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.

Hello, hello and welcome, Lauren.

I'm super excited to have you here.

Lauren: Hi Anke.

Thank you.

I'm really looking, I've been
really looking forward to this.

Um, my name's Lauren, obviously.

Yeah.

Anke: Well, thank you.

Well, let's start out, you
know, let people know where that

beautiful accent comes from and
what's your business with dogs.

Lauren: Uh, thank you.

Um, so I'm from Belfast, Northern Ireland.

And I am the owner and founder
of Fleet with Luna, and I do dog.

I start off with dog walking.

Um, I still do that and I do
one-to-one dog training as well.

Um, I started out about eight years ago.

Um, whenever I got, whenever I got,
well, Luna, um, she was a We rescue.

Um, so her mom, she was founded astray.

Pregnant.

So she was in the pound and we
weren't even expecting, um, the

get Luna, but didn't even know
if there was any pups left.

So we just went up not expecting
anything and we got her.

Um, so it all really started with her
taking her to puppy classes and was

with my old dog too, my German Shepherd.

He had a lot of issues and didn't want
to repeat any same mistakes with Luna.

Learned a lot from him.

Mm-hmm.

And yeah, after taking her to the
puppy classes, that really got me

into the dog training and started
the dog walking first to give me more

experience, and I gradually built it up.

Anke: That's fascinating.

'cause I think a lot of people might
have this idea of like, oh, I really

enjoy this, but, uh, not many people
actually do, you know, so, and the

dog walking it does make sense.

And still, my, my little business mind
is going, how do you get somebody to

trust you with their dog when you sort of
first starting out, when you don't really

have much experience how, you know, how.

Lauren: Um, well before I started I
got my DBS police background check.

Um, so I got that and I got my insurance
and, uh, got a couple of qualifications.

Um, my first aid.

And then it started off very,
very local, um, word mouth, and

then through people in the park.

And then I got reviews and
I just gradually built it up

really, really slowly over time.

And so whenever I go to the meet
and greets, I bring everything with

my, all the qualifications and the
certificates and photographic id because

I could just be a stranger lying Yeah.

Into their home.

So I bring everything with my.

Anke: Oh, that's such a, that's
such a good point because like, see,

I'm just so thinking, like, I'd be
like, I'd be such a horrible client.

It's like, I'd be so, yeah.

I'd be so worried to kind of
leave my job with somebody.

Lauren: But, um, it's, it's
really, really, um, surprising.

Nobody ever asks for them.

Oh yeah.

So I have to give it to 'em
and tell them to go through it.

Have a look.

But we'd have a, we quick flick
through and they would be happy.

Um.

They base their decision on
how the dog reacts to me.

If the dog likes me, then they're happy.

They don't want to know, they
don't need to know anything else.

They just base their opinions
on me, based on their dog.

Anke: Oh, well that's a smart move.

I think it's a smart move.

So what, what made you then, you
know, so also you started out sort

of thinking like you wanna kind of
get into the doc training and, and so

what do people, like, what's the most
common thing people come to you for?

Lauren: Um, it would be mainly
their dog ping on the lead.

And I get a lot of dog on dog
reactivity would be those main two.

Um, sometimes it would be separation
anxiety, but that's very, very rare.

Um, but I am really glad it is
those, because those are my two

favorite, um, fields to work in.

Like I love teaching my sidewalking.

And I love helping with reactivity.

It's really, really satisfying.

'cause some of it's like the
reactivity is really slow progress.

Yeah.

I mean, if you see the owners put in the
work and you see it gradually happening

and the difference over time, I love that.

Mm.

Anke: And it does make sense.

You know when, when you think
about when, when you kind of

have the walking as the base.

Mm-hmm.

You know, so obviously it's those
two things that happen on a walk.

Right.

Lauren: Yes.

So it's

Anke: almost like, you know,
like you, you could be like,

on like peaceful walks, right?

So that's almost like the,
the headline in a way.

What's your, what's your favorite case?

What's the kind of the most kind
of emotional or the most impactful

transformation you've experienced
in a, in the client store?

Lauren: There's been a few.

There's been quite a few.

Um, there's also been ones
just with dog walking class.

There's been quite a few
transformations as well.

Um, just trying to have a wee think.

There was one dog, um, when I
first started walking 'em, uh,

was just initially as a dog
walker was really reactive and.

Um, permanently jumping and everything.

Um, so I was walking
him for quite a while.

I do walk and train as well,
just normally on the walks.

And I, I just, I told the owner
everything that I had been doing,

and she was a planner as well.

I've been walking the dog for two
years now, two and a half years.

Um, and.

Ever.

She's been doing the training, she's
been sending me videos 'cause I

only walk the we dog once a week.

Um, so there's a great difference in
a, now he's a lot more calmer and all

the stress signals have all gone down.

The Panton stop and the frowning,
like he still has moments, like he

still has his bag bursts every now
and again a couple of times a month,

but it would be every single day.

Wow.

And they have really,
really put in the work.

Anke: Wow.

So they basically, you, you work with
the dog, then you tell the owner what

to do, and if they continue on the
same, you know, basically pulling

on the same string, then you really,
really see, see the different, you

know what I, what, what struck me
about this was like if I have a dog.

Who, who is really
reactive and really pulls.

It wouldn't occur to me to
throw a dog walk under the bus.

You know?

I would sort of think like, oh my
God, I need to kind of get my dog

some help with this first before I
can get some, before I would kind of

like put this on onto somebody else.

So it feels to me it's
like, is that common?

Lauren: Yes.

That's really funny.

Um, I was talking to my sister
about that the other day.

Um, 'cause it's been really warm
weather, so I've had to wear shorts and

my legs have bruises, cuts, scratches.

I get everybody else, all the other
dog walkers seem to get really

calm dogs and they do group walks.

I get all the, I get all the weak,
perky dogs, so just all come to me.

So it's all solo walks.

I think, I think I'm a magnet.

I must send out some
beacon that attracts them.

Anke: Oh, that's funny.

That is funny.

But see that's the thing is like
I wouldn't, I wouldn't have even

thought that that was a thing.

Like I would've thought if
I come to a dog trainer.

And, um, and have a dog that's like
reactive and really kind of pulling on

the leash that I'd go and say, well,
hey, can we like do some training first?

And then when the dogs kind of, you know,
more easily, easily, you know, like, does

better with the walks, then I would go
like, now you could go take him for a walk

and not like, Hey, I can't handle him.

You go do it.

Right?

I mean, it feels a little bit like that.

Lauren: Yeah.

Um, but at least I can't complain.

It least, at least it's not boring.

Anke: Yeah, no.

And also you get clients from it, right?

So it's almost like, you know, if you can,
if you can make some, actually, I remember

speaking to somebody, she did that, she
had walks and then she would kind of

train them on the walks and people would
go, oh my God, what you do to the dog?

Like, he doesn't do whatever
he used to do, and so they'd

hire her on the back of that.

So it's, it's a valid
strategy for you, right?

It's just like kind of a weird thing
from the owner perspective, but, um.

You were mentioning something I'm really
curious about, like you say like, okay,

yes, it's about the dog and you know, we
also kind of wanna take care of the owner.

Mm-hmm.

Tell me a little bit more about that.

Um,

Lauren: because being a dog owner,
um, if your dog is struggling and has

a lot, a lot, like a lot of issues
and you don't really know where

to turn, it can be very isolating.

And if you don't know
what you need to research.

You can find any information
online, um, really detrimental

information and you think you're
doing the best, um, that you can.

And then further down the line,
maybe a few years later, you find

out that what you've been doing
has been harmful, and that can be

really traumatizing for the owner.

It's really, really hard to get past that.

Um, luckily with sous.

Like whenever I had my German
Shepherd, it was like over 15 years

ago, um, there was the, that dog show
dog whisper and I would watch it.

I never applied anything, thankfully.

I never applied any of the,
the methods or nothing 'cause

it just, it didn't sit right.

But I still didn't know enough.

Um, I wasn't able to walk him or anything.

He was still really, really happy indoors.

But that's something I still feel really,
really bad about, that he didn't have.

What could have been the
full quality of life.

Yeah.

And so I know if I had applied
those methods to him back then

today, I think I would need therapy.

I would feel so, so

Anke: bad.

I mean, do, do, do owners talk about that?

Like when, you know how, because
I mean, I remember like I.

Yeah.

You know, well, the, the first two,
they, well, they were all found in

the street, but like literally they
had to kind of survive on their own.

So they were like, just like,
okay, food, rubbish, whatever.

You know, like one was kind of
like, you know, sort of, and, and

it was kind of, I remember feeling
like really embarrassed, you know?

I felt really embarrassed walking, like,
and you kind of could feel like the eyes,

like people watching you look can't even
control dog kind of thing, you know?

Yeah.

And so there's, there's
this, and then you get like.

People dropping comments.

Oh, yes.

You know, and you get all the advice.

Mm-hmm.

And, and the stuff that isn't
said and all, all of that.

So it's, you know, and then sometimes
there's, it's kind of almost like, oh,

for God's sake, all I wanted was like
to have a nice chill walk with my dog.

Like this is what I signed up
for, kind of thing, you know?

Mm-hmm.

So what else is there that people.

You know, I mean, these guys haven't
had like major kind of issues,

but like that leash pulling stuff,
that was the thing, you know?

And then one wasn't happy
alone, and like he'd scratch

on the door and the neighbors.

So it was just that embarrassment,
that constant sense of being judged

by, you know, people around you.

Yeah.

That wasn't fun, you know?

Yeah.

So, I mean, what are your, what
do your clients tell you in

Lauren: that?

They, some of my parents, they
would say that they do feel, um,

embarrassed and they would dread,
they would dread walks and some of

the dogs, um, there was one dog.

It was really, really big.

And the owner would feel like sick
with dread at walking the dog.

Yeah, I mean, especially a big dog.

Yeah.

Mm-hmm.

Because, um, this dog was, this dog
was a rottweiler, um, nearly 60 kilos.

And yeah, so the owner was, uh,
I felt, I felt so sorry for Okay.

So, and the garden was quite small,
so, uh, there wasn't even like, no.

The makeup for walks, uh, big garden.

But she, she had a lot of, um, she met,
she felt quite embarrassed and she got

a lot of the comments and all, and the
unsolicited advice and the funny remarks.

So is he taking you for a walk?

Anke: Yeah, yeah, for sure.

For sure.

So, so how, like, what tips
would you give somebody?

Or like how do you support clients
in, you know, through that?

Lauren: Um, well for, for the likes
of that, um, like when they're For

the half a garden, I would tell them.

Don't put so much pressure on
yourself to walk the dog every day

if it's causing you so much stress
and, and cause a dog stress too.

Um, I always recommend just start
practicing indoors just a few minutes

here and there, so if you're really busy,
it's not gonna take up a lot of your time.

So it's so easy to practice everything
indoors and in your back garden.

Just gradually build back up the box.

Um, but I, I tell owners, I mean,
I've felt the same way as well.

Walking even still nice sometimes I
walking dogs and I get a lot of comments.

Like, I walk a, do a Doberman once a
week and every week I hear that dog

taking you for a walk and everything.

Yeah.

Like,

so.

But now I don't purchase
goes over my head.

I'm just like, ah.

Anke: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I think it's, it's that, it's like,
you know, you can't go every time you

punch that look in the face, you know,
so you can't kind of punch everybody

in the nose releases stupid comment.

So it's like you have to kind of learn to,
not, to not let it affect you, you know?

But it, um, yeah,

Lauren: I'm sorry.

At the very start, it used to bother
me, but now I just don't care.

I just laugh and be like, yeah.

Anke: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

But I think it's that, even, even
that feeling that, oh, it's not

just you, I think that makes a
big difference already, you know?

Yeah.

Like, it's like, because everybody,
it's always, you feel like it's,

everybody else has these lovely, you
know, calm, chill dogs that just, and

I used to get a lot of slack with, um.

Like a German friend of mine, she'd always
say, oh, well my dog, I, I used to kind

of, I, I would never put a leash on her
and she would just kind of walk beside me.

And I do that with Leo, and I can
kind of scream, I can scan all

the rubish bit around the area.

Yeah.

You know, I'll, you know, so
it's like, but she'd always

like, yeah, well, you know, like.

You know, there is that, like,
she'll say that, but the, there is

the judgment that comes with it.

It's like, oh, you have your
dog on the leash and that's

just not fair and whatever.

You know?

So there's like that little phrase can
set off a whole bunch of, you know, yeah.

So, yeah.

So, and sometimes you might kind
of interpret stuff into it that

wasn't even meant, or sometimes
Well, yeah, those subtle kind of

digs were actually there, you know?

Mm-hmm.

But I think it's.

Well, you know, every person and their dog
is, is their own little universe, right?

Lauren: Yeah.

Um, like even though I'm dog
everything, like I've got my baby

Luna and that way dog, she's bunkers.

Um, she is great like
the majority of the time.

She's great.

She sleeps a lot and all,
but she is very reactive.

Indoor standing noises, I'd
say just getting better.

Um, she's brilliant now on her walks
and everything, she gets very easily.

Overstimulated and she picks up on
the emotions of everybody around

her and everything and mm-hmm.

So even, even as a dog trainer, I mean,

Anke: I wish, well, I think even as well,
especially as a dog trainer, I'm just

thinking, it's like, well, the pressures
on you more than, because there's that

thing like, well, you should know better.

Like, you know, is that, do you feel the
pressure that as a dog trainer I should.

Lauren: Sometimes I do,
yes it does under my head.

Um, but with dogs, um, it can be
genetics as well and environment.

And I do the best that I can do
and she's a very happy wee dog.

Um, so I did choose to feel like
that not so much now, and I think.

It's easier to relate to owners
and then it makes owners feel more

comfortable too when you admit that,
that Yeah, my dog's not perfect either.

And I think a perfect dog doesn't
really, uh, like a, a stable dog

or like a calm doesn't really,
they're quite rare come by.

Every dog's gonna have a way, a quirk.

Anke: Yeah.

Mm-hmm.

And I think it's also like what.

Your level of tolerances or
what you expect from your dog?

I think there's a lot there because
you know, I can, I can kind of say,

well, I've got a perfect dog, like,
she's perfect for me, you know?

Yeah.

You know, but, but yes, she does get
overexcited and yes, when there's somebody

at the door, she does bark and you know,
it's like where other people goes, oh

yeah, but she's a barker, she's this, you
know, so it's like, for me, she's perfect.

I don't care, you know?

Yeah.

So it's like, it depends on what
you expect from your dog as well.

Lauren: Yeah.

Do you think

Anke: people expect too
much from their dogs?

Lauren: I think so.

Yeah.

Um, like for me personally, like for
Luna, I don't expect anything from her.

As long as she's happy and safe, I'm fine.

I have no expectations and she can
do whatever she wants as long as

within the realms of safety and
her happiness that I'm happy by.

Um, but I think owners do put a lot
of pressure on their dogs, especially.

In today, like how said's changing and
it's a lot more of an urban environment.

There's too much going on for them and
they get too overstimulated and all.

And owners put too much
pressure on themselves as well.

Like so many times hear people
saying I need to walk again.

Was Dog walking yesterday?

It was really warm, so it was
a 15 minute walk in the shade.

And I have heard people talk and had
this sweet, tiny black dog saying how

he needs to walk his dog every day.

And that's a lot of pressure.

And then it's, I think it's too
much expectations for the dog.

'cause even people need to
take a wee break sometimes.

So the day.

And I think dogs like to have a wee break
where they're not expected to do anything.

Anke: Yeah, totally.

I totally agree.

I mean, I've seen it with my.

I mean, it was still a small town,
but in the historic part of town

where it was called Little Alleyways,
and it was like a lot of noise

and a lot of whatever, you know?

And now where it's just
totally, it's outta town.

It's rural, all quiet, like, it's like
day and night for the dogs, you know?

Especially this one.

It was literally, you would
like, is that the same dog?

You know, who would pull
like crazy on the lead?

And here he's like, oh.

You know, like he was, I mean, it
makes, it makes such a difference,

but that whole walking, like you've
gotta walk the dog every day.

It's very common, isn't it?

Mm-hmm.

I mean, I've been a little sort of more
like, like not obsessed because I do have

a garden now where, you know, they can
run around and play and so there's not a.

When I lived in a place where they
literally had to go out to pee.

Yeah.

Well then there you have
to take them out, right?

Yeah.

So, but for a lot of people,
I also say this like, oh yeah,

but my dog needs exercise.

Mm-hmm.

What's your, what's your response to that?

If they say, well I have to take
him out three times a day because

you need to burn off energy.

Lauren: Um, I'd suppose, I mean,
if it is a very high energy dog,

the cans are prerogative, really.

Um.

But I also give them suggestions
of indoor activities that can

do enrichment, um, sniffy games
and puzzle toys and puzzle mats.

And you can even do that with
objects you have around your home.

Like if you get an empty cardboard toilet
roll holder, put a trade inside and

fold up each hand and give it to them.

I do loads of them with Luna sometimes.

Or if you get a tile and you scatter
treats and you roll the tile up.

Treats in each, um,
each layer of the room.

They love that.

And we basic agility things in
the garden that the dog can use.

And you can get dog friendly bubbles.

So there's loads and loads of
stuff that you can do indoors

and in your garden with your dog.

And it would have more fun.

There's won't be, it'll change up
their day wouldn't be as repetitive.

Um, so I, I give the owners loads of
suggestions of stuff that they can do.

Instead if they are putting that
much pressure on themselves.

Anke: I love that.

I love that.

I love the variety piece because I
often think that my dogs actually, so

they get more entertainment running
around and, and I've got this little

trampoline and, and the big girl,
she loves jumping on that, you know,

so it's like they actually get more.

Variety and more free play here
than like on a walk where you

always have to be two big dogs.

So you can't just let them, you know,
you know, scale the other little dogs.

And, um, so they actually
have a lot more freedom here.

You know, they get a lot more exercise
and a lot more free movement than

they would if we, if we walk outside.

Mm-hmm.

So that, I don't, that they
don't go outside, but it's

just like not as kind of.

Not this kind of strict obligations
of, oh, we've gotta go three times

a day kind of thing, you know?

Lauren: Yeah.

Mm-hmm.

Anke: Definitely.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So where do you see yourself
in, like, where do you see you,

yourself and your business?

Like what's, where you headed?

Like where do you see
yourself in a couple of years?

Maybe

Lauren: a couple of years.

Um, in a couple of years, I would like
to have my substack really take off.

And for it to be a good, stable income.

Um, I really, really like that.

And, uh, reach out the more people
and more adult owners and hopefully

it's hard to describe, like dilute the
misinformation that's online, like help do

that and I mean, it's a win-win all round.

Um, if I was able to make
a stable income off that.

I could work and travel at the same time.

That's something I've always
wanted to do and I've always been

trying to come up with ideas.

How can I work with travel?

And I think this, I
think this could be it.

So, so tell us a little

Anke: bit about the Substack, because
may not, you know, I mean, I know what it

is because that's where we met, so Yeah.

You know, we're on the same platform
there, but, um, it's, uh, you know,

maybe not, like not everybody listening
might know what Substack is like, and

you know, that also answers the question
where people can go and connect with you.

So, from that point of view, please go.

Lauren: Yeah, so I do, um, I
think it's quite like a, like a

newsletter, a publishing platform.

Um, so I ho I do a free post every Sunday.

Um, I, I do it on a range of topics,
um, between, um, the dog training

theory and training, tips and advice.

And every Wednesday.

Um, accidentally ended up creating
mini courses, something I've always

wanted to do, and that's what I've
been doing all along every Wednesday.

So every Wednesday I have a mini
course that I try and keep quite

short as to not overwhelm the reader.

And in that I do a wee tracker
sheet with a can recorder, dog

progress throughout the week.

And then subscribers can
contact me with any questions.

Video updates, one-to-one
advice once a month.

Um, on Substack.

I'm called Lead with Luna.

I love

Anke: that.

Yeah.

That's it's, and yes, do we do,
go ahead, follow her, because,

you know, it's, um, yeah.

Great content.

So I'm, you know, I'm a, I'm a, I'm a, I'm
a, um, follower, so yeah, we'll pop the

link below in the show notes, obviously.

So it's always gonna be below, if
you're listening here or on YouTube,

it's always gonna be just right,
right below the video, the link.

Go, go and follow Lauren.

Well, thank you so much.

Thank you.

Is there somewhere else where
people can go and find you?

Like a website or like also
where are you working locally?

I don't think we actually said that.

Lauren: Um, locally in Belfast,
Northern Ireland, um, I work in

mostly North and West Belfast.

Anke: Alright, well thank you so much and
uh, yeah, and I'll, we'll obviously stay

in touch and we'll see each other on Yes.

On Substack because I do think
your, your mission would definitely

need that, you know, have to dilute
all the bullshit that's out there.

So, yeah, thanks for coming and
I'll to speak to you again soon.

Lauren: Okay.

Thank you very much.

Thanks for having me.

Thanks so much for listening.

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And if you know a pawsome human
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Email me at Anke.

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