Welcome to the Pack!
I am Julia, your reliable dog walker in Bovey Trace area. Together with my husband Tom and our rescue dog Buddy, I moved from Berlin to Bovey in early 2024 - back to Tom’s roots.
After taking time to settle in and meeting all the lovely dogs of Bovey, I decided to turn my lifelong passion and experience with dogs into a full-time occupation in 2026.
As a dog owner and with 26 years of experience looking after my own and others peoples dogs I’m familiar with all the concerns that can come up when handing over a beloved family member to someone else.
Can I trust they wont loose my dog?
Will they come back overexcited with bad habits?
Will they get bullied by other dogs or be allowed to bully others=
Will my dog be fed random treats?
Rest assured: no.
If you decide to let your dog join my Walkie Pawkie pack, we’ll figure it all out beforehand and you can trust, that your dog is cared for according to your standards.
Besides all responsibility, you still want the right person to work with. Therefore, I invite you, to read a bit about me and get a first impression.
If you think, we might be a good fit am excited to get to know you and your dog at a Meet & Greet.
Dogs – the longest love of my life
Ever since my grandmother’s Alsatian was part of my life as a toddler, I’ve loved animals; dogs especially. Growing up in a small village, I was surrounded by them.
After years of caring for my rabbits and other people’s horses, and understanding the responsibility that comes with looking after animals, I was allowed to get my first dog at the age of 12: Jack Russell Terrier Spiky.
I took responsibility for his training, attended dog training classes, taught him to run alongside me and join me on horseback rides. A few years later, I started walking dogs in the neighbourhood after school.
During school holidays, I spent time horse riding near the Baltic Sea and helping out on a family-run dairy farm. There, I regularly worked with Border Collies and gained experience handling working dogs in a structured environment.
After Spiky’s death, I made a conscious decision not to get another dog for a few years while studying Language and Social Sciences in Berlin and focusing on my professional career as a Fitness and Holistic Nutrition Coach and Copywriter for Nutrition & Health Professionals. (Hence the natural dog-treats!)
However, I quickly missed having dogs in my life and returned to dog care as a side job in 2012. I looked after neighbourhood dogs and welcomed them into my home while their owners were away or busy with other commitments for days, weeks or months. I also worked alongside professional dog walkers, helping out when they were fully booked.
Walkie Pawkies’ most important Team member
In 2021, my husband 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.
Infested by every parasite you can think of, Buddy was overly confident and reactive in some situations but overwhelmed by big-city life in others. He needed plenty of patience, consistency, boundaries and empathy to become the reliable-calm Buddy he is today.
We believe him to be a Collie, Croatian Shepherd and Labrador mix: highly intelligent, athletic with a strong prey drive, kind-hearted, harmony-loving and a calm character.
While managing his prey drive will probably always be a work in progress, he is now a well-behaved dog with excellent social skills, avoiding confrontation whenever possible, still with a small tendency to protect his (female) friends, but able to accept my decisions and join me (almost) everywhere in daily life.
If there’s space, Buddy joins the Walkie Pawkies pack. He is also happy to serve as company on a Buddy Walk, our special offer for shy, anxious dogs or (young) dogs in training who benefit from the company of another gentle dog, supporting their confidence and skills.
Built around dogs.
A walk starts the moment your dog steps into the van.
From the very first pick-up, I want every dog to feel safe, comfortable and relaxed. Even they journey should be something your dogs looks forward to and associates with favourite walking spots, canine friends and exciting adventures.
To make that possible, my Ford Connect is equipped with bespoke animal transit crates, custom-built and professionally fitted in Wales. Dogs can travel in their individual crate or alongside (a) friend(s) thanks to solid removable dividers between boxes
For dogs who cannot jump into the van or should not be lifted, a ramp is available for safe and comfortable access.
The rear of the van features electric ventilation, heating and cooling, whilst every crate is equipped with individual lighting, lockable fronts and rear emergency escape hatches.
To ensure comfort and hygiene, every crate is fitted with a custom-made waterproof bed manufactured in Totnes. Each dog receives a fresh organic cotton towel, washed at high temperatures with eco-friendly detergent after every use. All transport areas are cleaned regulary, with the waterproof bed-covers changed at least once a week or as required.
An open bulkhead between the driver's cab and the rear of the van allows me to remain aware of the dogs throughout every journey.
Range of dogs I’ve worked with
Among the dogs I’ve worked with are:
Anxious and reactive rescue dogs
Confident, bossy pack leaders
Terriers chasing everything that moves
Working dogs who want more than just a run or a sniff
Dogs who loved every human—and those deeply sceptical of them
Puppies, lively Spaniels, sporty Dalmatians
Calm, steady Labradors
Senior dogs
Experience & Certifications
Lifelong experience with my own dogs
10+ years of regular dog sitting
Canine first aid training
Canine behaviour training
10,000+ of walks and cuddles that made tails wag
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.
