Soul Touched by Dogs

Welcome to the Soul Touched by Dogs
Podcast, the show for dog lovers who

see dogs not as toys or tools, but
wise souls worth our respect and care.

I'm an Herrmann, and I'm your host.

I talk to poor some humans, people who
do great work for dogs and their people.

So come and join us for
today's conversation.

Anke: Hello and welcome, Catherine.

I'm very excited to have

Catherine: you here.

I'm excited to be here, thank you.

Anke: Well, let people know where in
this wonderful world you are, and as

always, what's your business with dogs?

Catherine: Okay, so I'm actually
based in Nottingham in the UK, so

right in the heart of the country.

And so I am a dog walker, but as
well as dog walking, I also teach

canine first aid classes as well.

And I kind of got into that because
my own dog, I always had an interest

in canine health and nutrition,
but my own dog got quite poorly.

Um, and I learned a lot.

Um, It was COVID as well, so
it was difficult, you know,

taking to the vets and stuff.

So I learned a lot through her really.

Um, so yes.

Anke: Oh, so well, like there's
lots of questions I have.

So now the first thing is like
the, the first aid, you know,

like my mind's always going like,
okay, so who's helping who here?

Right.

So we're not talking, cause I had
like, maybe I'm a little influenced

by a conversation I recently had where
somebody would go with their dog.

to places of emergency and there'd be
like first like not first aid but like

first responding but you're talking
about actually helping your dog in

Catherine: yeah so it's definitely not
there to uh replace veterinary care

absolutely not but it's more um so minor
things that you can deal with yourself

like a quick nail or something like that
or removing a tick that kind of thing

um but also Um, stuff you can do to help
your dog prior, you know, on the way

to the vets prior to getting veterinary
care that can really alter the situation.

Anke: But we're always talking about
helping your dog, not like going with

your dog to help other people, right?

So it's always about helping your own dog.

Oh yeah,

Catherine: about your dog.

I mean, as a, here, most people, as they
should be really, that work with dogs,

have got a canine first aid qualification.

because that's really important.

So, so people who care for other people's
dogs, like dog walkers, dog boarders,

uh, that, you know, that they would be
helping other people's dogs as well.

Um, but yeah, it's mainly to help
dog, your dogs and dogs in your care.

Anke: Yeah.

Okay.

So, so what's like, is there something
that you wish people just knew where

you find like, Oh, this is what
people get wrong all the time or

what I have to explain over and over?

What do you wish people knew?

Catherine: Not particularly something
that people get wrong, but I wish that

people knew how important is to know
what your pet's vital statistics are.

So, um, with my own previous dog, Josie,
um, One of the reasons I'm so passionate

about, uh, canine first aid is because
I had a canine first aid certificate.

And there was one day where
she was just off her food.

It seemed serious, but
she was just off her food.

She just wasn't quite herself.

So, I checked her gums, which is
what we're taught to do in first aid.

And they were really pale.

And that's when I knew that actually it
was more serious than I thought it was.

So we got her straight to the vets.

Um, and really that, that helped save her
life because she really was in trouble.

It was quite a serious illness.

Anke: So that means you're saying like
you want to really know what your dog

looks like, you know, when they're wet.

So it's really a benchmark kind of thing.

Catherine: Exactly.

So it's really useful to know what
is normal for your dogs because

they're all quite different.

Um, so with gums, they should be pink,
uh, salmon, like a salmon pink color.

They should be, um, You know,
glossy and wet to touch.

Um, so if, it's a really good idea to
take a picture of your dog's gums as well.

So you've got something that you
can say, Okay, that looks a bit

pale, but I'm just going to check.

Because sometimes we can imagine things.

So it's good to have a photo so you
can look at it and say, Okay, there's

definitely a difference in colour there.

So, and the same with the pulse rate,
it's really good to know your dog's

resting pulse rate and also their
breathing rate, because dogs are really,

really good at hiding pain, as we know.

Um, but if they are in
pain, those will all go up.

Um, so it's a really good
idea to know what they are.

Anke: So how, what's the
best way to measure that?

Catherine: Um, so with your dog's
breathing rate, literally just wait

until they're, um, at rest, so not
when they've been running around in the

garden, because that'd be a bit crazy.

Literally just, you can either
sit and watch them breathe, or

just put your hand on their chest
so you can feel it rise and fall.

So, average dog, their breathing
weight will be between 10 and 30.

Um, Josie's actually, our previous dog's
was 32, and that was just normal for her.

So generally, the bigger the dog, the
slower the pulse rate and the slower

the heart rate, the breathing rate.

Anke: And so the pulses as
well, like you just put your

hands on it and then you count.

Oh yeah, sorry,

Catherine: yeah.

So the pulse, um, the best way to take
your dog's pulse is, Um, on the inner,

so basically if you place your fingers,
in fact let me, let me show you, bear

with me a sec, I'll show you on this guy.

So this is um, Boris, he's in a bit
of a mess as you can see, but the best

way to take, yeah I know, the best
way to take your dog's pulse rate is

to place your fingers face upwards.

Just where they're in the groin
area where it meets the, um,

you put this up a little bit?

Anke: Can, ah, there you Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, so just up

Catherine: here.

Oh, yeah.

So, but you do have to be careful
not to put, on a smaller dog or cat,

say, if you put your thumb down you
can end up taking your own pulse

rate, so you just have to be careful.

Yeah.

So, it's really good to practice,
you know, to find that on your dog,

um, so that you know where it is and
then just write it down so you've

got something to refer to, yeah.

Anke: So would you kind of say, well,
it's a good idea though, once a month

to take some measurements and actually
write it down because otherwise Why

Catherine: not?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Um, absolutely.

I always check my dog scums once a month
anyway, as a matter of course, I'm a

bit obsessed as to what happened with
Josie, but, uh, yeah, anything like

that, anything for feeling under the
weather, it's always worth just checking.

Anke: That makes it that makes sense.

So I'm also curious, like, how,
how did you get into dog walking?

Like, was it like, did you have
your own dog and somebody else?

Or can you take mine?

Or like, was that the first step?

Or like, what made what
made you start this at all?

to walk other people's dogs.

And then, you know, like how, how,
how did you decide to actually turn

that into, into kind of a business?

Catherine: Okay.

So originally I actually
started out as a dog groomer.

Oh, um, which personally for
me, I found it quite stressful.

Um, uh, and also I've developed a
really bad problem with my eyes.

So, um, I managed because There's a
thing called groomers, so the hairs,

you can swallow them, you can get hair
splinters, and I actually got them in

my eyes and it was scratched on my eyes.

So yeah, so hence I wear
glasses most of the time now.

I can't get my contact lenses in.

Um, so that was a reason really, but while
I was building up the grooming business,

I was actually walking some dogs.

People said, oh, will
you walk my dog for me?

Um, I actually found I loved being
outdoors and being with dogs in that kind

of situation rather than clipping them.

Um, so that's how I got into it really,
so I couldn't do dog grooming anymore, and

so I just developed the dog walking side.

But dog walking, I'm not sure, um,
because I know you're in Spain,

it might be different out there.

It's actually quite, um,
big here in the UK, yeah.

I think in, where I live, in
Nottingham, there's at least

300 dog walkers that I know of,

Anke: yeah.

Catherine: So, yeah.

Anke: I mean, I mean, it kind of,
look, it makes sense because I'm all,

I always said like I got my first dog
when I moved to Spain and had my own

business and could work from home.

And the only reason I didn't have a
dog earlier was that I was always,

um, working in an office, right.

And I was always thinking like,
well, I don't want my dog to

sit at home alone all day.

Right.

So if this concept of dog walkers
had existed then, well, hell

yes, I would have had a dog.

So would you find that most of your
clients are basically, they hire you so

because they're out working all day or
is that, is that not a common scenario?

Catherine: It's a mixture really.

So some of them are out at
work, um, but some of them

actually work from home as well.

Um, So during COVID, obviously
everyone started working from home

and a lot of people haven't gone back.

They still, obviously they
still need to be working.

And because I've been walking
their dogs for so long, they've

just kind of carried it on really,
um, to keep them in that routine.

Anke: So

Catherine: yeah, it's a
bit of a mixture really.

Or sometimes, um, occasionally.

Get a dog where the owner is a bit
elderly or a bit poorly and so they

need some support with walking the dog.

Anke: So would you, do you have like a
few sort of like permanent like regular

customers or is it like how many times?

I mean I was always like, I don't think.

I think I've seen it here, you know, like
where I live, you know, where sometimes

there'd be people who kind of have a
bunch of dogs, but it always thinks it

kind of like a rescue baby or something.

So, you know, how many dogs do you take
out or do you go, could I kind of hire

you and say, but I want you to only take
out mine, or is that just a fee thing?

Or would you do that?

Not do like, how does that even work?

Catherine: No, absolutely.

So, a lot of dog walkers, uh, here
in the UK will walk up to six dogs.

Um, and I haven't got a problem
with that, but I, that's not for me.

I prefer a smaller pack, so the
most I really walk is three.

Um, and yeah, absolutely,
I'll do solo walks.

In fact, quite a few of the dogs I
walk are solo walks, because they,

well, um, they don't always get on
with other dogs, or they're a little

bit nervous, or that kind of thing.

Um, so yeah, I personally do
do solo walks, and there are

dogs out there that will do.

Dog walkers out there
that will do as well.

Yeah.

Anke: So you, you were
very fit then, right?

Yes.

I actually had the first three of mine.

They was like where I was living.

It was just like so narrow and whatever.

And one had gotten bitten
and he wasn't very happy.

And I'm like, no, no,
I'm with three dogs here.

So I know like, yeah, they
all get a little walk and I

am like exhausted at the end.

Yes.

Catherine: So it is.

So it

Anke: is.

Catherine: It is, but
actually I do walk them.

I mean, I probably walk about
seven, eight miles a day.

I only really walk on the flat,
because where we are, it's very flat,

so if you put me walking up a hill,
you wouldn't think I was fit at all,

because I'm just not used to it.

Yeah, I'll be huffing and puffing.

Anke: So what's common, like, would
you, are there, your, your regular

dogs, like, do you walk them every day,
or do people say, hey, come in twice

a week, or, or like three times a day,
or like, what's, what's typical there?

Catherine: It depends.

I have some that I walk every
single day, except for the weekend.

So Monday to Friday I walk them every day.

I have some that walk twice a week,
or sometimes I have some that let

me know on the Sunday, these are
the days I need you this week.

So I'm quite flexible in that respect.

Um, so, so yeah, it depends.

It's a mixture.

Yeah, I have some that I only walk,
say, Um, three or four times a year,

just when they're only needs me.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So

Anke: Nestea, like what, are you then
expected like to take them to the vet

or something like that if they're, or
is it like strictly we go in the park,

we go for walks or, or can they go
like, Oh, actually, well, you remind me

of what I did, like when I learned how
to drive, the driving instructor would

go, Oh, go here, turn left, go here.

And next thing I know, like, Park
here, and then he used my driving

lessons to get his shopping bags.

Wow, okay.

So, you know, so he would let me
park in front of the supermarket.

So, so like, would somebody come and say,
hey, can you pick up some, well, whatever?

Or is that not something that happens?

Catherine: Normally I just take them
in the car to the woods or wherever.

Obviously if I needed to get
them to the vets I would do.

Um, here there's, there's
certain rules about insurance.

So if an owner wanted somebody to take
the dog to the vets but they wanted

to be there, they would need someone
with that specific kind of insurance.

Um, so I'm not insured for
that but I would be insured.

To take a dog, uh, on its own without the
owner, to the vets, if that makes sense.

Yeah.

Sometimes, uh, I have done it where,
um, they've asked me to drop the

dog at the groomers on the way,
on the way home, which is fine.

Sometimes I have people saying,
oh my gosh, I forgot to take

the sausages out of the freezer.

Do you mind taking them out?

I don't mind doing anything
like that, it's fine.

Anke: So what's your, what's
your favourite, favourite

part of, of this work?

Um

Catherine: I think it's, one of my
favourite parts is because I've, um,

because I do do solo walks, is sometimes
you get very nervous dogs, and just

seeing them, building that relationship
with them and seeing them come out of

the shed, it's just really rewarding.

I think that's my favourite part really.

And some of these dogs have been
walking for nearly eight years,

so they really, yeah, I really
do love them very much, yeah.

Anke: So, I mean, if people
then go on holidays, would

they leave the dog with you?

Is that something that they kind
of ask you or you'd consider?

Catherine: Here in the UK, you have
to have a license to do boarding.

Um, but I do know plenty of good
boarders, um, either kennels, because

some dogs do prefer kennels, or
some people have home boardings.

So I do have a good network of people
that I can refer to if they need it,

but I personally can't do boarding,
because I don't have a license.

Anke: I mean, well, if you'd wanted
to, you'd got the license, right?

?
Catherine: Yeah.

I think the thing with
boarding is it's 24 7.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And it's a massive responsibility.

Anke: Yeah.

I guess this way you kind of have
stall kind of control over your life.

Yes,

Catherine: exactly.

And I've got my own dog as well and
he, he does get on very well with,

um, most dogs, but I think, don't know
if he'd get a bit annoyed with loads

of dogs coming around all the time.

So I've got him to think of.

Anke: So where can people go and find out
more and like see Especially obviously,

well, if they live in your area, you
know, like, hey, can you walk my dog?

But then also I'm thinking, you know,
if they want to learn about the first

aid, because that's really relevant for
any dog owner, like wherever you live.

Yeah.

You know, where can, where
can people find out more and

get in touch and all of these?

Catherine: Um, so probably the
easiest way to find me is through

my website, which is Mutliz.

Um, it's www.

mutliz.

me.

uk, but it's Mutliz spelt the
same way as the cartoon character.

I don't know if you've,
if you've ever seen him.

It was a big thing in the UK.

I don't know.

I'll check it

Anke: out now.

Yeah.

No, you must.

Okay.

That's awesome.

Well, thank you.

Thank you so much.

Uh, you know, because it feels like
it's one of those, you know, one of

those kinds of work that everybody
goes like, Oh, I wish I could do that.

Right.

You know, because so many dog lovers
like, Oh, you know, I just love to

hang out with dogs all day, every day.

So you, you make that your business.

I think that's amazing.

Catherine: Yeah.

It's very rewarding.

But also When it's slinging it down
with rain, it can be quite, yeah,

which it does a lot in the UK, it
can be, yeah, quite hard work, but

no, I wouldn't, I wouldn't change it.

Anke: I love that.

Well, thank you so much.

And, um, yeah, I hope, I hope to
talk to you again soon and, um, yeah,

find out everything about what's,
what's new in your world and, um,

mostly about, yeah, how to, how to
help our dogs when they need it.

Catherine: Lovely.

very

Anke: much.

Catherine: Thank you.

Thanks so much for listening.

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That's A N k E at Soul
touched by dogs.com.