Frequently Asked Questions

If you have a question which is not answered below, please complete the contact form or call LINDA on 07805 169720.

• How does dog walking work if I am not at home?
We visit you at your home for an initial consultation to meet your dog and collect keys. We then go to your home at the agreed time, take your dog out for a walk, and ensure that the house is locked on leaving. We ask you to provide 2 sets of keys, as we may have 2 different team members walking your dog.


• Can you spend time with my dog in the house?
Yes. You book whatever duration of visit is required. We can combine a walk with time spent playing in the house or garden, or cleaning up puppy toilet accidents!


• Are you Police checked?
Yes. We ensure that anyone walking your dog has a CRB Disclosure form or a Police Subject Access check. You can ask to see a copy of the documentation for peace of mind.


• Are you insured?
Yes. Our insurance covers dog walking and pet sitting services with public liability cover of £1m. In the event of an accident or dog fight, the insurance covers any incidents where the dog walker is found at fault. It is therefore important that you take out your own pet insurance to cover any unexpected vets bills. We are insured for loss of keys.


• Can you provide references?
Yes, we can provide contact details for clients who have been using our services for at least 12 months.


• Who are Bramcote Dog Walkers?
Bramcote Dog Walkers was established in December 2009 and is run by Linda Parker Dip.dog.psy. Linda has over 30 years of experience with dogs and holds a Diploma in canine psychology. Linda has 4 part-time assistants, most of whom have over 25 years experience as dog owners: Niall, a former police officer who owns 2 small dogs, and has worked with rescue dogs; Joanne and Margaret, who have previoiusly owned medium/large dogs; and Sarah, who works part-time as a veterinary receptionist and previously worked at a dog rescue centre and boarding kennels.


• Who will be walking my dog?
It is not always possible to have the same person walking your dog, but it will always be a suitably experienced and competent member of our team. If all dogs needed a walk 5 days per week, life would be simple! But the reality is, we have some dogs wanting walks on 2 or 3 days per week. We also have clients who work to rotas, so walks may be on different days each week and sometimes we get asked to cover additional walks at short notice. In addition, team members may take time off for holidays or illness. In other words, diaries are constantly changing. We can arrange for you to meet team members before we start walking your dog.


• What time will my dog be walked?
We cannot walk a dog at exactly the same time each day. We will ask you for an earliest and latest walk starting time for your dog e.g. 10am earliest/3pm latest, 11am earliest/2.30pm latest etc and we will commence the walk within the agreed times. If we walk your dog with another one, he may be out of the house for longer than the booked time, and we may collect or return a dog slightly outside of the agreed times in order to account for travelling time to and from the other dog owner's property.


• Where will my dog be walked?
Sometimes we walk your dog to the nearest park to your house. More frequently, we take 2 or more dogs together and drive them to a quiet area, walk them along country footpaths, bridle paths or in woodland areas where they can be safely let off lead, subject to your agreement to off lead walks. Please note that these walks may have streams and muddy puddles. We always towel dry a dog if it gets wet, but your dog may still be damp or muddy when returned. Watch video clips of our favourite dog walking places on our YouTube channel.


• Will my key be kept securely?
Yes. Keys will be kept in a secure place and always separate from any address details. For your security, keys are labelled only with a code number (not your name, address or pet's name). If you have had new keys cut, please test to make sure they work. In the unlikely event of any loss of keys, our insurance covers replacement locks if required.


• Do you charge for the home consultation?
No. We offer a free consultation at a day and time convenient to yourself in your own home.


• Do you work 7 days a week?
We walk dogs Mondays to Fridays excluding Bank Holidays. We may be able to cover occasional Saturdays or Sundays for clients who use our services regularly on week days. Please note that extra charges apply for dog walking at weekends. On very hot days or if roads and pavements are icy, it may be preferable to play with the dog in the garden or house.


• I am not happy with my current dog walker. Can I change to you?
If you have signed a contract or agreement with your current dog walker, check to see if you you need to give notice to end the agreement and if they require an email or letter. If there is no written agreement, they would probably appreciate having 1-2 weeks notice to terminate the arrangement. This could be by phone, email or letter.


• Do you train dogs?
We are not dog trainers, but Linda holds a Diploma in Canine Psychology, and will give free advice to clients on dog behaviour. Common dog behaviour problems include separation anxiety, poor recall and fear based aggression towards other dogs. Many problems can be prevented with the correct training and socialisation of dogs, preferably as puppies. Postive dog training methods are recommended for long term results. A common cause of behaviour problems is a lack of exercise!


• Do you have any vacancies for dog walkers?
We will consider applications from experienced dog walkers who own a car and are prepared to start with walking one or two dogs per day, and build up as the client base grows. Please visit our recruitment page and contact us, stating your employment history, experience with dogs and availability for work.