Don't let your dreams fade away - Who Let The Dogs Out? Oslo Hundelufting

I can’t have been older than six or seven. Whilst my age at the time escapes me I remember the moment vividly.

I had been pestering my parents for several weeks that I wanted to start a business to get some pocket money.

The idea was simple: I would walk dogs in the park next to where we lived.

As an only child but with an older dog sibling, named Guinness, I already loved the company of dogs. My older dog brother had taught me to read canine body language and behaviour.

My parents knew this and therefore they agreed to sponsor my advert at the local newsagents. This was the late 80s and an advert consisted of writing your message on a blank piece of card where local people could read all the different ads whilst coming in to pick up their newspapers.

My father paid one pound so that the piece of card would stay in the window for 30 days.

I hurried home excitedly and sat near the house telephone. It did not ring. With every passing day of silence a little boys dreams and enthusiasm were being slowly eroded.

Eventually after three weeks a woman with a labrador phoned and enquired about my service. Unfortunately the owner decided her Labrador would be too strong for such a small child, even though my father had insisted he could join on all of the walks to help out.

Fast forward over 20 years later and when I finally decided to give professional dog walking another go, this very childhood memory instantly came back.

Apart from my size and strength what exactly had changed? I would actually argue that I could read dogs as well as a six-year-old as I can now in my early 40s.

What I didn’t realize as a six-year-old was that sometimes you need to go out and get life experience in a multitude of jobs, hobbies and friendships so as to be ready to provide the absolute best Dog Adventures.

Either it is that or I have based my entire company on proving that labrador owner in London was wrong.

Doggies: Poppy, Tiara, Punky, Tesla and Banipal