ALLAN ORMISTON, dog walker
I worked for the civil service in an office-based role in the transport department. Three years ago, we were given redundancy notices. I thought: "What can I do with my life?" I was walking my dog Barney in Lennox Forest at the time and came across a dog-walker. That put the seed in my mind. It was something completely different and something I really fancied doing instead of being tied to another 9 'til 5 job.
I was fortunate because I got a redundancy payment and so had money to back me up even if it was a slow starter. Without that redundancy money, there is no way I could have taken it up, I have three kids. It took me about six months until I could say I was earning a living off it.
I had a couple of friends with dogs who needed walked, so as soon as I started I knew I'd have dogs. I set up my website, got myself listed and made sure that I could be found on Google, which is where most of my business comes from. I've had a couple of recommendations by clients which is always a good thing.
There is no official register for dog-walkers but that is something that is being looked at. Instead I am police checked and have my insurance. I've got 18 dogs on my books. The maximum I take out at a time is six.
I do get "pinch me" moments. Sometimes it doesn't feel like work, you can feel like you are just walking your dog.
Bad weather doesn't get to me because I keep telling myself that at least I'm not working in an office any more. As long as I'm wrapped up for the weather I'm fine, I don't mind the rain.
I never wake up any morning thinking: "Oh no, I need to go to work". I'm keen to get out, especially when you see all these smiling dog faces keen to see you.
When you are walking five or six dogs, the pack mentality kicks in and they are all well-behaved. They all just plod along behind each other. I sometimes find that there are more behavioural issues when you are out with just one dog.
I have a poodle which doesn't like men. It barks at them and tries to jump up on them so I no longer let it off the lead. I think I am the only man it gets on with. It absolutely loves me and it won't leave my side. The current owner thinks it might have come from one of these puppy farms and been mistreated.
I've also got a boxer-bull mastiff cross that was a bait dog [used in dog fighting] for the first year of her life before being rescued by the SSPCA. She's only got one eye. She's been with her owners now for three years. Sometimes when she is on the lead, I think she feels as if she is tied up and when she comes across other dogs she barks and is really aggressive. I struggled for a year with her on the lead but since getting off she's been great. Now when she comes across dogs she runs up, has a good sniff and is absolutely fine.
I don't feel lonely not having colleagues. My dogs are my colleagues. I have a few elderly clients and I walk their dogs because they can't, so I see them every day and have a good chat. You are their point of contact for the day as well.
The hardest part of the job is when you have to say goodbye to one of the dogs if the owners move away or if the animal dies. You just have to get on with it though.
A few of the dogs are out every day with me so you really get to know them. You've known them since they were young so you know all their quirks.
My Barney, a cocker spaniel poodle cross, is the best-walked dog in the world, he absolutely loves it. What other job can you take your pet to work with you. When they're not at school, my kids come along too.
A lady contacted me last week to ask if I would feed her chickens for her, so I am now branching out.
Visit woof-for-walks.co.uk
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