Lesley Scoble-Ash
Dog owners love their furry friends and lavish attention on them, but sometimes it’s tough to fit the physical and mental exercise the dog needs to remain a happy dog into their hectic lives.
This is where I come in.
I take dogs for energetic walks around our stunning countryside and take the stress out of leaving a dog on its own for the day for many owners.
I’ve just returned from three wonderful weeks in Greece having married my long-term partner Phil. We had the perfect day of which we had dreamed and followed it up with a wonderful honeymoon seeing some stunning places and having huge amounts of fun.
After every holiday I have ever had, I’ve felt down when returning.
This time it’s different, as for the first time I have a job I love!
On my first day back I was welcomed ecstatically by every dog I picked up and had a wonderful time running around the woods, on the beaches and even in the park with them all day. I came home thoroughly exhausted and completely happy. I’d loved every minute!
I now move into the summer months, the busiest time of the year for Dogglets, as with so many businesses around Dartmouth.
We walk dogs of all shapes and sizes. For the smaller dogs – those with just as much energy and enthusiasm as every canine, but just with shorter legs – the Community Orchard in Dartmouth is the perfect place to let them off the lead in a safe and varied environment.
There are two ways into the Orchard: one off College Way, opposite the escape lane and from Ridge Hill. If you are driving, you will have to park a little way away and walk to the entrances for both.
There are three areas in the Orchard, which is owned and maintained by Dartmouth Town Council. The top area is covered in short grass and is a wonderful place to play with the dogs, being flat and completely enclosed. To the east is a large area that slopes away down towards College Way and Coronation Park. It has glorious views of the Britannia Royal Naval College and the river. A path leads you around this section but there are lots of places for the dogs to snuffle and if you have a ball-loving dog they can have a great run down the hill and back up again! Be careful on this path in wet weather as the slope can make it quite tricky.
Follow the path around to the final section of the Orchard. This is again alongside College Way and is small with a short path. Once you’ve had a run around in here you can go up the hill and through a gate and you are back where you started!
The great thing about this walk is that it is close to town, totally enclosed and has a number of different environments to keep your furry friend excited and interested as they snuffle around and places where you can interact with them and have lots of fun playing games.
If you would like to contact us about walking your dog, please drop us an email to dogglets@yahoo.co.uk, or call me on 01803 835036 or try my mobile: 07986 936135.
First Published July 2013 By The Dart