailored Walks
By ‘tailored’ I mean that I try to give every dog the chance to get the most from their walk. With three to four group walks every day of the week I am usually able to best fit your dog to a suitable group.
My insurers cover me to six dogs but I try to keep to four plus my own. It is important to me that my groups are off lead and having the best time they can have. Safety is always paramount and with smaller groups I am better able to keep things under close control.
When I take on a new dog I like to do at least a couple of solo walks to get to know each other and build up some trust before putting them with a group. A nervous dog is a flight risk and so establishing trust is essential. I will only let your dog off the lead once confident of reliable recall and want you to always trust that your dog is in safe hands.There is also the matter of getting used to the van and travelling crated.
Each walk will be a full hour, travel time not included. Walks are kept varied, fun and safe and care is taken to keep a good distance from roads and busy public areas like parks. We are lucky to have an extensive network of footpaths and bridleways and over the years I have learnt where the best ones are.
New clients will receive WhatsApp video clips of all the adventures for the first few weeks, after which they follow the walks on my daily Social Media posts.
As important as the exercise is the socialising skills they learn. Reactive dogs become less reactive as time goes by and they all benefit hugely from mixing with their canine friends. It’s always a joy for me to see how excited they get when they realise who else is on their walk!
Extreme weather, especially summer heat, may at times interfere with our walking schedule. Times may need to be adjusted and venues changed. Extreme hot days can usually be managed by heading for the dense woodland and water.
Weekday Group Walks
£15 per dog per hour
Weekday Solo Walks
£25 per dog per hour
Weekends & Bank Holiday Walks
£25 per dog per hour
Please Note : Walks cancelled within 24 hours notice will be charged in full.
Basic Training
I do not pretend to be a certified dog trainer but with a lifetime of experience in training and working English Springer Spaniels I feel I am more than capable of helping your dog to learn more reliable recall and the basic commands necessary to enjoy your walks rather than dread them!
One of the joys of group walking is to witness the huge improvement in recall and heeling on a lead that the less inclined dogs learn from the others. The pack mentality that a group of dogs display can be harnessed and used to great effect.
I no longer offer one to one training sessions as the group walking has left me with no time in the day.
Pet Visits
I had an array of pets growing up and like to think I can cope with most of your diverse and sometimes exotic companions. If I feel something is beyond me then I will let you know!
I will always do my best to visit your pet at the desired time but ask you to understand that my core business is the walking and as such this will always come first. There is usually time between walks for a quick visit, or perhaps a longer one either end of the working day.
Rates negotiable depending upon distance, length of visit etc.
As a rough idea £25 per hour is about the average.
Collection and drop off
It is important to do this quickly and efficiently and so I strive to group my dogs by location as best I can. After all your dog wants to get on with the walk and not sit in the back of the van counting catseyes!
If clients are out I can keep a key or come to another arrangement that works for you. I ask that your dog towels are left out for a good rub down and that there is access to a hose pipe for those times you REALLY don’t want your dog back indoors.
The Vehicle
Careful thought has gone into preparing the vehicle for the optimal welfare of the dogs. Each dog is crated individually with plenty of bedding and a non-spill water bowl.
The central section between the slider doors has been left empty, offering ample space for carrying larger dogs. It also provides a safe area for getting the dogs out of their crates and onto leads before heading off on our walk.
Ventilation is provided via a tinted side slider window and from the front windows as I have removed the bulkhead to get maximum light and airflow. There is also a powerful fan for hot days as well as air conditioning.
The Boring Bits
I have one short and simple form to fill out with you at the outset. This gives me the information I need to best handle your dog and to group them with compatible dogs.
Within the form, upon the advice of my insurers, you will also need to indicate your consent for your dog(s) to be let off the lead. If not they will be leashed at all times though where possible on long or retractable leads for maximum freedom.
For simplicity I generally invoice my regular clients at the end of the month and payment is made by bank transfer.
Others prefer to pay on the day after each walk or perhaps weekly. I can be flexible
About
After many years as a Landscape Gardener I decided it was time for a change and a fresh start doing something new and exciting. I wanted to go to work because I wanted to, not because I had to.
I have always had a love of dogs and the great outdoors and so it was an easy decision for me to combine the two.
After a brief consultation with my springer spaniel partner, Ziggy, the concept was immediately approved and The Walkie Wagon was born.
Come rain or shine we are out there on our daily adventures, exploring this beautiful countryside and would love to share our walks with your dogs too.
