Dog Walking
In Reigate, Redhill, Merstham & Earlswood
Why Walk your Dog with Happy Buddies?
Amanda is a qualified, experienced and professional Dog Walker based in Reigate and Happy Buddies is also lucky to have a fantastic second Dog Walker, Liz. They both enjoy walking dogs in small intimate groups in order to meet their own individual requirements.
We recognise dogs as the individuals that they are and we consider their own individual quirks, personalities and needs. On our walks, we not only cater for their exercise requirements, but their mental stimulation needs as well.
Amanda is a proud member of the Pet Professional Guild (The Association for Force-Free Pet Professionals), a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, APDT and a Registered Animal Training Instructor with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council, ABTC. She and Liz are advocates of only kind and fair methods so when in their care, the dogs and animals can be certain that there will be NO pain, NO force and NO fear! They are both Police Checked (Disclosure and Barring Service – DBS cleared).
Amanda has a number of qualifications including a Diploma in Dog Walking and Canine Care and both she and Liz have up-to-date Certificates in Canine First Aid. They both keep their knowledge refreshed and current by attending courses on dog law and other legal requirements.
They are professional and enthusiastic and adhere to a strict code of practice using only positive reinforcement and reward based methods - making every walk session fun, kind and rewarding for your furry companion! They are passionate about their jobs, friendly and approachable and people who you will surely trust to look after your beloved family pet.
As Amanda is also a Dog Trainer and Puppy School Tutor and Liz is training to become a Puppy School Tutor, it is safe to say that your dog will not only be walked, but socialised, entertained, educated and *trained!
Both Amanda’s Happy Buddies van and Liz’s van are specially equipped to carry dogs. The vehicles have air conditioning, extractor fans and secure crates making the short time that the dogs are in the vans, safe, secure and comfortable. Dogs are never left in the vans except for the short time when Amanda or Liz is collecting or returning a dog to their home. When this happens, the engine is never left running and the doors are always locked. Security and safety of the dogs are always at the forefront of Amanda and Liz’s minds. They also carry a Canine First Aid Kit in their vans.
All client house keys are unidentifiable to anyone outside of Happy Buddies and are kept securely in a safe when not in use.
Amanda and Liz are non-smokers and so your dog(s) will only ever be subjected to fresh, clean air around them!
They are also fully insured for all services provided and will happily provide evidence of this on request.
*Please note that any training undertaken on walks will be basic as Amanda and Liz will be caring for other dogs as well and each and every one is just as important as the next! Their eyes and ears need to be on every dog all of the time, therefore if you have any specific training requirements, please contact Happy Buddies to organise a 121 Training consultation.
Dog Walking
In Reigate, Redhill, Merstham & Earlswood
Happy Buddies takes our Dog Walking responsibilities very seriously! We provide a friendly, happy Dog Walking service in the Merstham, Redhill, Earlswood and Reigate areas for busy dog guardians. This service is provided on Tuesday;s , Wednesday;s and Thursday’s, except Bank Holidays. If, however, you require a walk on a Bank Holiday or during a weekend, let us know and if we can help, we will!
The service is provided whatever the weather, although during extreme conditions, such as snow or heat, we reserve the right to cancel walks if the roads are considered too treacherous to drive on or the temperature is too hot for dogs to walk in – the safety of the dogs is paramount and will also be our priority!
Unfortunately, bitches in season are not accepted on group walks and it is down to our discretion as to whether we accept an entire male over the age of 12 months on to the walks.
All dogs need to have up-to-date vaccinations; including kennel cough and proof of this will be required during an initial consultation.
The Initial Consultation
Before your dog can become a Happy Buddy, we need to meet you and your dog(s). The free, no obligation consultation gives you an opportunity to meet Amanda and Liz and for them to meet your dog! The consultation is conducted at your home in a very friendly manner and allows Amanda and Liz to gain as much information about your dog as possible which will help them understand any individual requirements, should your dog become a Happy Buddy! It also enables you to find out as much information about Amanda and Liz as you like – they are happy to answer all the questions you have and understand that in order to have peace of mind, you need to be confident in their ability to look after your furry family member! The consultation lasts approximately 1 hour.
The Walks
Walks will be full of enrichment for your dog(s). They will involve both physical exercise and mental stimulation for your dog (appropriate to each dog's needs). They will be taken to different places and follow different routes, played with and stimulated. Through improving their scent experiences and by using their body and mind on a walk, your dog will be returned fulfilled in every way!
Walks will always be in safe places such as woodland, heathland, parks and countryside that are away from traffic and roads.
Dogs are walked in small groups of 4 or less – this allows for more individual bonding/play time and enables Amanda and Liz to cater for all individual needs whilst they are out and about.
Dogs will be walked initially on a long line (training lead) but once Amanda or Liz has formed a good relationship with your dog and with your permission, they will allow your dog off lead – but only once they have tested for an effective recall (a disclaimer will be required to enable them to let your dog off lead)
Walks will last no less than 1 hour. In extreme heat, we will always consider the welfare of the dogs and walks may either be shortened slightly or, with individual agreement with the owner a Pet Pop In service will be offered instead. We will never risk the health or welfare of a dog by walking them in very high temperatures.
Your dog(s) will be collected from your home and returned after their hours walk (so they will be out with their friends for over an hour).
After their walk, your dog(s) will be cleaned up as best as possible, towel dried and settled nicely back at home – if they need feeding, we can do that too!
When possible, you’ll be sent a photo of your dog having fun on their walks (if you have Whatsapp) or you’ll have access to regular photo’s on our social media.
You’ll receive a Welcome Pack following your first walk with Happy Buddies.
Happy Buddies’ walks start at approximately 10am and 12pm
Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday: £16.50 per dog
**Weekends and Bank Holidays: £22 per dog
Pick up and drop off times will vary depending on the home locations of the dogs being walked, the location of our walks, traffic and weather conditions. The 10am walk collection times will be approximately between 9:15am and 09:50am and drop off times will be approximately between 11:10pm and 11:50am. The 12pm walk collection times will be approximately between 11:10am and 11:50am and drop off times will be approximately between 1:10pm and 1:45pm.
**Happy Buddies cannot guarantee a service at weekends or on bank holidays, but will help if possible.
Useful Links & Information
There are a number of local Dog Control Orders and UK Laws that are either specific to, or include dogs in some way. As dog owners, we all have a responsibility to be aware of them:
Local Dog Control Orders
Reigate and Banstead Borough Council Dog Control Orders
In Reigate and Banstead, local Dog Control Orders were brought in to force to control where dogs are allowed and where dogs must be kept on a lead. The Orders also restrict the number of dogs under control of a single person to six. Reigate and Banstead Borough Counctil Dog Control Orders can be read in full by clicking here.
UK Dog Laws
The Dangerous Dogs Act (DDA)
This law makes it a criminal offence for the owner (or person in charge) to allow a dog to be ‘dangerously out of control’ in a public place, a place where it is not permitted to be, and some other areas. The DDA also bans certain dog breeds. The DDA can be read in full by clicking here.
The Animal Welfare Act (AWA)
This serves to impose penalties in an attempt to tackle cruelty, neglect, mutilation, tail docking, animal fighting and giving pets as prizes. The AWA places a duty of care on all pet owners to provide a suitable environment, suitable diet, the ability to exhibit normal behaviour and protection from pain, suffering or injury. The AWA can be read in full by clicking here.
Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (CNEA)
This Act imposes penalties of up to £1000 for breach of dog control orders. These orders include; failing to remove faeces, not keeping a dog on a lead, not putting and keeping a dog on a lead when directed to do so and permitting a dog to enter land from which dogs are excluded. The CNEA can be read in full by clicking here.
Dogs (Protection of Livestock Act) (DPLA)
This states that you must not worry (chase or attack) livestock (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses and poultry) on agricultural land. The PLA allows farmers to shoot dogs that are deemed to be worrying livestock. The DPLA can be read in full by clicking here.
The following Acts also apply in part of full to dogs: