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London's Number One Dog-Walking Agency
The irresistibly charming memoir of a young woman who started her own business as a dog walker for London’s busy, well-heeled dog lovers. A true love letter to London, dogs, and growing up.
Aside from the odd biter or growler, the occasional bolter and the one dog who didn’t want to walk, the canines were the easy part. They were a muddy, messy joy in all shapes, sizes and breeds, from greedy Labradors to pampered pugs and everything in between. It was the owners who were the real challenge, a giddy mix of the over-protective, the clueless, the eccentrics and the perfectionists. There is no rule book on how to navigate the obsessions of the London dog owner. A degree in human psychology would have been far preferable to any sort of animal qualification. Not that I had either…
In 2006, Kate MacDougall was working a safe but dull job at the venerable auction house Sotheby’s in London. After a clumsy accident nearly destroyed a precious piece of art, she quit Sotheby’s and set up her own dog-walking company. Kate knew little about dogs and nothing about business, and no one thought being a professional dog walker was a good use of her university degree. Nevertheless, Kate embarked upon an entirely new and very much improvised career walking some of the city’s many pampered pooches, branding her company “London's Number One Dog Walking Agency.”
With sharp wit, delightful observations, and plenty of canine affection, Kate reveals her unique and unconventional coming-of-age story, as told through the dogs, and the London homes and neighborhoods they inhabit. One walk at a time, she journeys from a haphazard twentysomething to a happily—and surprisingly—settled adult, with love, relationships, drama, and home ownership along the way. But, as Kate says, “It’s all down to the dogs” and what they taught her about London—and life.
Aside from the odd biter or growler, the occasional bolter and the one dog who didn’t want to walk, the canines were the easy part. They were a muddy, messy joy in all shapes, sizes and breeds, from greedy Labradors to pampered pugs and everything in between. It was the owners who were the real challenge, a giddy mix of the over-protective, the clueless, the eccentrics and the perfectionists. There is no rule book on how to navigate the obsessions of the London dog owner. A degree in human psychology would have been far preferable to any sort of animal qualification. Not that I had either…
In 2006, Kate MacDougall was working a safe but dull job at the venerable auction house Sotheby’s in London. After a clumsy accident nearly destroyed a precious piece of art, she quit Sotheby’s and set up her own dog-walking company. Kate knew little about dogs and nothing about business, and no one thought being a professional dog walker was a good use of her university degree. Nevertheless, Kate embarked upon an entirely new and very much improvised career walking some of the city’s many pampered pooches, branding her company “London's Number One Dog Walking Agency.”
With sharp wit, delightful observations, and plenty of canine affection, Kate reveals her unique and unconventional coming-of-age story, as told through the dogs, and the London homes and neighborhoods they inhabit. One walk at a time, she journeys from a haphazard twentysomething to a happily—and surprisingly—settled adult, with love, relationships, drama, and home ownership along the way. But, as Kate says, “It’s all down to the dogs” and what they taught her about London—and life.
353 pages, Hardcover
First published April 8, 2021
270 people are currently reading
10023 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 649 reviews
April 2, 2021
One of those books you almost don’t choose and then spend the whole book being grateful you did
This is a feel good, really feel good book about yep dog walking and Kate’s adventure’s as she leave Sotheby’s to set up her business and walks the various dogs, I didn’t realise until the end it was a true story (even though the characters name was the same as the author 😁😁)
It’s funny, very funny and LOL funny, heart warming, sad, joyous, clever and also a real ‘peak’ into someones personal growth
I am a cat person, as lots of you know, but I fell in love with the Dog’s in the book, the good, the naughty, the pampered and the ultra pampered, the finicky and the not so fortunate, all are here and all presented so well you want to meet them, the owners equally described brilliantly, flaws and all ( and they have many )
Set in London, the author takes you through her growing into adulthood via the dog walking agency and I honestly cant put into words how good, special, emotive and lovely this book is
10/10
5 Stars
This is a feel good, really feel good book about yep dog walking and Kate’s adventure’s as she leave Sotheby’s to set up her business and walks the various dogs, I didn’t realise until the end it was a true story (even though the characters name was the same as the author 😁😁)
It’s funny, very funny and LOL funny, heart warming, sad, joyous, clever and also a real ‘peak’ into someones personal growth
I am a cat person, as lots of you know, but I fell in love with the Dog’s in the book, the good, the naughty, the pampered and the ultra pampered, the finicky and the not so fortunate, all are here and all presented so well you want to meet them, the owners equally described brilliantly, flaws and all ( and they have many )
Set in London, the author takes you through her growing into adulthood via the dog walking agency and I honestly cant put into words how good, special, emotive and lovely this book is
10/10
5 Stars
August 24, 2021
I didn’t want to put this book down. I also didn’t want it to end. A dilemma.
Utterly delightful! Completely charming!
Beautifully written and engagingly told. Funny and at times poignant.
What fun! I was laughing out loud so much of the time. Much of it was hilarious. It’s been years since I laughed so much when reading a book and there haven’t been that many times I’ve read books I’ve found this amusing. Because it was also at times touching and serious and sweet it had more depth than most humorous books.
I love dogs and I’ve wanted to visit (ideally live in) London/England since I was 8 years old and spending time in England (and I guess all of the UK) is my number one most important bucket list item. Thanks to the availability of online maps, I spent a fair amount of time looking at all the locations of and photos of the London neighborhoods and parks and the other UK locations mentioned in the book. I experienced fernweh and it was completely worth it.
I appreciated the short Afterword giving info about what happened with some of the people and dogs.
This is a great though unusual coming of age story, sort of. It mostly goes from new-ish adulthood to settled adulthood.
5 stars all the way through. Highly entertaining!
Some quibbles though because they’re particular pet peeves of mine. I don’t like it when people who have companion dogs as family members are called their owners and I don’t like it when animals are not rescue dogs/are purchased from breeders. I noticed it every time each came up which was almost every time. I still loved the book but I got a little upset about those things as I read. Also, I was slightly upset by what happened with some of the dogs/the way the dogs were cared for, and some readers will probably be significantly more upset than I was.
I read the hardcover edition but I sometimes simultaneously read the audiobook edition and I loved the narration. I’m sure it was a contributing factor for me finding the book as amusing as I did.
Highly recommended! Especially recommended for readers who love dogs, and readers who are interested in London and other parts of the UK too.
Book hangover time might now be inevitable for me.
Utterly delightful! Completely charming!
Beautifully written and engagingly told. Funny and at times poignant.
What fun! I was laughing out loud so much of the time. Much of it was hilarious. It’s been years since I laughed so much when reading a book and there haven’t been that many times I’ve read books I’ve found this amusing. Because it was also at times touching and serious and sweet it had more depth than most humorous books.
I love dogs and I’ve wanted to visit (ideally live in) London/England since I was 8 years old and spending time in England (and I guess all of the UK) is my number one most important bucket list item. Thanks to the availability of online maps, I spent a fair amount of time looking at all the locations of and photos of the London neighborhoods and parks and the other UK locations mentioned in the book. I experienced fernweh and it was completely worth it.
I appreciated the short Afterword giving info about what happened with some of the people and dogs.
This is a great though unusual coming of age story, sort of. It mostly goes from new-ish adulthood to settled adulthood.
5 stars all the way through. Highly entertaining!
Some quibbles though because they’re particular pet peeves of mine. I don’t like it when people who have companion dogs as family members are called their owners and I don’t like it when animals are not rescue dogs/are purchased from breeders. I noticed it every time each came up which was almost every time. I still loved the book but I got a little upset about those things as I read. Also, I was slightly upset by what happened with some of the dogs/the way the dogs were cared for, and some readers will probably be significantly more upset than I was.
I read the hardcover edition but I sometimes simultaneously read the audiobook edition and I loved the narration. I’m sure it was a contributing factor for me finding the book as amusing as I did.
Highly recommended! Especially recommended for readers who love dogs, and readers who are interested in London and other parts of the UK too.
Book hangover time might now be inevitable for me.
July 1, 2021
This is a memoir you can share with the dog-lovers in your life. Kate is suddenly without a job in 2006 and decides to start walking dogs. How hard could it be? Get some clients, put the dogs on the leash to the park and back home and Bob's your uncle, you are making a living. Chapter by chapter we see the business evolve. What I loved was the focus on one dog per chapter with amusing anecdotes and dry humor sprinkled throughout. Kate is not afraid to poke fun at her own naive assumptions or give us the straight scoop on an embarrassing situation or two. I especially enjoyed the bits of a "where they are now" as a part of the Afterword. This might make you appreciate the dog in your life more.
Thank you to William Morrow and Custom House and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to William Morrow and Custom House and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
January 19, 2022
The book is filled with humor. We meet quirky clients with odd demands...dogs that are also a bit quirky and pampered...as it should be. Seems these four-legged friends only drink Evian and want a bedtime story. That made me laugh because we had a dog that loved to be read to and even learned to bring us the book. My daughter learned to read at the age of 3 just so she could read "The Saggy Baggy Elephant" to her "furry sister", Snoopy. The book was probably read at least a million plus times before the cover gave up the ghost and died. There was even some of Kate's customers who even had pet cams to monitor Kate's behavior.... certainly not their dogs'. The book does have moments of melancholy. It's never lost on MacDougall that many clients are more prosperous and settled than she is. Her mother means well, but she doesn't help when she advises her to get a "proper vocation". To make matters worse Kate's boyfriend and eventual husband, Finley, doesn't like dogs...not even a little bit. He eventually learns...if not to fully love them at least to keep his mouth firmly closed on the matter. Kate is a great character...and as you would expect, the dogs are the stars of the book. Exceptional...even at their worse. The book gets a bit repetitive, but the writing is always clever and funny. I loved when she describes a client's house with hand-painted window boxes and a bondage shop around the corner...but priceless was the husky "who looked uncannily like Rod Stewart". Smart and observant dog...I always shared that same view:)
April 2, 2021
This memoir and offbeat coming-of-age story opens in 2006 when late twenties ‘clumsy’ Kate MacDougall decides to leave her job of four years as a back office administrator at Sotheby’s. Despite having the relevant art history degree and the right background Kate is bored senseless and thoroughly disillusioned by the thought that this might be as good as it gets for adulthood! Making an impetuous decision to become a dog-walker, much to the exasperation of her mother, hugely relatable Kate takes her first step into the unknown long before the popularity of the American pet industry and the idea of dog walking as an occupation had landed in the UK. This book is the story of the dogs, owners and walkers whom she encounters at the helm of “London’s Number One Dog Walking Agency” over the next ten years as she simultaneously works out what she wants from life as an adult. From the unreliable walkers, neurotic owners and financial precariousness of the business, to the individual dogs each with their own specific requirements, this is a readable and lightly humorous look at Kate’s experiences.
Split into twenty-four chapters, each centred around a specific dog handled by the agency with some dogs appearing on multiple occasions, spanning 2006-2014 there is also a tally of the total number of dogs on the agency’s books. There are a few utterly charming moments including the story of elderly family dog, Stanley, and the bond fostered with Tom his eccentric walker as well as plenty of owners with crazy demands. As Kate shrewdly comments the demands of the owners is more often as not a reflection of their obsessions, insecurities and lofty expectations than about the actual dog themselves! From the financial crash of 2008 that almost brought the business to its knees through to the British public wholeheartedly embracing the idea that having a full-time job and owning a dog are no longer mutually exclusive, Kate MacDougall tells it all in her own words.
I was disappointed that the funny anecdotes highlighted in the premise are few and far between and there is precious little meat added to the bones of these comedy moments leaving me feeling a little shortchanged. Whilst I like dogs I was never gripped by the snippets of their lives and I found the book to have frequent lulls where I could have quite easily put it aside. After the witty opening chapters which really captured my interest I did feel like the writing took a step down and lost its early brio. Alongside the ups and downs of the business the book also tells of Kate’s own personal journey to settled adulthood, contentment and family life with a dog-ambivalent husband.
Split into twenty-four chapters, each centred around a specific dog handled by the agency with some dogs appearing on multiple occasions, spanning 2006-2014 there is also a tally of the total number of dogs on the agency’s books. There are a few utterly charming moments including the story of elderly family dog, Stanley, and the bond fostered with Tom his eccentric walker as well as plenty of owners with crazy demands. As Kate shrewdly comments the demands of the owners is more often as not a reflection of their obsessions, insecurities and lofty expectations than about the actual dog themselves! From the financial crash of 2008 that almost brought the business to its knees through to the British public wholeheartedly embracing the idea that having a full-time job and owning a dog are no longer mutually exclusive, Kate MacDougall tells it all in her own words.
I was disappointed that the funny anecdotes highlighted in the premise are few and far between and there is precious little meat added to the bones of these comedy moments leaving me feeling a little shortchanged. Whilst I like dogs I was never gripped by the snippets of their lives and I found the book to have frequent lulls where I could have quite easily put it aside. After the witty opening chapters which really captured my interest I did feel like the writing took a step down and lost its early brio. Alongside the ups and downs of the business the book also tells of Kate’s own personal journey to settled adulthood, contentment and family life with a dog-ambivalent husband.
May 6, 2021
My review is on my website www.bookread2day.wordpress.com
Twitter @bookread2day
I adored the bright and cheerful book jacket with a dog on a lead going for a walk in London. I have never been so gripped into an memoir as much as I did with this book.
Kate Macdougall gave up her job at Sotheby’s as she was board, and ventured out to a new job that was set within her heart, dog walking.
I one hundred percent recommend London’s No 1 Dog Walking Agency, as it’s so unputdownable it very hard not to read this book in one sitting.
I was eagerly turning the pages wanting to know more about Kate.
I wanted to give this book much more than five stars.
This book reads just like in a novel there are some very funny moments when Kate is taking dogs for a walk, and some sad parts.
Something I learned is I never knew how fussy owners could be with dogs, pampering them, and with strict rules when their dog is taken for a walk.
Kate takes dog lovers and readers through the journey of her dog walking agency, with all different kinds of breeds of dogs and crisis that do occur when trying to run your own business.
London’s No 1 Dog Walking Agency is absolutely brilliant from page one to the last page every one is talking about it because we all love it! This is why I recommend buying this book for yourself or a for a family member or a friend.
Twitter @bookread2day
I adored the bright and cheerful book jacket with a dog on a lead going for a walk in London. I have never been so gripped into an memoir as much as I did with this book.
Kate Macdougall gave up her job at Sotheby’s as she was board, and ventured out to a new job that was set within her heart, dog walking.
I one hundred percent recommend London’s No 1 Dog Walking Agency, as it’s so unputdownable it very hard not to read this book in one sitting.
I was eagerly turning the pages wanting to know more about Kate.
I wanted to give this book much more than five stars.
This book reads just like in a novel there are some very funny moments when Kate is taking dogs for a walk, and some sad parts.
Something I learned is I never knew how fussy owners could be with dogs, pampering them, and with strict rules when their dog is taken for a walk.
Kate takes dog lovers and readers through the journey of her dog walking agency, with all different kinds of breeds of dogs and crisis that do occur when trying to run your own business.
London’s No 1 Dog Walking Agency is absolutely brilliant from page one to the last page every one is talking about it because we all love it! This is why I recommend buying this book for yourself or a for a family member or a friend.
February 1, 2022
3.5 stars
This book came pretty highly recommended by a friend, and since I tend to read very heavy, depressing, issues-based books these days, I decided to give it a shot. And for the most part, I enjoyed it. It certainly was a quick enough read, and I have found myself thinking about it while I'm not reading it, so that's generally a plus.
But there were things that drove me a bit nuts about it. Three of them, mainly.
For one, the audiobook reader. She's really just not my style. I like a more subdued reader, one who let's the characters speak for themselves through her, rather than taking on their roles like a Shakespearian method actor. Her voices, even for males (which is actually commendable - usually readers are SO BAD at reading/voicing other genders) were really clear and distinct and probably for most people really added to the experience. For me though, it was too much, and as I sort of followed along in the print version from the library, I thought many, many times that I wouldn't have read the section in the way or tone she did. Men tended to be read much harsher and bluntly, much more aggressive, than I likely would have read them in my head, and almost all women, with the exception of Agnes, sounded apologetic and foofy. Oh, except Americans. American women apparently just sound like a Kardashian.
It wasn't BAD... it just wasn't really an enjoyable style for me. I'm a Stephen Fry girl, not a Jim Dale girl. (IYKYK.)
Second up was the way that dogs were treated and thought about and anthropomorphized by both the owners and walkers. There was a section where Kate's own new dog went into heat, and it was a whole big drama thing trying to prevent her getting impregnated, and I'm like "WELL WHY HAVEN'T YOU HAD HER SPAYED???" And then they DO finally get her spayed, and then it's all "Will she ever be the same? Will she be able to forgive me? Have I ruined her??" Umm. She's a dog. She wouldn't miss what she never had... if you had gotten her spayed earlier before she had a heat cycle. O_O
Then the dog got fat, and I learned that there are such things as "neutered dog biscuits" - which I'm assuming are "diet" dog biscuits intended for neutered animals, and not reproductively surgically altered dog biscuits. And again I'm like... "Maybe just feed her fewer REGULAR ONES?" Sigh. Nobody in this book fed dogs dog food. Spaghetti bolognese or steak or a kebab or takeout... Nobody in this book named their pets pet names. Every pet was humanized to the point of ridiculousness, even being foisted into patriarchal gender roles, and a male dog being assumed to be SO DISTRAUGHT at being neutered that pairs of prosthetic balls were acquired by the owner to help him "adjust". Or one dog being a "Hindu" or vegan. Gah. Why can't they just let the dogs be DOGS?
The third things was the proclamations. Pretty often, this would lapse into a semi-second person narrative where you are told How Things Are. These are technically second person, but I say "semi" because they aren't really INTENDED to be second person, they are intended as a sort of "Royal We" situation, where the reader is included into the author's perspective, but rather than it being about "I" the author, it's a general "you".
I honestly don't know why this bugged me as much as it did. I do this sort of thing ALL THE TIME myself, but it got my hackles up (see what I did there?) when she made blanket statements about How Americans Are, and then I couldn't not notice it after. They weren't even really offensive or annoying comments, either. It's just the combination of the YOU statements and the broad strokes of the commentary brush that just irked me a bit.
On this point, her comments about anxiety were definitely identifiable for me. At the same time though, I found myself wanting her to be more OK with living her life by her OWN standards and not always comparing herself to others and other people's expectations. You do you, girl. You're doing it, and it's working, and your life is YOURS. Be happy with that!
Anyway, I did actually enjoy this book. I found the stories about the dogs and their adventures amusing. I thought the walkers were interesting, and I got the feeling that we only got a small snippet of the quirkiness that they brought to the table.
I LOVED Tom, and his ransom note writing, dognapping self. I literally applauded him for that move, because damn right, dogs get lonely too! They aren't HUMAN but they are still intelligent, emotional creatures with minds and hearts and personalities and needs.
I loved Dave the dog trainer, and loved that he so bluntly stated that the HUMAN is usually the problem in human-dog relationships. I would have loved more of him in this, honestly. He was great.
I loved Agnes. She cracked me up. This is the one time that I loved the reader's take on a character voice. It was perfect. I really want to know what she has against dachshunds though.
I was a weepy mess when one of the dogs died. It was especially hard since the owner knew the right thing to do was euthanize to ensure he didn't suffer, but couldn't do it, and so the dog died naturally, and "didn't suffer too much at the end". I was so angry about that. Our responsibility to the pets we love is to provide them with love, food, shelter, as happy and fulfilled a life as possible, and to ensure they do not suffer needlessly. It is absolutely one of the hardest decisions we have to make, but we make it out of love. To not do so is selfish and cowardly, in my opinion - more about the human than the animal who needs us to advocate and help them when they can't do so for themselves. Having just gone through it 6 months ago, I know how brutally hard it is to make that call, but it was the right one. AND DAMMIT NOW I'M CRYING AGAIN.
Okay... it's late. I've gone on long enough. I know that this review feels heavily weighted toward the negative, but honestly the complaints that I had about it are far less than it seems. It was fun and optimistic and encouraging, and ultimately, a story about overcoming ones fears and doing something a little bit different... and along the way helping some doggos live their best lives too. :)
This book came pretty highly recommended by a friend, and since I tend to read very heavy, depressing, issues-based books these days, I decided to give it a shot. And for the most part, I enjoyed it. It certainly was a quick enough read, and I have found myself thinking about it while I'm not reading it, so that's generally a plus.
But there were things that drove me a bit nuts about it. Three of them, mainly.
For one, the audiobook reader. She's really just not my style. I like a more subdued reader, one who let's the characters speak for themselves through her, rather than taking on their roles like a Shakespearian method actor. Her voices, even for males (which is actually commendable - usually readers are SO BAD at reading/voicing other genders) were really clear and distinct and probably for most people really added to the experience. For me though, it was too much, and as I sort of followed along in the print version from the library, I thought many, many times that I wouldn't have read the section in the way or tone she did. Men tended to be read much harsher and bluntly, much more aggressive, than I likely would have read them in my head, and almost all women, with the exception of Agnes, sounded apologetic and foofy. Oh, except Americans. American women apparently just sound like a Kardashian.
It wasn't BAD... it just wasn't really an enjoyable style for me. I'm a Stephen Fry girl, not a Jim Dale girl. (IYKYK.)
Second up was the way that dogs were treated and thought about and anthropomorphized by both the owners and walkers. There was a section where Kate's own new dog went into heat, and it was a whole big drama thing trying to prevent her getting impregnated, and I'm like "WELL WHY HAVEN'T YOU HAD HER SPAYED???" And then they DO finally get her spayed, and then it's all "Will she ever be the same? Will she be able to forgive me? Have I ruined her??" Umm. She's a dog. She wouldn't miss what she never had... if you had gotten her spayed earlier before she had a heat cycle. O_O
Then the dog got fat, and I learned that there are such things as "neutered dog biscuits" - which I'm assuming are "diet" dog biscuits intended for neutered animals, and not reproductively surgically altered dog biscuits. And again I'm like... "Maybe just feed her fewer REGULAR ONES?" Sigh. Nobody in this book fed dogs dog food. Spaghetti bolognese or steak or a kebab or takeout... Nobody in this book named their pets pet names. Every pet was humanized to the point of ridiculousness, even being foisted into patriarchal gender roles, and a male dog being assumed to be SO DISTRAUGHT at being neutered that pairs of prosthetic balls were acquired by the owner to help him "adjust". Or one dog being a "Hindu" or vegan. Gah. Why can't they just let the dogs be DOGS?
The third things was the proclamations. Pretty often, this would lapse into a semi-second person narrative where you are told How Things Are. These are technically second person, but I say "semi" because they aren't really INTENDED to be second person, they are intended as a sort of "Royal We" situation, where the reader is included into the author's perspective, but rather than it being about "I" the author, it's a general "you".
I honestly don't know why this bugged me as much as it did. I do this sort of thing ALL THE TIME myself, but it got my hackles up (see what I did there?) when she made blanket statements about How Americans Are, and then I couldn't not notice it after. They weren't even really offensive or annoying comments, either. It's just the combination of the YOU statements and the broad strokes of the commentary brush that just irked me a bit.
On this point, her comments about anxiety were definitely identifiable for me. At the same time though, I found myself wanting her to be more OK with living her life by her OWN standards and not always comparing herself to others and other people's expectations. You do you, girl. You're doing it, and it's working, and your life is YOURS. Be happy with that!
Anyway, I did actually enjoy this book. I found the stories about the dogs and their adventures amusing. I thought the walkers were interesting, and I got the feeling that we only got a small snippet of the quirkiness that they brought to the table.
I LOVED Tom, and his ransom note writing, dognapping self. I literally applauded him for that move, because damn right, dogs get lonely too! They aren't HUMAN but they are still intelligent, emotional creatures with minds and hearts and personalities and needs.
I loved Dave the dog trainer, and loved that he so bluntly stated that the HUMAN is usually the problem in human-dog relationships. I would have loved more of him in this, honestly. He was great.
I loved Agnes. She cracked me up. This is the one time that I loved the reader's take on a character voice. It was perfect. I really want to know what she has against dachshunds though.
I was a weepy mess when one of the dogs died. It was especially hard since the owner knew the right thing to do was euthanize to ensure he didn't suffer, but couldn't do it, and so the dog died naturally, and "didn't suffer too much at the end". I was so angry about that. Our responsibility to the pets we love is to provide them with love, food, shelter, as happy and fulfilled a life as possible, and to ensure they do not suffer needlessly. It is absolutely one of the hardest decisions we have to make, but we make it out of love. To not do so is selfish and cowardly, in my opinion - more about the human than the animal who needs us to advocate and help them when they can't do so for themselves. Having just gone through it 6 months ago, I know how brutally hard it is to make that call, but it was the right one. AND DAMMIT NOW I'M CRYING AGAIN.
Okay... it's late. I've gone on long enough. I know that this review feels heavily weighted toward the negative, but honestly the complaints that I had about it are far less than it seems. It was fun and optimistic and encouraging, and ultimately, a story about overcoming ones fears and doing something a little bit different... and along the way helping some doggos live their best lives too. :)
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November 9, 2022
At first glance, you don't realise completely that this is a memoir. One picks it up and almost expects perhaps a cute murder mystery, or in the very least a guide-book on how to love and appreciate dogs the way they deserve.
So I picked this up not really knowing what I was getting in to. I admit I'm not the biggest memoir fan, and I certainly don't trip head-over-heels over anything to do with London. Dogs on the other hand... A dog on the cover is worth more than any amount of 5-star reviews.
“After all, the decisions that feel the most impulsive and whimsical, the ones that just seem to fall out of the sky, often have roots so long that they are wrapped around your bones.”
It is a heart-warming, joyful read that brings laughter, tears and a warm glow with every page turn. After getting over the initial shock of it being a memoir (but a very well-told and witty one at that), you settle in to something that reads like a wonderfully smooth story that just so happens to be true.
If you're not a dog owner it can be quite the stark introduction to what is a world of pampered pooches and delightfully uptight dog-owners, which is probably as close to the truth as you will ever find. It's a lovely read, tinged with occasional sadness as any real-life is, and there are plenty of dogs to meet and greet along the way.
So I picked this up not really knowing what I was getting in to. I admit I'm not the biggest memoir fan, and I certainly don't trip head-over-heels over anything to do with London. Dogs on the other hand... A dog on the cover is worth more than any amount of 5-star reviews.
“After all, the decisions that feel the most impulsive and whimsical, the ones that just seem to fall out of the sky, often have roots so long that they are wrapped around your bones.”
It is a heart-warming, joyful read that brings laughter, tears and a warm glow with every page turn. After getting over the initial shock of it being a memoir (but a very well-told and witty one at that), you settle in to something that reads like a wonderfully smooth story that just so happens to be true.
If you're not a dog owner it can be quite the stark introduction to what is a world of pampered pooches and delightfully uptight dog-owners, which is probably as close to the truth as you will ever find. It's a lovely read, tinged with occasional sadness as any real-life is, and there are plenty of dogs to meet and greet along the way.
January 27, 2022
This book was quite a journey. And nothing like what I expected. Much more than a story about a dog-walking business.
Dogs are like people. The relationship between a dog and their family is a marriage of sorts. Some work and some don’t. Some people are animal lovers and good pet people, and some just aren’t meant to be pet people at all. Some are meant to be dog walkers, and some just need the money.
I fell in love with some of the dogs in here, even though I’m a cat person. And one of the walkers will always have a piece of my heart. I cried toward the end of this book. The audio was really well done, and I wound up listening to the end bc I woke up at 320 and couldn’t get back to sleep. Wound up with a wet pillow.
So the book is definitely worth a read but I have to say I think I laughed twice. So I wouldn’t call it a humorous read. I wouldn’t read it if what you need is a LOL book. But if you really want to look at people and their issues, almost see this as a sociological study of sorts, then this is a good one to try.
Dogs are like people. The relationship between a dog and their family is a marriage of sorts. Some work and some don’t. Some people are animal lovers and good pet people, and some just aren’t meant to be pet people at all. Some are meant to be dog walkers, and some just need the money.
I fell in love with some of the dogs in here, even though I’m a cat person. And one of the walkers will always have a piece of my heart. I cried toward the end of this book. The audio was really well done, and I wound up listening to the end bc I woke up at 320 and couldn’t get back to sleep. Wound up with a wet pillow.
So the book is definitely worth a read but I have to say I think I laughed twice. So I wouldn’t call it a humorous read. I wouldn’t read it if what you need is a LOL book. But if you really want to look at people and their issues, almost see this as a sociological study of sorts, then this is a good one to try.
August 9, 2021
**ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review**
I was dragging my feet through this one because I just didn't want it to end!
After acquiring an expensive education, Kate MacDougall finds herself suffocating in an office job at Sotheby's. On a whim she decides to quit it and starts her own dog-walking agency which, in 2006, sounds like a very odd career path to choose. What ensues is an absolutely delightful story about the challenges of growing your own business (especially during the 2008 crisis), owners and the aspirations their like to project on their pets, author's way to embrace the adulthood and her very dissatisfied mother. I don't have any pet (never had) and yet the descriptions of the animals as a force that grounds and centers the family are so beautiful that they made my heart ache. It's a superb read filled with the wit and the humor, the in-depth observations, the joy mixed with frustration. Flawless.
I was dragging my feet through this one because I just didn't want it to end!
After acquiring an expensive education, Kate MacDougall finds herself suffocating in an office job at Sotheby's. On a whim she decides to quit it and starts her own dog-walking agency which, in 2006, sounds like a very odd career path to choose. What ensues is an absolutely delightful story about the challenges of growing your own business (especially during the 2008 crisis), owners and the aspirations their like to project on their pets, author's way to embrace the adulthood and her very dissatisfied mother. I don't have any pet (never had) and yet the descriptions of the animals as a force that grounds and centers the family are so beautiful that they made my heart ache. It's a superb read filled with the wit and the humor, the in-depth observations, the joy mixed with frustration. Flawless.
February 28, 2022
Mine’s an unpopular review. I adore all dogs,and especially love my own, so I assumed I would really enjoy this memoir, about a professional dog Walker living in London. But I just didn’t, I felt like it was a bit boring. Nothing really book worthy happened, and I had trouble following along, often skimming ahead to try and become more interested, but it just didn’t happen for me unfortunately.
However, there are some stellar reviews out there for this book, so definitely give it a go,if you so desire !!
***Audiobook***
⭐️⭐️ Stars !!
However, there are some stellar reviews out there for this book, so definitely give it a go,if you so desire !!
***Audiobook***
⭐️⭐️ Stars !!
April 10, 2021
Heart-warming, honest and utterly charming. I adored this one. I love how it captures the love that pets bring into your life and how they burrow into your heart. I found myself laughing, crying and I felt reassured that no-one seems to know how to truly be an adult! It reminds you that so long as you are happy, it does not matter what you choose to do with your life.
The writing is wonderful and easy to read. There is a conversational tone which makes it feel as though you are hearing a story from a friend, which I loved. The story flows and I read it in one sitting!
The dogs in the story are adorable and so full of joy! Animals are uncomplicated and full of love – something we often need more of in the world. They live in the moment and enjoy everything they are given.
If you fancy a read that will make your heart feel full, this is one for you. I loved it!
The writing is wonderful and easy to read. There is a conversational tone which makes it feel as though you are hearing a story from a friend, which I loved. The story flows and I read it in one sitting!
The dogs in the story are adorable and so full of joy! Animals are uncomplicated and full of love – something we often need more of in the world. They live in the moment and enjoy everything they are given.
If you fancy a read that will make your heart feel full, this is one for you. I loved it!
May 25, 2021
Absolutely loved this book. Highly recommend for anyone who is in need of something comforting and heartwarming.
January 31, 2022
This book was charming and delightful.
There are so many books on Goodreads that are overhyped, overrated, and overread.
This book has the opposite problem. It’s underrated, and nearly unknown. It’s not widely read.
When I check out electronic books from my local public library, the wait for popular books is often months. This was available immediately.
This book deserves to be better known and more read. It’s really sweet. It’s also quite funny.
Here’s an example of the humor. Kate tries to start a dating event for single dog owners. It doesn’t go well.
MEET AND BONE™
will not only help you find love, but your dog might get lucky too.
Woof Woof!
I had been somewhat naive about the name. I thought the meet/meat pun was fun and witty and would make people want to come and have a fun and witty time but it turned out to be horribly, disastrously ambiguous and only attracted randy, dogless men who were expecting casual sex in the bushes.
Memoirs are not usually my preferred genre. But this read like a novel.
The book follows the author, Kate MacDougall, as she sets up and grows a dog walking business, after deciding she was utterly bored and frustrated by her office job at Sotheby’s (not to mention her clumsy habit of accidentally damaging the art objects).
She includes chapters about many of the dogs she walks and their characteristics and endearing and annoying habits. For example, she follows one dog, the curmudgeonly and stubborn mutt Stanley, to the end of his life.
In addition, we get a feel for the parks and neighborhoods of London.
MacDougall also talks about some of her employees. For example, there’s Tom, an offbeat character who sometimes shows up in period costumes and has tried communal farm life. But Tom adores dogs and gets on famously with Stanley.
More infuriating than her canines are their often neurotic, demanding, and finicky owners, with their lists of impossible (and sometimes inappropriate) demands and their refusal to see how they are contributing to their pet’s problems.
Ms. MacDougall handles her clients (both canine and human) with grace, tolerance, patience, and humor.
In the course of the book, her life changes, as she nurtures a growing business, marries, has children, gets her own pet dogs, matures, and moves out of London. She learns to set boundaries and say no. She also deals with her overbearing, snobbish mother with admirable patience.
If you love pets, you’ll likely enjoy this book.
I hope more people read it.
P.S. I'm wondering if the audio narrator, actress Anna Popplewell, was reading from a different edition of the book tailored to British audiences or she just tended to improvise the text. I suspect it may have been some of both. For example, "upper class accent" became "R.P.", "sheets of paper" became "A4", "the dog is in heat" became "the dog is on heat", "the aughts" became "the naughties" and on and on. If she was reading from a different edition than I was, I understand. But this is a book, not a play in a theatre, and I really wish audio readers would read the text as it's written.
There are so many books on Goodreads that are overhyped, overrated, and overread.
This book has the opposite problem. It’s underrated, and nearly unknown. It’s not widely read.
When I check out electronic books from my local public library, the wait for popular books is often months. This was available immediately.
This book deserves to be better known and more read. It’s really sweet. It’s also quite funny.
Here’s an example of the humor. Kate tries to start a dating event for single dog owners. It doesn’t go well.
MEET AND BONE™
will not only help you find love, but your dog might get lucky too.
Woof Woof!
I had been somewhat naive about the name. I thought the meet/meat pun was fun and witty and would make people want to come and have a fun and witty time but it turned out to be horribly, disastrously ambiguous and only attracted randy, dogless men who were expecting casual sex in the bushes.
Memoirs are not usually my preferred genre. But this read like a novel.
The book follows the author, Kate MacDougall, as she sets up and grows a dog walking business, after deciding she was utterly bored and frustrated by her office job at Sotheby’s (not to mention her clumsy habit of accidentally damaging the art objects).
She includes chapters about many of the dogs she walks and their characteristics and endearing and annoying habits. For example, she follows one dog, the curmudgeonly and stubborn mutt Stanley, to the end of his life.
In addition, we get a feel for the parks and neighborhoods of London.
MacDougall also talks about some of her employees. For example, there’s Tom, an offbeat character who sometimes shows up in period costumes and has tried communal farm life. But Tom adores dogs and gets on famously with Stanley.
More infuriating than her canines are their often neurotic, demanding, and finicky owners, with their lists of impossible (and sometimes inappropriate) demands and their refusal to see how they are contributing to their pet’s problems.
Ms. MacDougall handles her clients (both canine and human) with grace, tolerance, patience, and humor.
In the course of the book, her life changes, as she nurtures a growing business, marries, has children, gets her own pet dogs, matures, and moves out of London. She learns to set boundaries and say no. She also deals with her overbearing, snobbish mother with admirable patience.
If you love pets, you’ll likely enjoy this book.
I hope more people read it.
P.S. I'm wondering if the audio narrator, actress Anna Popplewell, was reading from a different edition of the book tailored to British audiences or she just tended to improvise the text. I suspect it may have been some of both. For example, "upper class accent" became "R.P.", "sheets of paper" became "A4", "the dog is in heat" became "the dog is on heat", "the aughts" became "the naughties" and on and on. If she was reading from a different edition than I was, I understand. But this is a book, not a play in a theatre, and I really wish audio readers would read the text as it's written.
September 22, 2021
An absolute joy to read, this is an uplifting and engaging story about chasing your dreams and the pitfalls of doing so and how you can change your life without it being a disaster.
Plus there are dogs. Lots and lots of dogs each one with their own personality causing many a smile to break out whilst you are reading about them.
A fun read with lots of insight and a breath of fresh air in the midst of all the crime and murder I read about.
Recommended.
Plus there are dogs. Lots and lots of dogs each one with their own personality causing many a smile to break out whilst you are reading about them.
A fun read with lots of insight and a breath of fresh air in the midst of all the crime and murder I read about.
Recommended.
March 28, 2021
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
I’m not usually a big fan of non-fiction books, but I really enjoyed this one. This is a lovely, heartwarming story following Kate, who decides to dump her boring desk job and start a dog walking business. As someone who loves dogs, it should be heaps of fun, right? Kate soon learns that the world of dog-walking isn’t always (pardon the pun) a walk in the park, thanks to difficult clients, dogs with highly specific needs and unreliable employees. The highs and lows of running a dog walking business were clearly communicated, and I loved reading about all the different dogs and unusual characters. Despite some of the difficulties of the job, I have no doubt it was highly rewarding and I really grew to care about some of the dogs I met throughout the book. Kate was very relatable and likeable and I thought there was the right mix of stories about dogs and more personal moments. I really wanted Kate to succeed. I would definitely recommend this book, I feel like anyone would enjoy it (but particularly someone who also likes dogs).
I’m not usually a big fan of non-fiction books, but I really enjoyed this one. This is a lovely, heartwarming story following Kate, who decides to dump her boring desk job and start a dog walking business. As someone who loves dogs, it should be heaps of fun, right? Kate soon learns that the world of dog-walking isn’t always (pardon the pun) a walk in the park, thanks to difficult clients, dogs with highly specific needs and unreliable employees. The highs and lows of running a dog walking business were clearly communicated, and I loved reading about all the different dogs and unusual characters. Despite some of the difficulties of the job, I have no doubt it was highly rewarding and I really grew to care about some of the dogs I met throughout the book. Kate was very relatable and likeable and I thought there was the right mix of stories about dogs and more personal moments. I really wanted Kate to succeed. I would definitely recommend this book, I feel like anyone would enjoy it (but particularly someone who also likes dogs).
August 18, 2021
MUST LOVE DOGS. This memoir is at once the story of the author’s early adulthood as well as a delightful account of the dog walking agency she started and managed for a number of years. As someone who makes dogs fully a part of our family, this book was absolutely made for me. Dogs and their owners are highlighted in each chapter, and I couldn’t help but love every single pup in these pages. This would be an amazing gift for anyone in your life who would rather spend their days with canines than humans. (that’s me to a T, FYI) I’m so happy I saw this one highlighted somewhere ~ BookPage perhaps?
dnf
August 6, 2021Dnf at 33%. I love a memoir on audio and thought I’d particularly enjoy this one but I’m just not the right reader. I’m not a huge dog lover - my own dog drives me bonkers- yes I still love him 😆. Dog lovers are their “own breed” and I do think if you fall in this category you should give it a go.
September 16, 2022
As a former dog walker in New York City, this book brought back great memories. While this book is mainly about Kate maturing as a person and businesswoman, you also get to see the transformation and stories of some of the regular dogs that she walks (Stanley was my favorite). I highly recommend this to dog lovers or anyone who just needs a heartwarming chuckle.
December 29, 2022
I wanted to like this book so badly. I wasn't expecting James Herriot, but maybe Bridget Jones without the calorie counting?
The memoir begins with the author launching her dog-walking business, not out of a love of animals so much as the fact she finds her desk job terribly tedious. After a bit of complaining about how she feels she's wasting her fancy degree pushing paper, she starts her own business (only remembering to get insurance later). The first gig, she gets the dog absolutely filthy (despite being expressly asked not to by the owners), and she acts as if this is an unreasonably request of a professional dog walker and seems to blame the fact the couple is two stereotypically fussy gay men, rather than, hey, if someone is paying you to exercise a dog, maybe don't let the dog get absolutely encrusted in a thick coating of mud? I can understand a bit damp, but really?
Then...as she hires walkers...
"The multiple emails...'Need job, I can wash you dog, please give me dog job,' were often from unsuitable candidates. Some of the clients we were starting to attract would insist on English accents and upper-crust ones at that.'" (p.78).
Wow, why don't you just say outright you engaged in discrimination based upon race and national origin, despite the fact that the job of dog walking certainly doesn't require someone to be fluent in the King's English?
There's also an uncomfortable anecdote when she dog-sits for someone who is a practicing Hindu, and she feeds the dog (after forgetting to get the dog's food from the client) spaghetti beef bolognaise instead of taking the trouble to go to the supermarket to get some cans of dog food. The dog gets sick, and, after learning her Hindu client doesn't like her dog to be feed beef (cow), again, she makes this into a colossal joke rather than admits if you're sitting a dog professionally, maybe give the dog actual dog food, versus rich people food that contains wine? Also, it's not like this woman keeps her dog vegan, it's just beef she prefers her dog to avoid. It's not like it's a nutritionally deficient vegetarian diet for the dog, unlike you, dear author, who fed the dog your totally batshit table food.
There's also jokes about a dog who doesn't like black people, which is again played for laughs.
As is the fact the author gets a Jack Russell terrier, which she allows to become obese, blaming the dog's spay rather than her overfeeding and lack of exercise.
The author eventually quits because a client calls her when the client's washing machine breaks and the dogs are getting out of control. Yes, the client was silly and out of line to call her dog walker rather than a plumber, but this is hardly James Herriot-level getting called to put your hand up a cow's vagina at 3 in the morning with no soap for lubrication.
There is no insight about dogs, just lots of "wow, dogs get dirty and poo quite a bit"-type jokes, and lots of angst about how this isn't a "serious" enough business for someone with a college education to have, despite the fact this woman was clearly lucky enough to get an "in" on the pet boom and made a nice living from very wealthy clients. Not something to whine about for 300 pages, and, even if she was bored by it, it's unattractive to do so, given how many people with passion projects of animal businesses struggle.
I gave this two stars because I do not rate books with animals one star, as any book with dogs has some redeeming value.
The memoir begins with the author launching her dog-walking business, not out of a love of animals so much as the fact she finds her desk job terribly tedious. After a bit of complaining about how she feels she's wasting her fancy degree pushing paper, she starts her own business (only remembering to get insurance later). The first gig, she gets the dog absolutely filthy (despite being expressly asked not to by the owners), and she acts as if this is an unreasonably request of a professional dog walker and seems to blame the fact the couple is two stereotypically fussy gay men, rather than, hey, if someone is paying you to exercise a dog, maybe don't let the dog get absolutely encrusted in a thick coating of mud? I can understand a bit damp, but really?
Then...as she hires walkers...
"The multiple emails...'Need job, I can wash you dog, please give me dog job,' were often from unsuitable candidates. Some of the clients we were starting to attract would insist on English accents and upper-crust ones at that.'" (p.78).
Wow, why don't you just say outright you engaged in discrimination based upon race and national origin, despite the fact that the job of dog walking certainly doesn't require someone to be fluent in the King's English?
There's also an uncomfortable anecdote when she dog-sits for someone who is a practicing Hindu, and she feeds the dog (after forgetting to get the dog's food from the client) spaghetti beef bolognaise instead of taking the trouble to go to the supermarket to get some cans of dog food. The dog gets sick, and, after learning her Hindu client doesn't like her dog to be feed beef (cow), again, she makes this into a colossal joke rather than admits if you're sitting a dog professionally, maybe give the dog actual dog food, versus rich people food that contains wine? Also, it's not like this woman keeps her dog vegan, it's just beef she prefers her dog to avoid. It's not like it's a nutritionally deficient vegetarian diet for the dog, unlike you, dear author, who fed the dog your totally batshit table food.
There's also jokes about a dog who doesn't like black people, which is again played for laughs.
As is the fact the author gets a Jack Russell terrier, which she allows to become obese, blaming the dog's spay rather than her overfeeding and lack of exercise.
The author eventually quits because a client calls her when the client's washing machine breaks and the dogs are getting out of control. Yes, the client was silly and out of line to call her dog walker rather than a plumber, but this is hardly James Herriot-level getting called to put your hand up a cow's vagina at 3 in the morning with no soap for lubrication.
There is no insight about dogs, just lots of "wow, dogs get dirty and poo quite a bit"-type jokes, and lots of angst about how this isn't a "serious" enough business for someone with a college education to have, despite the fact this woman was clearly lucky enough to get an "in" on the pet boom and made a nice living from very wealthy clients. Not something to whine about for 300 pages, and, even if she was bored by it, it's unattractive to do so, given how many people with passion projects of animal businesses struggle.
I gave this two stars because I do not rate books with animals one star, as any book with dogs has some redeeming value.
July 12, 2021
I received an early copy of this book in a giveaway and I finished it a couple of days ago but have been debating how to review it.
First, I very much enjoyed the stories of the different dogs and their personalities and thought arranging the chapters by dog was an interesting and fresh idea. But that was also what threw me off about this book. It is described as a memoir but I hardly knew the author at all by the end. The book seemed to be chronological recounting of different clients and the extents people go to for their animals, the sadness we visit upon our pets. I could not find a clear underlying theme about who the author is though, they were nice stories but not connected. It’s hard to explain but this did not read like a memoir to me and I did take a break from it about halfway through because I just tired of hearing about the neuroses of the dogs’ various owners. Every dog owner has problems apparently.
I did return to it and finished it and found the second half a bit more enjoyable and a faster read. I’m glad the author wrote this book. She has a unique take on dogs and owners because of her experience but it’s not a memoir in the classic sense and, though it has some funny moments, it by and large leaves me with a sadness.
First, I very much enjoyed the stories of the different dogs and their personalities and thought arranging the chapters by dog was an interesting and fresh idea. But that was also what threw me off about this book. It is described as a memoir but I hardly knew the author at all by the end. The book seemed to be chronological recounting of different clients and the extents people go to for their animals, the sadness we visit upon our pets. I could not find a clear underlying theme about who the author is though, they were nice stories but not connected. It’s hard to explain but this did not read like a memoir to me and I did take a break from it about halfway through because I just tired of hearing about the neuroses of the dogs’ various owners. Every dog owner has problems apparently.
I did return to it and finished it and found the second half a bit more enjoyable and a faster read. I’m glad the author wrote this book. She has a unique take on dogs and owners because of her experience but it’s not a memoir in the classic sense and, though it has some funny moments, it by and large leaves me with a sadness.
April 19, 2021
Kate’s wonderful memoir charts the highs and lows of setting up her dog walking business in London, at the same time as trying to figure out how to be a proper ‘grown up’ whom she assumes is someone with a cheeseboard and a mortgage 😂
This beautifully written book is laugh out loud funny, there are so many hilarious anecdotes about the dogs, their owners and their walkers and how the owners were usually more trouble than the dogs!
But aside from the humour there is a sensitive side to this book as Kate writes with enormous emotional intelligence about family, anxiety, infertility and grief and there were many touching moments.
I fell in love with so many characters; there was Tom the dog walker and his accidental protest against the wealthy. Naughty but loyal Jack Russell Mabel who was battling with her weight and my favourite, the hilarious dog trainer Dave - they were all fantastically written.
I absolutely loved this charming book, it is brilliantly observed, funny, honest, heartwarming and all about dogs - what’s not to love?
This beautifully written book is laugh out loud funny, there are so many hilarious anecdotes about the dogs, their owners and their walkers and how the owners were usually more trouble than the dogs!
But aside from the humour there is a sensitive side to this book as Kate writes with enormous emotional intelligence about family, anxiety, infertility and grief and there were many touching moments.
I fell in love with so many characters; there was Tom the dog walker and his accidental protest against the wealthy. Naughty but loyal Jack Russell Mabel who was battling with her weight and my favourite, the hilarious dog trainer Dave - they were all fantastically written.
I absolutely loved this charming book, it is brilliantly observed, funny, honest, heartwarming and all about dogs - what’s not to love?
May 3, 2021
This is the author’s own story of her journey into setting up a dog-walking agency and the dogs and people she met along the way. I enjoyed this so much; it’s such a joyful, fun and charming read. From the very beginning I knew I would love this and as I read on I warmed to Kate and Finlay more and more.
Kate starts up her business from scratch, being interviewed by dog owners who want to know if she is up to the job, their dogs are after all part of the family. The rules and requirements the owners set out of how their dogs should be looked after were very amusing, some were always going to end in disaster and stretched the dog-walking job description to more of a PA! I liked that the dog owners were from all ‘walks’ of life, and were very different characters, I also enjoyed the encounters of Kate meeting with her dog-walking competition in the park, and the dog-trainer who was very passionate about his work. In such small spaces of time the author really captures the personality of each of the dog owners, and we can build a picture of them and their very different, and individual traits.
This book has many funny moments which made me laugh out loud, and some more serious ones with Kate’s chats with her mother who really wants her to get on with things and become a ‘real grown-up’, with a proper job and provide her with something to talk to her friends about, in the form of grandchildren or an enviable career. Kate was always striving to achieve something, and I liked that when she did she had the good grace to accept that her patch was big enough for more than one dog-walking business.
I don’t have any pets, but, so much enjoyed spending the bank holiday weekend with all of these dogs! I enjoyed the style of the book broken into chapters, dog by dog, with a little description of the dog and a tally of the number of dogs now on the books, the format is very engaging. This is a really delightful, humorous and entertaining book.
Kate starts up her business from scratch, being interviewed by dog owners who want to know if she is up to the job, their dogs are after all part of the family. The rules and requirements the owners set out of how their dogs should be looked after were very amusing, some were always going to end in disaster and stretched the dog-walking job description to more of a PA! I liked that the dog owners were from all ‘walks’ of life, and were very different characters, I also enjoyed the encounters of Kate meeting with her dog-walking competition in the park, and the dog-trainer who was very passionate about his work. In such small spaces of time the author really captures the personality of each of the dog owners, and we can build a picture of them and their very different, and individual traits.
This book has many funny moments which made me laugh out loud, and some more serious ones with Kate’s chats with her mother who really wants her to get on with things and become a ‘real grown-up’, with a proper job and provide her with something to talk to her friends about, in the form of grandchildren or an enviable career. Kate was always striving to achieve something, and I liked that when she did she had the good grace to accept that her patch was big enough for more than one dog-walking business.
I don’t have any pets, but, so much enjoyed spending the bank holiday weekend with all of these dogs! I enjoyed the style of the book broken into chapters, dog by dog, with a little description of the dog and a tally of the number of dogs now on the books, the format is very engaging. This is a really delightful, humorous and entertaining book.
August 7, 2021
Delightful book and quite entertaining! If you're a dog lover, you will most likely love this book. If you walk dogs as a business or side gig, rescue dogs, foster dogs, or do any sort of work with dogs, you will connect to this even more.
I listened to this on audio and it was very well done. The book flows like fiction which is to say I was engaged throughout and it was very easy to listen to and follow.
The author has incredible insight as to how her own life changes as she encounters each dog and/or its person/people. Even though this is autobiographical, there is great character growth throughout. Lots of funny stories regarding different dogs and their personalities. Even funnier stories about the humans involved and their idiosyncrasies.
If you've lost a dog and are super sensitive about it as I am, I would skip the last chapter of Stanley and Tom as I openly sobbed during it. Although I liked finding out what Tom decided to do with his life as well. You can't think reading a book about dogs won't have some sadness in it because that mirrors the life of dog ownership. It just hits too close to home for me yet.
Not only do I recommend this title, I would also suggest that this book would also make a great gift for someone who loves dogs. They will totally get the initial appeal of walking out of their jobs to start a dog walking business. Two paws up on this one! 🐾
I listened to this on audio and it was very well done. The book flows like fiction which is to say I was engaged throughout and it was very easy to listen to and follow.
The author has incredible insight as to how her own life changes as she encounters each dog and/or its person/people. Even though this is autobiographical, there is great character growth throughout. Lots of funny stories regarding different dogs and their personalities. Even funnier stories about the humans involved and their idiosyncrasies.
If you've lost a dog and are super sensitive about it as I am, I would skip the last chapter of Stanley and Tom as I openly sobbed during it. Although I liked finding out what Tom decided to do with his life as well. You can't think reading a book about dogs won't have some sadness in it because that mirrors the life of dog ownership. It just hits too close to home for me yet.
Not only do I recommend this title, I would also suggest that this book would also make a great gift for someone who loves dogs. They will totally get the initial appeal of walking out of their jobs to start a dog walking business. Two paws up on this one! 🐾
April 2, 2021
This was an unexpected charming little read. I didn't realise until a quarter of the way through that it's autobiographical and the life we are following is the author's.
I'm a huge dog person myself so I'm pleased I received this ARC. The dogs are beautifully captured with all their quirks and the many intricacies of the lives of their owners. It sounds like a dog walking business is a sure fire way to meet an eclectic mix of people!
As the book progresses we also are taken on a journey of growing up and all of the turmoil of adulthood; marriage, dog ownership, children, house moves, running a business and eventually relocation. Along the way there are moments of hilarity and moments of sadness and through it all there are a few dogs that stick around for the whole journey.
A thoroughly pleasant read and one that chimes with my own experience of dogs past and present.
I'm a huge dog person myself so I'm pleased I received this ARC. The dogs are beautifully captured with all their quirks and the many intricacies of the lives of their owners. It sounds like a dog walking business is a sure fire way to meet an eclectic mix of people!
As the book progresses we also are taken on a journey of growing up and all of the turmoil of adulthood; marriage, dog ownership, children, house moves, running a business and eventually relocation. Along the way there are moments of hilarity and moments of sadness and through it all there are a few dogs that stick around for the whole journey.
A thoroughly pleasant read and one that chimes with my own experience of dogs past and present.
October 22, 2021
I thought I would enjoy this story but this one was just odd.
Many times I found myself not putting my trust in her to take care of a dog.
First off if you know that Frank the dog loves that kind of ball then why not buy as many as one can get? Why does Kate not even try to find a replacement when she losses that ball?
Another moment finds her ignoring the owner’s dog food request.
The guys with the lab my goodness. Why not let the dog roll in mud and clean him back up? Why not inform him that they love water?
I thought this would be more about dogs and dog walking. If I hear one more time that her boyfriend does not like dogs. We get it.
It was more about her life than the dogs she takes care of.
https://theworldisabookandiamitsreade...
Many times I found myself not putting my trust in her to take care of a dog.
First off if you know that Frank the dog loves that kind of ball then why not buy as many as one can get? Why does Kate not even try to find a replacement when she losses that ball?
Another moment finds her ignoring the owner’s dog food request.
The guys with the lab my goodness. Why not let the dog roll in mud and clean him back up? Why not inform him that they love water?
I thought this would be more about dogs and dog walking. If I hear one more time that her boyfriend does not like dogs. We get it.
It was more about her life than the dogs she takes care of.
https://theworldisabookandiamitsreade...
August 21, 2021
This book really disappointed me in a way I can’t really describe. Maybe it was the fact that it wasn’t really about the dogs, although if the book had been about Tom I don’t think I would have minded. I just didn’t care about Kate and her need to follow a certain timeline of success (even if she thought she wasn’t). The biggest thing that niggles at me is her entitlement. She judges all these pet owners who are arguably not great, but she starts the business with no idea of the different needs dogs have, doesn’t even bring treats on walks, just in general bumbles through it with, in my opinion, not a lot of learning and growth. In the end, I loved hearing about the journeys the dogs went on, I just wish it wasn’t through Kate’s eyes.
August 28, 2022
Before I even started listening to this audiobook, I knew it was going to be good. Through trial and error, the author presents a humorous look at her life, centered around her startup business of dog walking. She gives life to the clients she worked for and their dogs, their likes and dislikes, and their unique personalities. She forms personal connections with some of the dogs and their owners, so it's fun to read about that throughout the book.
"In 2006, Kate MacDougall was working a safe but dull job at the venerable auction house Sotheby’s in London. After a clumsy accident nearly destroyed a precious piece of art, she quit Sotheby’s and set up her own dog-walking company. Kate knew little about dogs and nothing about business, and no one thought being a professional dog walker was a good use of her university degree. Nevertheless, Kate embarked upon an entirely new and very much improvised career walking some of the city’s many pampered pooches, branding her company 'London's Number One Dog Walking Agency.'"
Cheerful, Lighthearted, but Purposeful, this memoir will delight dog loving readers.
"In 2006, Kate MacDougall was working a safe but dull job at the venerable auction house Sotheby’s in London. After a clumsy accident nearly destroyed a precious piece of art, she quit Sotheby’s and set up her own dog-walking company. Kate knew little about dogs and nothing about business, and no one thought being a professional dog walker was a good use of her university degree. Nevertheless, Kate embarked upon an entirely new and very much improvised career walking some of the city’s many pampered pooches, branding her company 'London's Number One Dog Walking Agency.'"
Cheerful, Lighthearted, but Purposeful, this memoir will delight dog loving readers.
February 6, 2024
This was a sweet book all centered around dogs. It follows Kate Macdougall as she starts a dog walking business in London, meeting a multitude of lovely dogs and their (sometimes not so lovely) owners.
The dog stories were entertaining & funny, and obviously makes you love dogs even more. (This quote: “He had gotten used to seeing London through Stanley’s eyes, how simple and joyful it could be if you just looked, the delight to be taken from an old tree or a shard of sunlight on the grass, the shelter of a doorway when the heavens open, the weekly fish and chips. There was so much that could be gleaned from so little. . . . Dogs sneak up on you like that, burying parts of themselves deep within you, bits that are only revealed later, once they are long gone.”)
What was lacking was the “memoir” aspect. I really don’t feel like I know Macdougall very well after reading this. All of her personal thoughts and experiences felt very surface level, which made it harder to get more meaning out of the book, other than just a few funny stories. I thought there could have been more depth to all of the things she learned from her business, marriage, & motherhood.
The dog stories were entertaining & funny, and obviously makes you love dogs even more. (This quote: “He had gotten used to seeing London through Stanley’s eyes, how simple and joyful it could be if you just looked, the delight to be taken from an old tree or a shard of sunlight on the grass, the shelter of a doorway when the heavens open, the weekly fish and chips. There was so much that could be gleaned from so little. . . . Dogs sneak up on you like that, burying parts of themselves deep within you, bits that are only revealed later, once they are long gone.”)
What was lacking was the “memoir” aspect. I really don’t feel like I know Macdougall very well after reading this. All of her personal thoughts and experiences felt very surface level, which made it harder to get more meaning out of the book, other than just a few funny stories. I thought there could have been more depth to all of the things she learned from her business, marriage, & motherhood.
August 2, 2025
I really liked this. It was sweet and simple but very enjoyable. Recommended for dog lovers.
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