About
Your First Walk 🐾
Your dog’s first walk with us is all about building trust, confidence and positive associations. Every dog settles in at their own pace, and we always prioritise their emotional wellbeing as well as their physical safety.
What to expect on the first walk
For most dogs, the first walk will be kept on the lead and will usually take place close to home. This helps prevent unnecessary stress and ensures your dog doesn’t feel overwhelmed by being in a vehicle for too long with unfamiliar people and dogs.
If your dog shows any signs of worry, overstimulation or uncertainty, the first few walks may be shorter than usual. This is completely intentional. We never want a dog to associate us, our walkers or group walks with stress. Ending the walk at the right time and taking them home when they are ready helps dogs settle more quickly and build confidence, particularly when joining group walks.
As your dog becomes more comfortable, walks will naturally progress in length, location and group involvement, always at a pace that suits the individual dog.
Preparing for your dog’s first walk
To ensure a safe, smooth and enjoyable walk, please have the following items ready and easily accessible before the walk:
🐾 Harness (Vehicle-Safe) A secure, well-fitted harness suitable for fastening into our vehicle for safe transport.
🐾 Collar with Name Tag It is a legal requirement for your dog to wear an ID tag with your contact details.
🐾 Lead A strong, reliable lead that your dog is comfortable walking with.
🐾 Towel For drying muddy paws and helping keep your home clean after the walk.
🐾 Coat (If Needed) For dogs that require extra warmth or protection in cold, wet or windy weather.
🐾 Treats (If Intolerant or on a Special Diet) If your dog has any dietary restrictions or allergies, please leave suitable treats for us to use during the walk.
🐾 Kong with Food Inside If your dog benefits from a calm distraction when we leave, a food-filled Kong can help them settle and relax after their walk.
🐾 PetSitter Details Please ensure your PetSitter profile is fully completed and kept up to date at all times, and notify us of any changes to your dog’s needs, routine or behaviour.
A gentle reminder
Every dog is an individual. A calm, positive introduction sets the foundation for happy, confident walks in the future. Taking things slowly at the beginning helps dogs integrate more successfully into group walks and ensures they enjoy their time with us.
If you have any questions or concerns about your dog’s first walk, please don’t hesitate to get in touch — we’re always happy to help 🐶🐾