ABOUT US

Do you feel worried about leaving your canine loved one with someone you don’t know?
This is natural, of course - and many of our clients tell us they felt that way too before finding us.
That’s why we want to reassure you that we’re the right people to trust with your dog!
With a wealth of experience and education, combined with a shared passion for providing outstanding care and attention to detail, we specialise in helping your dog to feel comfortable and settled with us, giving you the peace of mind that they are happy and safe in our care.
Find out more about us, our values and our awards below!

WHO ARE WE?

We’re Tamsin and Nigel, an experienced husband and wife team who started up Ambleside Dog Walker in February 2019.
Back then we were living in Ambleside but commuting out of The Lakes for work, and struggling to find adequate care for our much loved dog, Jasper, when we couldn’t be with him. Nigel worked as a Deputy Store Manager for Sainsbury’s, who he’d been with for 30 years, and Tamsin worked as a Widening Participation Manager at the University of Cumbria, where she’d been for over a decade.
We wanted to spend more time with Jasper, with each other and enjoying the beautiful area in which we live. As we both have an absolute passion for dogs and for the outdoors, we decided to take a chance and set up the business, and we haven’t looked back since!
We’ve both had dogs in our lives always, but we set about educating ourselves further and from the outset we had a clear vision: to provide an outstanding dog care service in a safe and friendly environment where all dogs can thrive and feel loved.
We love what we do and we work hard at it to provide a trusted, reliable service to our clients; we’re privileged to have been able to grow some amazing bonds with dogs who have been with us for a long time and see us a their second family. We’re kind, caring and patient, but also fun loving and we aim to put fun into all our interactions with our canine team!
It’s also lovely to be able to care for dogs visiting the area with their family and to show them some of our amazing trails! Because, as our tag line says, ‘Lakeland trails, wagging tails!’

OUR CREDENTIALS AND AWARDS

CREDENTIALS:

Having used dog walkers in the past to care for our dog, Jasper, we know how important it is for you to trust that we have the knowledge and skills to care for your dog well.

We keep our education and training up to date and we hold the following:

Level 3 Diploma Complete Canine Care - passed with Distinction (Nigel)
Canine First Aid Certificate
DBS Certificate
Full insurance with Protectivity
Licensed by South Lakeland District Council to care for dogs in our home with a rating of 5 stars for achieving the higher standards
Continuous CPD including certificates in: canine calmness, resource guarding, canine communication, canine bonding and play, puppy socialisation, canine sleep (Tamsin)

AWARDS:

Dog Walkers of the Year Cumbria - North England Prestige Awards 2021/22 and 2022/23

Dog Walking Business of the Year 2022 - Pet Industry Federation Awards (basically the pet industry’s equivalent to the Oscars!)

5 STAR FACILITIES

We continually invest back into our business to ensure that we have the best facilities for our doggy team with all the creature comforts to make their time with us extra special.

This includes for walks:

2 fully converted vans for transportation with individual, safe, secure, lockable travelling spaces - all kitted out with comfy Vetbed, lighting, ventilation and drinking bowls.
Each van also has its own doggy wash and towels - and we only use warm water in colder temperatures.

Your dog will always be returned clean!

Fleecy dog jackets for all the team to rug up in after a wet or chilly walk.
Individual ADW dog tags to wear during their time with us.

For time in our home:

A variety of comfy dog beds including memory foam mats and cosy high sided beds, blankets (and our sofa!)
Snuffle mats and other puzzles, cuddly toys, rag toys and rubber balls for individual 1:1 enrichment time with us.
A variety of feeding and water bowls to suit your dog’s preference.
Strict cleaning and maintenance plans in place - your dog’s environment will always be clean and comfortable.

OUR PLEDGES

Dog Care Pledge:

We will only use a kind, patient approach, force free methods and positive reinforcement in our interactions with dogs in our care.

Climate Pledge:

We aim to make our business as environmentally sustainable as we can.

Actions we take to reduce our carbon footprint include:

Using and supplying cornstarch fully compostable poo bags, which are purchased in bulk to reduce packaging and delivered to our clients when required as we pick up their dogs.
Toys and enrichment activities are made from natural eco-friendly rubber or recycled materials, bought from businesses with the best sustainability credentials.
Cleaning materials are eco-friendly.
We limit the use of single use plastic and return bags provided by clients containing dog food so that they can be re-used.

We aim to replace our company vehicles with electric vehicles in the future as soon as it becomes financially viable for us to do so.

Giving Pledge:

We set aside 1% of our income monthly as a giving fund and regularly donate to local, national and international charities.

PET INDUSTRY FEDERATION (PIF) MEMBERSHIP

We are proud members of The Pet Industry Federation - the membership association for the UK Pet Industry which strives to raise standards through support and representation at Government level.

CUMBRIA TOURISM MEMBERSHIP

We're thrilled to be a member of Cumbria Tourism, whose mission is to provide a world class visitor experience for those visiting the area. An important part of our service is to support those holidaying in the area with canine loved ones to enjoy their time here.