ABOUT

Nurturing the relationship and building a bond with your furry best friend

This is your dog's ticket to some tail-waggin' fun!

If you’re on the hunt for a reliable dog walker in Southampton – somebody who will be the pawfect match for your treasured family member, then you’ve sniffed out the right place…

Pomeranian in the countryside
Small dogs having fun in the countryside

Happy tails, happy dogs!

Putting your trust in someone you’ve never met can be overwhelming and quite a bit ‘ruff’.

Not only do I work with dogs professionally, but I also share my life and home with furry friends of my own, so I really do understand how you feel when it comes to leaving your pet in someone else’s care.

Building trust takes time, especially when it comes to leaving your dog with someone new.

How can I pawsitively reassure you that you're not barking up the wrong tree?

I can’t emphasise enough that it’s my duty to provide you with as much information as you need, so that you have complete peace of mind when you entrust your pet to me.

As well as being insured and DBS checked, I also make sure your dog’s safety, happiness, and enjoyment on their walks are my absolute priorities. With meticulously planned routes and tailored care with the option of using my GPS trackers, I go the extra mile to ensure every walk is not just safe, but also filled with fun and adventure.

I hope it’s as clear as a muddy paw print to see that I’m fully committed to easing your mind, so you can rest assured your furry friend is well taken care of and safe in my capable hands.

The beginning of a tail-wagging adventure

1.

Before you make a decision, let’s book your complimentary Meet & Greet.

Together, we’ll find an appropriate time for me to visit you and your pet in the comfort of your own home.

This offers you the chance to get to know me, understand my approach, and most importantly, have an open discussion about any concerns you may have.

Being a dog lover myself, you can rest assured that your furry friend will be in good hands. It’s important to me that you witness first-hand how I interact with your pet, ensuring that your dog feels comfortable and at ease in my presence. I mean let’s face it, we all know Fido is boss around here!

2.

No judgments here. If your dog is feeling anxious, worry not. I’ve experienced similar challenges first-hand, so rest assured, we’re on the same page.

3.

I’m fully covered with insurance and equipped with all the essential paperwork, including a contract, pet profile for you to fill out, and a vet release form.

4.

“A picture is worth a thousand words.”

During each walk, I capture precious moments through photos and videos. I’m more than happy to share these with you so you can see how your furry friend is doing.

5.

Transparency is at the heart of my service. I’m committed to providing you with honest updates about your dog’s progress, highlighting exciting and positive milestones as well as any challenges we may face along the way.

6.

Protecting your dog and offering you peace of mind is one of my key concerns. That’s why I’m thrilled to offer a GPS tracker add-on service, providing you with that extra layer of reassurance.

5/5
I felt reassured that my puppy was safe and well looked after. I especially enjoyed the beautiful pictures and videos Andrea shared with me.
~ Gabriela, Sonny’s owner ~

The premier choice for Southampton's toy breeds, small pups, and spaniel sidekicks!​

Manchester Terrier Southampton

Recommended by existing clients and trusted pet professionals in and around Southampton, I’m committed to delivering a fun and loving dog walking experience tailored specifically for small dogs and spaniels.

I’m Andrea – dog walker extraordinaire and founder of Small Paws Outdoors.

First and foremost, your dog’s happiness means the world to me.

Whether your furry friend is a petite pup like a Manchester Terrier, a delightful Spaniel mix such as a Cavapoo or Cockerpoo, a distinguished pedigree like the mischievous Cocker Spaniel and the regal Cavalier King Charles, or a tiny treasure like a Mini Dachshund or Pomeranian, I believe your dog deserves an experience beyond a simple walk.

Just like us, pets are individuals, each with their own preferences and needs. That’s why there’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach when it comes to their walks. I’m on a mission to enrich the lives of Southampton’s doggy families with personalised walks that are designed to suit the unique personalities and requirements of smaller dogs.

Are you ready to embark on an adventure that your pup will cherish with the perfect buddy by their side?

Why I'm the pawfect companion for your doggy adventures

Awarded ‘Most Trusted Small Dog Walking Service in Southampton’ in 2023 and ‘Best Small Dog Walking Service in Hampshire’ in 2022 by SME News and ‘Specialist Dog Walking Service of the Year’ in the South England Prestige Awards.

Working with smaller dogs who can sometimes be incredibly nervous is one of my specialities and I pride myself on having the patience, kindness and understanding that’s necessary in helping them build their confidence slowly and safely.

I have worked closely with fellow pet professional Jade Nicholas BA (Hons), PACT-KSA, ABTC ATI who runs About Your Dog in Hampshire.

Jade is not only an expert I trust, she has become a friend, has great ethics and was a brilliant mentor for me in the beginning when she invited me to shadow a selection of her training classes.

I follow a ‘dog-centred care’ approach.

I first heard about this movement when I tuned into Andrew Hale on Colin Taylor’s podcast ‘Spilling the Tea with Colin Taylor’. Every word spoken completely resonated with my own views prompting me to delve deeper into the subject.

This is something I feel very strongly about as it allows like-minded pet professionals to explore a dog’s emotional experience through compassion, awareness, knowledge and empathy.

Sadly, my beautiful boy Kobi passed away in 2023 and I will be forever grateful to him for teaching me how to truly care for a dog. He was – and still is – a true inspiration. Small Paws Outdoors is his legacy. Kobi was a true fighter who suffered with significant health issues over the years. He gave me the hands-on experience in managing anxiety and reactivity and led me to genuinely recognise a dog’s body language when they are feeling stressed or nervous.

5/5
Andrea is a true professional. The dedication she shows to her work is second to none.
~ Jade Nicholas, About Your Dog ~

Lots of people talk to animals.... Not very many listen, though.... That's the problem.

Benjamin Hoff, The Tao of Pooh

My ultimate goal is to help as many dogs and their families in Southampton as I possibly can. On this basis, I have formulated a very effective system of ethics that I call ‘The S.M.A.L.L System’, not only to reflect my love of working with smaller dogs, but also to illustrate my core principles.

The S.M.A.L.L. System explained

Space

In my experience, dogs can feel overwhelmed when there’s too much going on. An overabundance of other dogs in their faces and people wanting to say hello can amount to overstimulation and sometimes result in a reaction.

I always focus on giving your dog space and I avoid busy areas whenever I can.

My group walks provide plenty of opportunity for your dog to socialise with other dogs in a controlled environment where they feel safe.

It’s all about pacing and moderation.

Mental stimulation

Mental stimulation is just as important on walks – if not more important – than exercise alone. For me it’s not about step counting and covering distance. It’s about allowing the dogs to read their surroundings by letting them use their noses and their brains.

Did you know that a short amount of time spent sniffing is the equivalent of an hour’s exercise?

Sniffing can reduce anxiety and lets dogs refocus their energy, so I always allow your dog to spend plenty of time sniffing on our scented walks.

Adaptability

Each and every dog is different, just as you and I are different. So, regardless of breed and other similarities between pets, I always assess the individual needs of each dog I walk to ensure they are getting the right kind of stimulation for them.

If I feel your dog isn’t suited to a particular group, I will communicate this with you, explain the reasons why, and provide you with alternative options.

And, don’t worry.

I will always find a workaround.

Lead walking

In my experience, there are three aspects to lead walking:

01 | Lead walking for recall purposes
It’s an unfortunate part of life that dogs sometimes bolt. And at other times, they’re just ‘being a dog’ and want to run off chasing deer. If your dog is of a nervous disposition or has a tendency to run off on a chase, they may need to be kept on a lead to prevent this from happening.

I’ve worked with some very nervous dogs who couldn’t be taken off lead at all in the beginning. And now? With some basic recall training, they exude confidence and spend their whole time off lead enjoying their surroundings.

02 | Lead walking for safety reasons
If your dog is reactive, I may need to keep them on a lead to keep them – and others – safe.

03 | Lead restrictions
I often find that most of the dogs I walk simply feel restricted on a lead which is why they sometimes react. They feel like they don’t have any control over what they perceive to be a threatening situation and, in a fight or flight scenario where flight is their main response, they become stressed and frightened. This, in turn, causes them to react.

In my experience, the majority of dogs I walk don’t react at all when walking off lead, simply because if they don’t like something, they walk away. That said, if at any time their response mode is to fight, then of course I comply with the second point above to ensure both your dog and others are safe.

Lenience

I feel very strongly about being lenient when it comes to your dog’s behaviour as there will always be an underlying reason as to why they are reacting. It’s important to be mindful of this, whilst being aware of the surroundings and communicating with people – which I’ve found makes a huge difference.

The biggest obstacle for me around dog aggression, nervousness or reactivity is misunderstanding.

Dogs aren’t angry or scared just for the sake of it.

There are so many factors that need to be considered: the breed, your dog’s history, health issues, tolerance and stress levels, the environment, to name just a few.

Investigating the reasons behind your dog’s behaviour as opposed to just changing it will give you a much better understanding of your dog’s relationship with others.

5/5
Andrea is easily the best dog walker we have ever had. She is incredibly reliable and I always feel 100% comfortable leaving our puppy in her care. She really adapts her walks to suit our dog’s needs and, to put it simply, she just cares. Could not recommend her more!
~ Laura, Palma's owner ~
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