This months coveted Dog of the Month prize actually goes to 2 dogs, Max and Mae.  Well I couldn't give to one without giving to the other!  These 2 gorgeous dogs have been with us since 2015 and we've had them both on the books since they were puppies.  Mae came first and Max was adopted later and it may have been 2016 when Max came on the scene.  He was already 6 months old when his owner brought him home to meet Mae who by that time had pretty much gone through the puppy stage and was a happy go lucky young dog (I bet she didn't know what was going on when Max came to stay!).

Mae is a Border Collie and is very loving. She is happy to accept any dog into the pack and is just a really friendly and confident girl.  When she was a puppy she went through a stage for a couple of months where her favourite thing to do was to undo my shoelaces whilst we were out walking.  She still has a mischievous streak even though now she is older.  I no longer have to double knot my laces though.

Max is a Belgian Shepherd and he's been Mae's little brother ever since he was rescued at age 6 months.  He's a big lump of a dog but is actually very good on the lead and although he can be reactive to male dogs we encounter he is getting better and will continue to improve as he gets older.

Both dogs live together and get on really well.  Mae's in charge though!

At coastal Dog Walkers we walk your dog - I know that sounds like a super obvious thing to say as surely all dog walking businesses do that don't they?  Well yes and no.  Read on McDuff...

Unlike many other dog walkers we mainly walk your dog from your front door, we walk them out for a specified amount of time and then we walk them home again.  I think we're unique in that respect as other dog walking businesses in our area seem to round up all of their dogs in a vehicle of some sort and head somewhere where all of those dogs can run about and have a jolly old time and that's fine, there's nothing wrong with that but that's not how we do things.  Don't get me wrong there are occasions when we might have one dog that lives in North Shields and two dogs that live Whitley Bay and it makes sense to transport the single dog to the pair of dogs but that's really about as much as we ever rely on a vehicle.

What I'm seeing is more and more vans, small and large whizzing about and collecting dogs en masse .  I know there are multiple dogs in the vans as I can see and hear them in there when I walk by but I literally never see those dogs being walked as I guess the dogs end up in places like the Rising Sun or one of the beaches and are managed from there by their handler.  I'm sure that's wonderful for those dogs that love having a good run about off lead but that's not all dogs.  You may have a nervous dog or a older dog that prefers being walked on lead.  You may have a younger dog that you would like to be walked in a small group to improve his social skills or lead work.

When I started Coastal Dog Walkers in 2015 I wrongly assumed that all dog walking businesses worked in the same way we do but I now know that we're different (I'm not saying better, keep ya wigs on!)  and I genuinely don't mind being a bit different as I've never been a one to follow the crowd.

So if you're looking for a dog walker then there is more than one option out there for you.  My advice is to do your homework and choose the right one for you and your dog. 

Hopefully our way will suit your needs.

All of our walks are on lead.  We never let any dogs run loose.  I get that will put off some people who are looking for a dog walker but after doing this job for 5 years I also know that there are lots of dog owners out there that prefer our approach, horses for courses and all that.  Our packs are small.  No big groups.  Your dog will be cared for and walked with friendly dogs in areas it's already familiar with.  Our small team has bags of experience and I'd love for you to be our next customer!

John
Coastal Dog Walkers 
​07725041572

​We all know that dogs die in hot cars and yet every now and then we all see a dog in a car on a hot summers day so just what should you do when you see a distressed dog trapped in a hot car?

There are a few things you can do before you might consider the need to gain access forcibly.  You could look around for the owner, maybe there's a pay and display ticket in the car which will give you a good idea on how long the dog has been in the car and perhaps how soon the owner is likely to return to the car.  Perhaps the owner is in a nearby store or cafe, it may be worth a quick look if you feel you have time.

If the dog is clearly distressed ring 999.  According to the Ask the Police guidelines the first thing you should do is to ring them if you see a distressed dog in a vehicle. 

I also found this advice online which makes sense to me if the dog is distressed and you cannot quickly locate the owner:

1. Call the police and ask for their assistance.
2. If the police can't attend but the dog is in desperate need of help you may consider taking further action.
3. Explain to the police what you intend to do.
4. Take a photo of the dog trapped in the car.
5. Take the name and number of any witnesses.
6. If you do forcibly gain access to the car you should be willing to defend your actions in court.

Hopefully you'll never find yourself in this situation but if you do then I think doing 'something' is better than doing nothing at all.