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Summary

Availability: flexible

Rates: variable/negotiable

References: Yes

Insurance: No

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Services Offered

Dog Sitting

Dog Daycare

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About Me/ Company

My business in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, is called "Jack the Biscuit" in honour of my late Jack Russell Odey who strutted around like he owned the place and earned himself the nickname "Jack the Biscuit" as in "Look at that dog! He struts around like he owns the place! Who does he think he is! Jack the Biscuit?" I'm 46 years old and my life is my own. I'm currently in the final stages of renovating my spacious house into luxury flats, and when I say "luxury" I mean gorgeous compared to the relative building-site it is at the moment! I am self-employed and therefore can be flexible about my hours of work. I supplement my income with private home tuition, singing in a jazz-blues band, doing the occasional market stall, and writing a comedy series for the BBC. I'm living the dream! The thing is, there's something vital missing, and that's the company of my dog Odey. While my home is being renovated, I miss the thrice daily walks and have all this energy, but no dog to walk! My solution is "Jack the Biscuit!"

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Previous Experience

My "dog" experience is really based around having had my own dog, and always having dogs while I was growing up. During the times I've not had my own dog, I have walked friend's dogs (and children!) and on two occasions volunteered to walk dogs for people I have just met who were in turn elderly and on the edge of a mental breakdown. I know by my own experience with "owning" Odey. Sometimes bitter-sweet because committing to keeping him (he was being neglected by his previous owner) changed my life. That is why I would never take on owning another dog until I know that I'm ready to commit to another 15 to 20 years of that emotional and physical responsibility. So to set up a dog-walking/sitting business is the absolute ideal for me at this time is my life and because the dogs I am caring for belong to someone else, who love them and care for them, I will have the company and fresh-air walks without the full-time responsibility. I wish I'd had someone like me to give myself a break from Odey! Now I can do that for you.

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Qualifications & Training

I don't know about "relevant" to this specific job, but I hope that the fact that I am educated brings some bearing on my character; in that I'm committed enough to finish something I've started, that I get on well with people of all ages (except of course people who don't like dogs!) I've got 6 GCSEs (all average Cs!), 3 A LEVELS (better! two As and a C!) a BA Hons in Theatre Arts (2.1), a PGCE in Drama in Education with English Language and Literature (Distinction), and an introductory TEFAL Certificate (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) Other than 12 years in the classroom, I've also worked as a Night Club entertainer, Stand-Up Comedian ("The In Crowd" BBC Radio 4 for 4 series) and I draw and paint commissioned portraits of people's dogs when asked (so far an Irish Wolf-Hound, a West-Highland White, a Staffy-Whippet Cross, a lurcher, two retired grey-hounds, and of course my Jack Russell!) I'm willing to provide a free trial walk/sit/other dog-centred task before you make this important choice for your dog.

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Relevant Info

Please read my most recent testimonial (August/September 2011) under "Russell" (aka dog owner Russell Lelliott) in Success Stories. I'm pre-booked to look after Batley again on the weekend of November 12th to 15th and again from December 26th 2012 for 3 weeks!