About Me
I am Julia, a professional dog walker and pet sitter based in Bovey Tracey.
Together with my husband Tom and our rescue dog Buddy, I moved from Berlin to Bovey in early 2024, where Tom returned to his roots and the three of us made a new home in beautiful Devon.
After taking some time to settle in and and meeting many of Bovey’s lovely dogs, I decided in 2026 to build on my 26 years of hands-on experience and turned working with dogs into my main profession.
As a dog owner myself, I understand how much trust it takes to leave your dog with someone else.
Before your dog joins me, we’ll talk through their personality, routine, likes and dislikes, and any special requirements. You’ll know how I work and what to expect from the start.
Experience and responsibility matter, but so does feeling comfortable with the person you choose. Therefore, I would like invite you to read on and learn a little more about me and the way I work.
If it sounds as though we might be a good fit, I’d be very happy to get to know you and your dog at a Meet & Greet.
As a professional dog walker, I will only take on your dog on when I am confident, that they are a good fit for the pack and that I can support your training approach.
Dogs have always been part of my life.
My love of animals began with my grandmother’s Alsatian, who was part of my life when I was a toddler. While I was still in kindergarten, I asked for a dog of my own; my parents quite reasonably said no, so I persuaded them to let me have rabbits and take up horse riding instead.
As I grew older, I spent much of my free time at a local stable, helping with yard duties and looking after the horses in exchange for the opportunity to ride a fiery Arabian horse. The arrangement lasted more than ten years and taught me what consistency and reliability mean: you have to turn up even when you do not feel like it or when other things seem more interesting.
When I turned 12, I was finally allowed my first dog, a Jack Russell Terrier called Spiky, on the condition that I attended dog training classes and took full responsibility for him. I did both and taught Spiky to run alongside me and accompany me on horseback rides.
A couple of years later, I began walking neighbours’ dogs after school and helping whenever someone needed support with their pets. During school holidays, I rode horses near the Baltic Sea and earned some pocket money helping on a family-run dairy farm, where I regularly worked with Border Collies that helped manage horses and livestock.
After Spiky died, I made a conscious decision not to get another dog for a few years, focusing instead on studying languages and social sciences in Berlin and building my career as a yoga teacher, fitness coach and holistic (Ayurvedic) nutrition coach and copywriter for nutrition and health professionals. Hence the natural dog treats!
Life without dogs did not suit me for long. From 2012 onwards, alongside my university studies and professional career, I started walking local dogs again and welcoming them into my home while their owners were away or busy. Some stayed for a few days, while others stayed for weeks or even months.
Living in Berlin, with its large dog population, brought me into contact with all kinds of dogs and challenges, including reactivity, anxiety and parasites. I looked after rescues, dogs adopted during the pandemic and such with little or no previous training. Although it was still a side job at the time, I took it seriously and worked with professional dog trainers, dog walkers and animal shelters to learn how best to support each dog. Those experiences enabled me to adopt and support Buddy and still shape the way I work today.
Meet Buddy
Walkie Pawkies’ most important Team member
In 2021, Tom and I adopted Buddy from a shelter in southern Europe after he had been found abandoned on the streets. When he joined us in Berlin as a one-year-old, he was quite a handful.
He was carrying several parasites and was mostly anxious, particularly when big-city life overwhelmed him. In some situations, he appeared overconfident or became reactive; in others, he was easily startled and would panic, bolt or hide. It took a lot of patience, consistency, clear structure, boundaries and empathy to give him a sense of security and help him become the calm, reliable dog he is today.
We believe him to be a mix of Collie, Croatian Shepherd Dog and Labrador: highly intelligent, athletic and kind-hearted, with a strong prey drive and a calm nature.
While managing his prey drive will probably always be a work in progress, he is now a well-behaved dog with excellent social skills who avoids confrontation whenever possible. He settles well into both group and household settings, communicates clearly and respects other dogs’ boundaries. He still has a slight tendency to protect his female friends, but he responds to my guidance and can join me (almost) anywhere in daily life.
If there’s space, Buddy joins the Walkie Pawkies pack. He can also accompany dogs on a Buddy Walk, created for shy or anxious dogs and younger dogs still in training who benefit from walking alongside another gentle dog to support their confidence and social skills.
My Van
Built for dogs.
Every outing starts and ends with a journey, and from the first pick-up I want every dog to feel safe, comfortable and relaxed. I fitted out my van specifically for them, so that travelling becomes something your dog associates with favourite walking spots, canine friends and exciting adventures.
The Walkie Pawkies Ford Transit Connect is equipped with bespoke animal transit crates, manufactured and professionally fitted in Wales. Dogs can travel separately or alongside a companion thanks to solid, removable dividers between the crates.
Inside each crate, a safety lead can be clipped to the dog’s harness while the doors are open or whenever extra security is needed. Once the crate is closed, dogs generally travel untethered. Individual lighting, lockable front doors and rear emergency escape hatches provide additional safety and comfort.
For dogs who cannot jump into the van or should not be lifted, a ramp is available for safe and comfortable access.
An open bulkhead allows me to remain aware of the dogs throughout every journey and connects the dog area to the van’s main air conditioning and heating. A 12-volt electric roof vent can extract warm, humid air or draw fresh air in. Together, these systems provide good ventilation and help maintain a safe, comfortable temperature in both summer and winter.
Each dog has a fresh organic cotton towel for the journey, cleaning and drying. After every use, the towels are washed at a high temperature with an eco-friendly detergent. Following each journey, every crate is thoroughly cleaned with a veterinary-grade antibacterial disinfectant made in the UK. Waterproof bed covers are changed at least once a week, or sooner if required.
Experience & Qualifications
Range of dogs I’ve worked with
Rescue dogs of different breeds, ages and temperaments
Anxious and reactive dogs
Confident, strong-minded dogs who like to take the lead
Terriers keen to chase anything that moves
Working dogs who need both physical exercise and something to think about
Puppies and dogs with little or no previous training
Calm Labradors, sporty Dalmatians and lively Spaniels
Senior dogs and blind dogs
Dogs who love everyone, and those who are deeply sceptical of people
Experience & Qualifications
Life with dogs since childhood, including 26 years experience looking after dogs
More than 10 years of regular dog sitting
Experience working with dog trainers, other dog walkers and animal shelters
Training in canine first aid
Training in canine behaviour
Fully insured for professional dog walking and pet care
10,000+ walks and cuddles that have made tails wag
Professional background in fitness and holistic nutrition
Testimonials
