“The common theme to dog walking is mud, and I always seem to be covered in it! I have been a dog walker for many years, and I love it. Having been brought up in the countryside in Dumfriesshire, amongst livestock, horses, and pets, I have always had a strong affinity for animals, especially the canine kind.
Walkies with Joanne Dovesi
“a good understanding of yoga would be helpful” I walk a great group of dogs, ranging in size from the Dachshund to the Dobermann, they each have their own little, (and big!) characters. Walking four or five dogs on the lead can get tricky. Energies are high at the beginning of the walk and juggling leads in one hand, a latte in the other and managing to pick up poo is a challenge in itself. Leads get tangled so a good understanding of yoga would be helpful for the positions I get myself in to. I regularly get, “you’ve got your hands full” comments from passersby, who chuckle at my antics. I live in Edinburgh, and you’d be surprised what an abundance of wildlife surrounds us. I am lucky enough to have the Hermitage of Braid on my doorstep. After starting my walk and all the dogs have done their ablutions, I am left carrying a handful of poo bags, and whether the poo bags are lavender or vanilla scented, believe me, this scent rapidly disappears. I hurry to find the nearest bin and there are not many. We make our way to Blackford Hill where the views of Edinburgh are breathtaking. The dogs always have a mad twenty minutes racing around. The wind at the top of the hill always get them over excited and there are the usual squabbles before they all calm down. I have a black Labrador of my own, who always comes on the walks. She is such a sweetie, a gentle soul, who acts like Mum to the group.
I’m amazed that she is still immaculate by the end of the walk. When I see her getting a latte that’s when the word “treats” comes in very handy, as I dread to think what would happen if the dogs went bounding over to her.
“usually leaves me drenched!”
Making our way back down the hill, we head to the nearest burn where the dogs can have a well-deserved drink and a frolic in the water. This gets rid of some of the mud and usually leaves me drenched. I’ve seen a lot of wildlife “should not wear lycra, as it leaves little to the on my walks. The deer grazing by the woods, the otters imagination” in the burn, which was a surprise and the heron who My daughter has a hamster, and she lets him run around regally stands waiting patiently by the river for a passing on her back. She takes no notice, a few sniffs and her head fish. As well as little field mice who don’t seem to show goes back on her favourite cushion to continue her nap. any fear towards me, as they scurry around between my And that’s where she stays until she hears the rustling of a feet. The dogs are always too slow to catch them. A cheeky crisp packet. During our walk, I always see the same people. Labradoodle, Hector, has an obsession with birds and The joggers, who I sometimes think, should not wear lycra always thinks he can catch them, and of course, never does. as it leaves little to the imagination. His brother, Hugo, does the same thing with squirrels and stands guard with a hopeful look in his eye at the bottom The lady who looks as though she is heading to London of the tree waiting for a squirrel that never appears. Fashion Week and so does her dog. 64 Scotland in Four Seasons Winter
