WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.789 --> 00:00:06.320 Welcome to the Soul Touched by Dogs Podcast, the show for dog lovers who 00:00:06.340 --> 00:00:12.000 see dogs not as toys or tools, but wise souls worth our respect and care. 00:00:12.580 --> 00:00:14.559 I'm an Herrmann, and I'm your host. 00:00:15.320 --> 00:00:20.560 I talk to poor some humans, people who do great work for dogs and their people. 00:00:21.099 --> 00:00:23.360 So come and join us for today's conversation. 00:00:24.927 --> 00:00:25.177 Anke: Hello. 00:00:25.207 --> 00:00:27.127 Hello, hello and welcome, Lauren. 00:00:27.127 --> 00:00:28.867 I'm super excited to have you here. 00:00:29.827 --> 00:00:30.737 Lauren: Hi Anke. 00:00:30.757 --> 00:00:31.237 Thank you. 00:00:31.327 --> 00:00:33.697 I'm really looking, I've been really looking forward to this. 00:00:33.727 --> 00:00:35.347 Um, my name's Lauren, obviously. 00:00:35.347 --> 00:00:35.677 Yeah. 00:00:37.177 --> 00:00:37.957 Anke: Well, thank you. 00:00:38.137 --> 00:00:40.867 Well, let's start out, you know, let people know where that 00:00:41.107 --> 00:00:44.917 beautiful accent comes from and what's your business with dogs. 00:00:45.547 --> 00:00:46.297 Lauren: Uh, thank you. 00:00:46.687 --> 00:00:49.117 Um, so I'm from Belfast, Northern Ireland. 00:00:50.122 --> 00:00:56.842 And I am the owner and founder of Fleet with Luna, and I do dog. 00:00:56.842 --> 00:00:58.612 I start off with dog walking. 00:00:58.792 --> 00:01:02.812 Um, I still do that and I do one-to-one dog training as well. 00:01:03.412 --> 00:01:05.602 Um, I started out about eight years ago. 00:01:06.022 --> 00:01:10.582 Um, whenever I got, whenever I got, well, Luna, um, she was a We rescue. 00:01:11.602 --> 00:01:14.752 Um, so her mom, she was founded astray. 00:01:15.397 --> 00:01:15.847 Pregnant. 00:01:15.847 --> 00:01:20.317 So she was in the pound and we weren't even expecting, um, the 00:01:20.317 --> 00:01:22.987 get Luna, but didn't even know if there was any pups left. 00:01:22.987 --> 00:01:26.557 So we just went up not expecting anything and we got her. 00:01:27.217 --> 00:01:34.147 Um, so it all really started with her taking her to puppy classes and was 00:01:34.147 --> 00:01:37.207 with my old dog too, my German Shepherd. 00:01:37.747 --> 00:01:44.467 He had a lot of issues and didn't want to repeat any same mistakes with Luna. 00:01:44.467 --> 00:01:46.147 Learned a lot from him. 00:01:46.687 --> 00:01:46.957 Mm-hmm. 00:01:47.197 --> 00:01:49.957 And yeah, after taking her to the puppy classes, that really got me 00:01:49.957 --> 00:01:53.257 into the dog training and started the dog walking first to give me more 00:01:53.257 --> 00:01:55.837 experience, and I gradually built it up. 00:01:56.947 --> 00:01:57.787 Anke: That's fascinating. 00:01:57.817 --> 00:02:01.387 'cause I think a lot of people might have this idea of like, oh, I really 00:02:01.387 --> 00:02:07.927 enjoy this, but, uh, not many people actually do, you know, so, and the 00:02:07.927 --> 00:02:09.577 dog walking it does make sense. 00:02:09.907 --> 00:02:13.897 And still, my, my little business mind is going, how do you get somebody to 00:02:13.897 --> 00:02:18.007 trust you with their dog when you sort of first starting out, when you don't really 00:02:18.007 --> 00:02:19.927 have much experience how, you know, how. 00:02:22.147 --> 00:02:28.057 Lauren: Um, well before I started I got my DBS police background check. 00:02:28.747 --> 00:02:35.917 Um, so I got that and I got my insurance and, uh, got a couple of qualifications. 00:02:35.947 --> 00:02:37.687 Um, my first aid. 00:02:38.422 --> 00:02:42.502 And then it started off very, very local, um, word mouth, and 00:02:42.502 --> 00:02:44.032 then through people in the park. 00:02:44.602 --> 00:02:47.722 And then I got reviews and I just gradually built it up 00:02:47.722 --> 00:02:49.882 really, really slowly over time. 00:02:50.392 --> 00:02:53.602 And so whenever I go to the meet and greets, I bring everything with 00:02:53.602 --> 00:02:59.662 my, all the qualifications and the certificates and photographic id because 00:02:59.662 --> 00:03:02.692 I could just be a stranger lying Yeah. 00:03:02.692 --> 00:03:03.472 Into their home. 00:03:03.772 --> 00:03:05.482 So I bring everything with my. 00:03:06.127 --> 00:03:08.707 Anke: Oh, that's such a, that's such a good point because like, see, 00:03:08.707 --> 00:03:11.812 I'm just so thinking, like, I'd be like, I'd be such a horrible client. 00:03:13.002 --> 00:03:14.497 It's like, I'd be so, yeah. 00:03:14.497 --> 00:03:16.747 I'd be so worried to kind of leave my job with somebody. 00:03:18.187 --> 00:03:21.367 Lauren: But, um, it's, it's really, really, um, surprising. 00:03:21.397 --> 00:03:22.957 Nobody ever asks for them. 00:03:23.407 --> 00:03:24.427 Oh yeah. 00:03:24.427 --> 00:03:27.397 So I have to give it to 'em and tell them to go through it. 00:03:27.397 --> 00:03:27.997 Have a look. 00:03:28.057 --> 00:03:30.607 But we'd have a, we quick flick through and they would be happy. 00:03:30.937 --> 00:03:31.507 Um. 00:03:32.572 --> 00:03:36.862 They base their decision on how the dog reacts to me. 00:03:37.042 --> 00:03:38.992 If the dog likes me, then they're happy. 00:03:39.262 --> 00:03:41.992 They don't want to know, they don't need to know anything else. 00:03:41.992 --> 00:03:45.262 They just base their opinions on me, based on their dog. 00:03:45.712 --> 00:03:46.972 Anke: Oh, well that's a smart move. 00:03:46.972 --> 00:03:49.402 I think it's a smart move. 00:03:49.762 --> 00:03:54.112 So what, what made you then, you know, so also you started out sort 00:03:54.112 --> 00:03:57.622 of thinking like you wanna kind of get into the doc training and, and so 00:03:57.622 --> 00:04:01.342 what do people, like, what's the most common thing people come to you for? 00:04:02.587 --> 00:04:06.547 Lauren: Um, it would be mainly their dog ping on the lead. 00:04:07.867 --> 00:04:14.047 And I get a lot of dog on dog reactivity would be those main two. 00:04:14.467 --> 00:04:18.397 Um, sometimes it would be separation anxiety, but that's very, very rare. 00:04:19.057 --> 00:04:22.537 Um, but I am really glad it is those, because those are my two 00:04:22.537 --> 00:04:27.277 favorite, um, fields to work in. 00:04:27.397 --> 00:04:29.317 Like I love teaching my sidewalking. 00:04:29.662 --> 00:04:31.942 And I love helping with reactivity. 00:04:32.122 --> 00:04:33.712 It's really, really satisfying. 00:04:33.742 --> 00:04:38.242 'cause some of it's like the reactivity is really slow progress. 00:04:38.482 --> 00:04:38.572 Yeah. 00:04:38.602 --> 00:04:43.162 I mean, if you see the owners put in the work and you see it gradually happening 00:04:43.222 --> 00:04:45.352 and the difference over time, I love that. 00:04:45.832 --> 00:04:46.252 Mm. 00:04:46.342 --> 00:04:47.482 Anke: And it does make sense. 00:04:47.482 --> 00:04:51.172 You know when, when you think about when, when you kind of 00:04:51.172 --> 00:04:53.032 have the walking as the base. 00:04:53.247 --> 00:04:53.667 Mm-hmm. 00:04:53.792 --> 00:04:56.332 You know, so obviously it's those two things that happen on a walk. 00:04:56.332 --> 00:04:56.452 Right. 00:04:58.072 --> 00:04:58.312 Lauren: Yes. 00:04:58.312 --> 00:04:58.732 So it's 00:04:58.732 --> 00:05:01.102 Anke: almost like, you know, like you, you could be like, 00:05:01.102 --> 00:05:02.662 on like peaceful walks, right? 00:05:03.052 --> 00:05:05.902 So that's almost like the, the headline in a way. 00:05:06.262 --> 00:05:08.272 What's your, what's your favorite case? 00:05:08.272 --> 00:05:14.032 What's the kind of the most kind of emotional or the most impactful 00:05:14.032 --> 00:05:17.062 transformation you've experienced in a, in the client store? 00:05:20.662 --> 00:05:21.472 Lauren: There's been a few. 00:05:21.592 --> 00:05:22.762 There's been quite a few. 00:05:23.452 --> 00:05:26.842 Um, there's also been ones just with dog walking class. 00:05:26.842 --> 00:05:29.092 There's been quite a few transformations as well. 00:05:29.722 --> 00:05:33.592 Um, just trying to have a wee think. 00:05:37.012 --> 00:05:41.362 There was one dog, um, when I first started walking 'em, uh, 00:05:41.722 --> 00:05:46.132 was just initially as a dog walker was really reactive and. 00:05:47.362 --> 00:05:51.172 Um, permanently jumping and everything. 00:05:51.322 --> 00:05:53.782 Um, so I was walking him for quite a while. 00:05:54.622 --> 00:05:58.282 I do walk and train as well, just normally on the walks. 00:05:58.822 --> 00:06:04.342 And I, I just, I told the owner everything that I had been doing, 00:06:05.122 --> 00:06:06.532 and she was a planner as well. 00:06:06.532 --> 00:06:11.242 I've been walking the dog for two years now, two and a half years. 00:06:12.022 --> 00:06:14.302 Um, and. 00:06:14.752 --> 00:06:15.172 Ever. 00:06:15.172 --> 00:06:17.932 She's been doing the training, she's been sending me videos 'cause I 00:06:17.932 --> 00:06:19.522 only walk the we dog once a week. 00:06:21.352 --> 00:06:26.512 Um, so there's a great difference in a, now he's a lot more calmer and all 00:06:26.512 --> 00:06:29.812 the stress signals have all gone down. 00:06:29.812 --> 00:06:35.212 The Panton stop and the frowning, like he still has moments, like he 00:06:35.212 --> 00:06:38.842 still has his bag bursts every now and again a couple of times a month, 00:06:38.842 --> 00:06:40.882 but it would be every single day. 00:06:41.722 --> 00:06:42.202 Wow. 00:06:42.262 --> 00:06:44.572 And they have really, really put in the work. 00:06:45.292 --> 00:06:45.592 Anke: Wow. 00:06:45.592 --> 00:06:49.702 So they basically, you, you work with the dog, then you tell the owner what 00:06:49.702 --> 00:06:55.312 to do, and if they continue on the same, you know, basically pulling 00:06:55.312 --> 00:06:58.702 on the same string, then you really, really see, see the different, you 00:06:58.702 --> 00:07:03.352 know what I, what, what struck me about this was like if I have a dog. 00:07:04.057 --> 00:07:06.667 Who, who is really reactive and really pulls. 00:07:06.847 --> 00:07:10.447 It wouldn't occur to me to throw a dog walk under the bus. 00:07:10.747 --> 00:07:10.987 You know? 00:07:10.987 --> 00:07:14.827 I would sort of think like, oh my God, I need to kind of get my dog 00:07:16.597 --> 00:07:20.857 some help with this first before I can get some, before I would kind of 00:07:20.857 --> 00:07:23.167 like put this on onto somebody else. 00:07:23.167 --> 00:07:25.237 So it feels to me it's like, is that common? 00:07:25.777 --> 00:07:26.347 Lauren: Yes. 00:07:26.347 --> 00:07:27.307 That's really funny. 00:07:27.367 --> 00:07:30.187 Um, I was talking to my sister about that the other day. 00:07:30.757 --> 00:07:34.537 Um, 'cause it's been really warm weather, so I've had to wear shorts and 00:07:34.537 --> 00:07:37.747 my legs have bruises, cuts, scratches. 00:07:38.167 --> 00:07:41.707 I get everybody else, all the other dog walkers seem to get really 00:07:41.707 --> 00:07:44.197 calm dogs and they do group walks. 00:07:45.937 --> 00:07:49.597 I get all the, I get all the weak, perky dogs, so just all come to me. 00:07:49.627 --> 00:07:51.607 So it's all solo walks. 00:07:55.077 --> 00:07:56.452 I think, I think I'm a magnet. 00:07:57.082 --> 00:07:59.572 I must send out some beacon that attracts them. 00:07:59.902 --> 00:08:00.832 Anke: Oh, that's funny. 00:08:00.837 --> 00:08:01.732 That is funny. 00:08:01.912 --> 00:08:04.462 But see that's the thing is like I wouldn't, I wouldn't have even 00:08:04.462 --> 00:08:05.872 thought that that was a thing. 00:08:06.112 --> 00:08:08.212 Like I would've thought if I come to a dog trainer. 00:08:08.837 --> 00:08:13.397 And, um, and have a dog that's like reactive and really kind of pulling on 00:08:13.397 --> 00:08:17.837 the leash that I'd go and say, well, hey, can we like do some training first? 00:08:18.287 --> 00:08:23.417 And then when the dogs kind of, you know, more easily, easily, you know, like, does 00:08:23.417 --> 00:08:27.677 better with the walks, then I would go like, now you could go take him for a walk 00:08:27.857 --> 00:08:29.537 and not like, Hey, I can't handle him. 00:08:29.537 --> 00:08:30.107 You go do it. 00:08:30.377 --> 00:08:30.617 Right? 00:08:30.947 --> 00:08:32.507 I mean, it feels a little bit like that. 00:08:33.287 --> 00:08:33.857 Lauren: Yeah. 00:08:34.007 --> 00:08:35.657 Um, but at least I can't complain. 00:08:35.657 --> 00:08:37.067 It least, at least it's not boring. 00:08:37.567 --> 00:08:38.137 Anke: Yeah, no. 00:08:38.137 --> 00:08:39.937 And also you get clients from it, right? 00:08:39.937 --> 00:08:44.677 So it's almost like, you know, if you can, if you can make some, actually, I remember 00:08:44.677 --> 00:08:47.827 speaking to somebody, she did that, she had walks and then she would kind of 00:08:47.827 --> 00:08:51.217 train them on the walks and people would go, oh my God, what you do to the dog? 00:08:51.217 --> 00:08:54.487 Like, he doesn't do whatever he used to do, and so they'd 00:08:54.487 --> 00:08:55.867 hire her on the back of that. 00:08:55.867 --> 00:08:58.627 So it's, it's a valid strategy for you, right? 00:08:58.627 --> 00:09:02.827 It's just like kind of a weird thing from the owner perspective, but, um. 00:09:04.187 --> 00:09:09.107 You were mentioning something I'm really curious about, like you say like, okay, 00:09:09.107 --> 00:09:13.607 yes, it's about the dog and you know, we also kind of wanna take care of the owner. 00:09:13.612 --> 00:09:13.992 Mm-hmm. 00:09:14.072 --> 00:09:15.407 Tell me a little bit more about that. 00:09:15.407 --> 00:09:15.467 Um, 00:09:16.942 --> 00:09:22.937 Lauren: because being a dog owner, um, if your dog is struggling and has 00:09:22.937 --> 00:09:27.587 a lot, a lot, like a lot of issues and you don't really know where 00:09:27.587 --> 00:09:29.717 to turn, it can be very isolating. 00:09:30.797 --> 00:09:34.037 And if you don't know what you need to research. 00:09:34.357 --> 00:09:38.797 You can find any information online, um, really detrimental 00:09:38.797 --> 00:09:43.447 information and you think you're doing the best, um, that you can. 00:09:43.897 --> 00:09:48.367 And then further down the line, maybe a few years later, you find 00:09:48.367 --> 00:09:52.477 out that what you've been doing has been harmful, and that can be 00:09:52.507 --> 00:09:54.457 really traumatizing for the owner. 00:09:54.757 --> 00:09:56.887 It's really, really hard to get past that. 00:09:57.967 --> 00:09:59.767 Um, luckily with sous. 00:10:00.847 --> 00:10:04.957 Like whenever I had my German Shepherd, it was like over 15 years 00:10:04.957 --> 00:10:11.497 ago, um, there was the, that dog show dog whisper and I would watch it. 00:10:11.497 --> 00:10:13.777 I never applied anything, thankfully. 00:10:13.777 --> 00:10:17.917 I never applied any of the, the methods or nothing 'cause 00:10:17.917 --> 00:10:19.717 it just, it didn't sit right. 00:10:20.612 --> 00:10:22.327 But I still didn't know enough. 00:10:22.357 --> 00:10:25.057 Um, I wasn't able to walk him or anything. 00:10:25.057 --> 00:10:26.977 He was still really, really happy indoors. 00:10:27.277 --> 00:10:30.487 But that's something I still feel really, really bad about, that he didn't have. 00:10:30.562 --> 00:10:33.742 What could have been the full quality of life. 00:10:34.192 --> 00:10:34.372 Yeah. 00:10:34.402 --> 00:10:38.842 And so I know if I had applied those methods to him back then 00:10:39.292 --> 00:10:42.292 today, I think I would need therapy. 00:10:44.032 --> 00:10:44.992 I would feel so, so 00:10:44.992 --> 00:10:45.262 Anke: bad. 00:10:46.282 --> 00:10:49.102 I mean, do, do, do owners talk about that? 00:10:49.102 --> 00:10:52.807 Like when, you know how, because I mean, I remember like I. 00:10:56.602 --> 00:10:56.992 Yeah. 00:10:57.022 --> 00:11:00.562 You know, well, the, the first two, they, well, they were all found in 00:11:00.562 --> 00:11:03.322 the street, but like literally they had to kind of survive on their own. 00:11:03.322 --> 00:11:05.902 So they were like, just like, okay, food, rubbish, whatever. 00:11:05.902 --> 00:11:09.292 You know, like one was kind of like, you know, sort of, and, and 00:11:09.292 --> 00:11:12.802 it was kind of, I remember feeling like really embarrassed, you know? 00:11:12.982 --> 00:11:16.912 I felt really embarrassed walking, like, and you kind of could feel like the eyes, 00:11:16.912 --> 00:11:20.572 like people watching you look can't even control dog kind of thing, you know? 00:11:20.662 --> 00:11:20.872 Yeah. 00:11:21.082 --> 00:11:23.542 And so there's, there's this, and then you get like. 00:11:24.997 --> 00:11:26.167 People dropping comments. 00:11:26.587 --> 00:11:26.707 Oh, yes. 00:11:27.697 --> 00:11:29.107 You know, and you get all the advice. 00:11:29.317 --> 00:11:29.407 Mm-hmm. 00:11:29.647 --> 00:11:32.647 And, and the stuff that isn't said and all, all of that. 00:11:32.647 --> 00:11:37.057 So it's, you know, and then sometimes there's, it's kind of almost like, oh, 00:11:37.057 --> 00:11:40.507 for God's sake, all I wanted was like to have a nice chill walk with my dog. 00:11:40.507 --> 00:11:42.997 Like this is what I signed up for, kind of thing, you know? 00:11:43.117 --> 00:11:43.207 Mm-hmm. 00:11:43.447 --> 00:11:46.087 So what else is there that people. 00:11:47.197 --> 00:11:50.857 You know, I mean, these guys haven't had like major kind of issues, 00:11:50.857 --> 00:11:53.557 but like that leash pulling stuff, that was the thing, you know? 00:11:53.557 --> 00:11:55.897 And then one wasn't happy alone, and like he'd scratch 00:11:55.897 --> 00:11:57.217 on the door and the neighbors. 00:11:57.217 --> 00:12:01.417 So it was just that embarrassment, that constant sense of being judged 00:12:01.477 --> 00:12:03.397 by, you know, people around you. 00:12:03.667 --> 00:12:03.907 Yeah. 00:12:03.907 --> 00:12:05.317 That wasn't fun, you know? 00:12:05.407 --> 00:12:05.527 Yeah. 00:12:05.557 --> 00:12:10.117 So, I mean, what are your, what do your clients tell you in 00:12:10.627 --> 00:12:10.747 Lauren: that? 00:12:12.082 --> 00:12:16.882 They, some of my parents, they would say that they do feel, um, 00:12:16.882 --> 00:12:23.212 embarrassed and they would dread, they would dread walks and some of 00:12:23.212 --> 00:12:24.952 the dogs, um, there was one dog. 00:12:24.952 --> 00:12:26.362 It was really, really big. 00:12:26.962 --> 00:12:31.072 And the owner would feel like sick with dread at walking the dog. 00:12:33.832 --> 00:12:36.952 Yeah, I mean, especially a big dog. 00:12:40.432 --> 00:12:40.942 Yeah. 00:12:41.032 --> 00:12:41.392 Mm-hmm. 00:12:41.632 --> 00:12:46.642 Because, um, this dog was, this dog was a rottweiler, um, nearly 60 kilos. 00:12:47.032 --> 00:12:51.232 And yeah, so the owner was, uh, I felt, I felt so sorry for Okay. 00:12:52.342 --> 00:12:57.562 So, and the garden was quite small, so, uh, there wasn't even like, no. 00:12:57.652 --> 00:12:59.962 The makeup for walks, uh, big garden. 00:13:00.937 --> 00:13:05.287 But she, she had a lot of, um, she met, she felt quite embarrassed and she got 00:13:05.287 --> 00:13:11.287 a lot of the comments and all, and the unsolicited advice and the funny remarks. 00:13:11.287 --> 00:13:12.937 So is he taking you for a walk? 00:13:13.777 --> 00:13:14.917 Anke: Yeah, yeah, for sure. 00:13:14.917 --> 00:13:15.067 For sure. 00:13:15.877 --> 00:13:18.577 So, so how, like, what tips would you give somebody? 00:13:18.577 --> 00:13:22.357 Or like how do you support clients in, you know, through that? 00:13:23.557 --> 00:13:27.877 Lauren: Um, well for, for the likes of that, um, like when they're For 00:13:27.877 --> 00:13:29.887 the half a garden, I would tell them. 00:13:30.697 --> 00:13:34.687 Don't put so much pressure on yourself to walk the dog every day 00:13:35.047 --> 00:13:39.157 if it's causing you so much stress and, and cause a dog stress too. 00:13:39.427 --> 00:13:44.707 Um, I always recommend just start practicing indoors just a few minutes 00:13:44.707 --> 00:13:48.847 here and there, so if you're really busy, it's not gonna take up a lot of your time. 00:13:49.477 --> 00:13:53.317 So it's so easy to practice everything indoors and in your back garden. 00:13:54.247 --> 00:13:56.767 Just gradually build back up the box. 00:13:57.127 --> 00:14:01.687 Um, but I, I tell owners, I mean, I've felt the same way as well. 00:14:01.807 --> 00:14:06.937 Walking even still nice sometimes I walking dogs and I get a lot of comments. 00:14:06.937 --> 00:14:11.857 Like, I walk a, do a Doberman once a week and every week I hear that dog 00:14:11.857 --> 00:14:15.097 taking you for a walk and everything. 00:14:15.097 --> 00:14:15.427 Yeah. 00:14:15.427 --> 00:14:15.817 Like, 00:14:18.462 --> 00:14:18.682 so. 00:14:23.572 --> 00:14:25.912 But now I don't purchase goes over my head. 00:14:25.912 --> 00:14:26.452 I'm just like, ah. 00:14:27.917 --> 00:14:28.728 Anke: Yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:14:29.452 --> 00:14:32.602 I think it's, it's that, it's like, you know, you can't go every time you 00:14:32.932 --> 00:14:36.142 punch that look in the face, you know, so you can't kind of punch everybody 00:14:36.142 --> 00:14:37.642 in the nose releases stupid comment. 00:14:37.642 --> 00:14:41.962 So it's like you have to kind of learn to, not, to not let it affect you, you know? 00:14:41.962 --> 00:14:43.102 But it, um, yeah, 00:14:43.312 --> 00:14:43.672 Lauren: I'm sorry. 00:14:45.022 --> 00:14:48.622 At the very start, it used to bother me, but now I just don't care. 00:14:48.622 --> 00:14:50.362 I just laugh and be like, yeah. 00:14:50.737 --> 00:14:52.117 Anke: Yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:14:52.297 --> 00:14:55.207 But I think it's that, even, even that feeling that, oh, it's not 00:14:55.207 --> 00:14:58.177 just you, I think that makes a big difference already, you know? 00:14:58.177 --> 00:14:58.237 Yeah. 00:14:58.237 --> 00:15:01.687 Like, it's like, because everybody, it's always, you feel like it's, 00:15:01.687 --> 00:15:06.727 everybody else has these lovely, you know, calm, chill dogs that just, and 00:15:06.727 --> 00:15:09.277 I used to get a lot of slack with, um. 00:15:09.892 --> 00:15:14.212 Like a German friend of mine, she'd always say, oh, well my dog, I, I used to kind 00:15:14.212 --> 00:15:18.742 of, I, I would never put a leash on her and she would just kind of walk beside me. 00:15:19.042 --> 00:15:22.912 And I do that with Leo, and I can kind of scream, I can scan all 00:15:22.912 --> 00:15:24.188 the rubish bit around the area. 00:15:24.202 --> 00:15:24.412 Yeah. 00:15:24.412 --> 00:15:27.082 You know, I'll, you know, so it's like, but she'd always 00:15:27.082 --> 00:15:29.122 like, yeah, well, you know, like. 00:15:29.977 --> 00:15:33.127 You know, there is that, like, she'll say that, but the, there is 00:15:33.127 --> 00:15:34.777 the judgment that comes with it. 00:15:34.927 --> 00:15:37.057 It's like, oh, you have your dog on the leash and that's 00:15:37.057 --> 00:15:38.197 just not fair and whatever. 00:15:38.197 --> 00:15:38.587 You know? 00:15:38.707 --> 00:15:45.157 So there's like that little phrase can set off a whole bunch of, you know, yeah. 00:15:45.157 --> 00:15:45.338 So, yeah. 00:15:45.338 --> 00:15:48.067 So, and sometimes you might kind of interpret stuff into it that 00:15:48.067 --> 00:15:51.517 wasn't even meant, or sometimes Well, yeah, those subtle kind of 00:15:51.517 --> 00:15:53.257 digs were actually there, you know? 00:15:53.257 --> 00:15:53.347 Mm-hmm. 00:15:53.347 --> 00:15:54.037 But I think it's. 00:15:56.397 --> 00:16:00.802 Well, you know, every person and their dog is, is their own little universe, right? 00:16:01.822 --> 00:16:02.332 Lauren: Yeah. 00:16:02.512 --> 00:16:06.622 Um, like even though I'm dog everything, like I've got my baby 00:16:06.622 --> 00:16:10.162 Luna and that way dog, she's bunkers. 00:16:10.642 --> 00:16:13.312 Um, she is great like the majority of the time. 00:16:13.312 --> 00:16:13.882 She's great. 00:16:13.882 --> 00:16:16.882 She sleeps a lot and all, but she is very reactive. 00:16:16.882 --> 00:16:19.732 Indoor standing noises, I'd say just getting better. 00:16:20.092 --> 00:16:24.082 Um, she's brilliant now on her walks and everything, she gets very easily. 00:16:25.162 --> 00:16:29.062 Overstimulated and she picks up on the emotions of everybody around 00:16:29.062 --> 00:16:32.902 her and everything and mm-hmm. 00:16:33.202 --> 00:16:35.302 So even, even as a dog trainer, I mean, 00:16:35.397 --> 00:16:39.682 Anke: I wish, well, I think even as well, especially as a dog trainer, I'm just 00:16:39.682 --> 00:16:43.102 thinking, it's like, well, the pressures on you more than, because there's that 00:16:43.102 --> 00:16:44.572 thing like, well, you should know better. 00:16:44.572 --> 00:16:48.712 Like, you know, is that, do you feel the pressure that as a dog trainer I should. 00:16:52.222 --> 00:16:55.042 Lauren: Sometimes I do, yes it does under my head. 00:16:55.762 --> 00:17:03.292 Um, but with dogs, um, it can be genetics as well and environment. 00:17:03.472 --> 00:17:07.822 And I do the best that I can do and she's a very happy wee dog. 00:17:08.392 --> 00:17:14.367 Um, so I did choose to feel like that not so much now, and I think. 00:17:14.887 --> 00:17:17.977 It's easier to relate to owners and then it makes owners feel more 00:17:17.977 --> 00:17:21.847 comfortable too when you admit that, that Yeah, my dog's not perfect either. 00:17:22.867 --> 00:17:27.337 And I think a perfect dog doesn't really, uh, like a, a stable dog 00:17:27.337 --> 00:17:31.237 or like a calm doesn't really, they're quite rare come by. 00:17:31.237 --> 00:17:33.877 Every dog's gonna have a way, a quirk. 00:17:34.627 --> 00:17:35.167 Anke: Yeah. 00:17:35.172 --> 00:17:35.422 Mm-hmm. 00:17:35.502 --> 00:17:37.837 And I think it's also like what. 00:17:38.212 --> 00:17:41.662 Your level of tolerances or what you expect from your dog? 00:17:41.662 --> 00:17:45.952 I think there's a lot there because you know, I can, I can kind of say, 00:17:45.952 --> 00:17:50.212 well, I've got a perfect dog, like, she's perfect for me, you know? 00:17:50.212 --> 00:17:50.213 Yeah. 00:17:50.213 --> 00:17:53.692 You know, but, but yes, she does get overexcited and yes, when there's somebody 00:17:53.692 --> 00:17:56.662 at the door, she does bark and you know, it's like where other people goes, oh 00:17:56.692 --> 00:17:59.782 yeah, but she's a barker, she's this, you know, so it's like, for me, she's perfect. 00:17:59.782 --> 00:18:00.862 I don't care, you know? 00:18:00.862 --> 00:18:00.863 Yeah. 00:18:01.552 --> 00:18:04.852 So it's like, it depends on what you expect from your dog as well. 00:18:05.362 --> 00:18:05.572 Lauren: Yeah. 00:18:05.577 --> 00:18:05.842 Do you think 00:18:05.842 --> 00:18:07.672 Anke: people expect too much from their dogs? 00:18:08.287 --> 00:18:09.307 Lauren: I think so. 00:18:09.307 --> 00:18:09.847 Yeah. 00:18:10.177 --> 00:18:16.597 Um, like for me personally, like for Luna, I don't expect anything from her. 00:18:16.657 --> 00:18:21.037 As long as she's happy and safe, I'm fine. 00:18:21.037 --> 00:18:27.097 I have no expectations and she can do whatever she wants as long as 00:18:27.097 --> 00:18:32.257 within the realms of safety and her happiness that I'm happy by. 00:18:33.277 --> 00:18:37.207 Um, but I think owners do put a lot of pressure on their dogs, especially. 00:18:38.392 --> 00:18:44.992 In today, like how said's changing and it's a lot more of an urban environment. 00:18:44.992 --> 00:18:48.832 There's too much going on for them and they get too overstimulated and all. 00:18:48.832 --> 00:18:52.522 And owners put too much pressure on themselves as well. 00:18:52.972 --> 00:18:56.197 Like so many times hear people saying I need to walk again. 00:18:56.452 --> 00:18:58.552 Was Dog walking yesterday? 00:18:59.602 --> 00:19:02.542 It was really warm, so it was a 15 minute walk in the shade. 00:19:03.427 --> 00:19:07.357 And I have heard people talk and had this sweet, tiny black dog saying how 00:19:07.357 --> 00:19:09.307 he needs to walk his dog every day. 00:19:10.147 --> 00:19:11.887 And that's a lot of pressure. 00:19:12.127 --> 00:19:14.917 And then it's, I think it's too much expectations for the dog. 00:19:14.947 --> 00:19:18.367 'cause even people need to take a wee break sometimes. 00:19:19.387 --> 00:19:20.257 So the day. 00:19:20.497 --> 00:19:24.997 And I think dogs like to have a wee break where they're not expected to do anything. 00:19:25.927 --> 00:19:26.887 Anke: Yeah, totally. 00:19:27.217 --> 00:19:27.967 I totally agree. 00:19:27.967 --> 00:19:29.287 I mean, I've seen it with my. 00:19:32.587 --> 00:19:35.317 I mean, it was still a small town, but in the historic part of town 00:19:35.317 --> 00:19:38.227 where it was called Little Alleyways, and it was like a lot of noise 00:19:38.227 --> 00:19:39.607 and a lot of whatever, you know? 00:19:39.607 --> 00:19:43.387 And now where it's just totally, it's outta town. 00:19:43.387 --> 00:19:47.317 It's rural, all quiet, like, it's like day and night for the dogs, you know? 00:19:47.317 --> 00:19:48.277 Especially this one. 00:19:48.607 --> 00:19:51.217 It was literally, you would like, is that the same dog? 00:19:51.247 --> 00:19:53.467 You know, who would pull like crazy on the lead? 00:19:53.467 --> 00:19:54.757 And here he's like, oh. 00:19:54.772 --> 00:19:59.122 You know, like he was, I mean, it makes, it makes such a difference, 00:19:59.332 --> 00:20:02.572 but that whole walking, like you've gotta walk the dog every day. 00:20:02.872 --> 00:20:04.492 It's very common, isn't it? 00:20:04.522 --> 00:20:04.612 Mm-hmm. 00:20:04.852 --> 00:20:08.872 I mean, I've been a little sort of more like, like not obsessed because I do have 00:20:08.872 --> 00:20:12.412 a garden now where, you know, they can run around and play and so there's not a. 00:20:13.687 --> 00:20:16.477 When I lived in a place where they literally had to go out to pee. 00:20:16.477 --> 00:20:16.537 Yeah. 00:20:16.717 --> 00:20:18.727 Well then there you have to take them out, right? 00:20:18.787 --> 00:20:18.847 Yeah. 00:20:19.117 --> 00:20:23.197 So, but for a lot of people, I also say this like, oh yeah, 00:20:23.197 --> 00:20:24.847 but my dog needs exercise. 00:20:25.297 --> 00:20:25.537 Mm-hmm. 00:20:26.557 --> 00:20:27.907 What's your, what's your response to that? 00:20:28.177 --> 00:20:30.697 If they say, well I have to take him out three times a day because 00:20:31.027 --> 00:20:32.377 you need to burn off energy. 00:20:33.367 --> 00:20:37.447 Lauren: Um, I'd suppose, I mean, if it is a very high energy dog, 00:20:37.867 --> 00:20:40.087 the cans are prerogative, really. 00:20:40.147 --> 00:20:40.627 Um. 00:20:41.332 --> 00:20:47.362 But I also give them suggestions of indoor activities that can 00:20:47.362 --> 00:20:52.552 do enrichment, um, sniffy games and puzzle toys and puzzle mats. 00:20:52.552 --> 00:20:56.002 And you can even do that with objects you have around your home. 00:20:56.362 --> 00:21:00.142 Like if you get an empty cardboard toilet roll holder, put a trade inside and 00:21:00.142 --> 00:21:03.562 fold up each hand and give it to them. 00:21:04.102 --> 00:21:06.172 I do loads of them with Luna sometimes. 00:21:06.232 --> 00:21:10.222 Or if you get a tile and you scatter treats and you roll the tile up. 00:21:10.987 --> 00:21:13.807 Treats in each, um, each layer of the room. 00:21:14.527 --> 00:21:15.067 They love that. 00:21:15.487 --> 00:21:21.577 And we basic agility things in the garden that the dog can use. 00:21:21.577 --> 00:21:23.677 And you can get dog friendly bubbles. 00:21:23.677 --> 00:21:26.947 So there's loads and loads of stuff that you can do indoors 00:21:26.947 --> 00:21:28.297 and in your garden with your dog. 00:21:28.327 --> 00:21:29.737 And it would have more fun. 00:21:30.037 --> 00:21:33.907 There's won't be, it'll change up their day wouldn't be as repetitive. 00:21:34.597 --> 00:21:37.897 Um, so I, I give the owners loads of suggestions of stuff that they can do. 00:21:38.707 --> 00:21:41.767 Instead if they are putting that much pressure on themselves. 00:21:43.177 --> 00:21:43.717 Anke: I love that. 00:21:43.717 --> 00:21:44.167 I love that. 00:21:44.167 --> 00:21:48.697 I love the variety piece because I often think that my dogs actually, so 00:21:48.757 --> 00:21:52.837 they get more entertainment running around and, and I've got this little 00:21:52.837 --> 00:21:57.127 trampoline and, and the big girl, she loves jumping on that, you know, 00:21:57.127 --> 00:21:58.927 so it's like they actually get more. 00:21:59.422 --> 00:22:03.412 Variety and more free play here than like on a walk where you 00:22:03.412 --> 00:22:05.542 always have to be two big dogs. 00:22:05.542 --> 00:22:09.142 So you can't just let them, you know, you know, scale the other little dogs. 00:22:09.412 --> 00:22:12.292 And, um, so they actually have a lot more freedom here. 00:22:12.382 --> 00:22:15.712 You know, they get a lot more exercise and a lot more free movement than 00:22:15.712 --> 00:22:18.052 they would if we, if we walk outside. 00:22:18.382 --> 00:22:18.712 Mm-hmm. 00:22:19.162 --> 00:22:21.442 So that, I don't, that they don't go outside, but it's 00:22:21.442 --> 00:22:23.182 just like not as kind of. 00:22:25.447 --> 00:22:28.687 Not this kind of strict obligations of, oh, we've gotta go three times 00:22:28.687 --> 00:22:29.767 a day kind of thing, you know? 00:22:29.792 --> 00:22:30.082 Lauren: Yeah. 00:22:30.102 --> 00:22:30.522 Mm-hmm. 00:22:30.932 --> 00:22:31.602 Anke: Definitely. 00:22:31.632 --> 00:22:31.922 Yeah. 00:22:32.287 --> 00:22:32.857 Yeah. 00:22:33.337 --> 00:22:36.367 So where do you see yourself in, like, where do you see you, 00:22:36.367 --> 00:22:37.567 yourself and your business? 00:22:37.567 --> 00:22:38.917 Like what's, where you headed? 00:22:38.917 --> 00:22:40.807 Like where do you see yourself in a couple of years? 00:22:41.047 --> 00:22:41.467 Maybe 00:22:43.207 --> 00:22:44.287 Lauren: a couple of years. 00:22:44.377 --> 00:22:50.347 Um, in a couple of years, I would like to have my substack really take off. 00:22:51.022 --> 00:22:55.042 And for it to be a good, stable income. 00:22:55.642 --> 00:22:58.312 Um, I really, really like that. 00:22:58.822 --> 00:23:04.702 And, uh, reach out the more people and more adult owners and hopefully 00:23:05.512 --> 00:23:12.112 it's hard to describe, like dilute the misinformation that's online, like help do 00:23:12.142 --> 00:23:16.162 that and I mean, it's a win-win all round. 00:23:16.222 --> 00:23:19.552 Um, if I was able to make a stable income off that. 00:23:20.497 --> 00:23:24.127 I could work and travel at the same time. 00:23:24.127 --> 00:23:26.797 That's something I've always wanted to do and I've always been 00:23:26.797 --> 00:23:28.177 trying to come up with ideas. 00:23:28.177 --> 00:23:29.647 How can I work with travel? 00:23:30.367 --> 00:23:33.502 And I think this, I think this could be it. 00:23:33.742 --> 00:23:36.082 So, so tell us a little 00:23:36.082 --> 00:23:40.282 Anke: bit about the Substack, because may not, you know, I mean, I know what it 00:23:40.282 --> 00:23:42.052 is because that's where we met, so Yeah. 00:23:42.262 --> 00:23:45.682 You know, we're on the same platform there, but, um, it's, uh, you know, 00:23:45.682 --> 00:23:49.732 maybe not, like not everybody listening might know what Substack is like, and 00:23:49.822 --> 00:23:53.002 you know, that also answers the question where people can go and connect with you. 00:23:53.002 --> 00:23:54.892 So, from that point of view, please go. 00:23:58.367 --> 00:24:01.637 Lauren: Yeah, so I do, um, I think it's quite like a, like a 00:24:01.637 --> 00:24:03.887 newsletter, a publishing platform. 00:24:04.817 --> 00:24:08.597 Um, so I ho I do a free post every Sunday. 00:24:09.047 --> 00:24:15.767 Um, I, I do it on a range of topics, um, between, um, the dog training 00:24:15.857 --> 00:24:20.807 theory and training, tips and advice. 00:24:20.897 --> 00:24:22.697 And every Wednesday. 00:24:23.407 --> 00:24:27.277 Um, accidentally ended up creating mini courses, something I've always 00:24:27.277 --> 00:24:30.517 wanted to do, and that's what I've been doing all along every Wednesday. 00:24:30.847 --> 00:24:35.797 So every Wednesday I have a mini course that I try and keep quite 00:24:35.797 --> 00:24:38.977 short as to not overwhelm the reader. 00:24:39.517 --> 00:24:44.467 And in that I do a wee tracker sheet with a can recorder, dog 00:24:44.497 --> 00:24:45.787 progress throughout the week. 00:24:46.627 --> 00:24:50.407 And then subscribers can contact me with any questions. 00:24:50.407 --> 00:24:54.007 Video updates, one-to-one advice once a month. 00:24:54.937 --> 00:24:56.107 Um, on Substack. 00:24:56.107 --> 00:24:57.817 I'm called Lead with Luna. 00:24:58.612 --> 00:24:58.942 I love 00:24:58.942 --> 00:24:59.242 Anke: that. 00:24:59.332 --> 00:24:59.662 Yeah. 00:24:59.692 --> 00:25:03.112 That's it's, and yes, do we do, go ahead, follow her, because, 00:25:03.112 --> 00:25:05.092 you know, it's, um, yeah. 00:25:05.242 --> 00:25:05.992 Great content. 00:25:05.992 --> 00:25:11.452 So I'm, you know, I'm a, I'm a, I'm a, I'm a, um, follower, so yeah, we'll pop the 00:25:11.452 --> 00:25:13.162 link below in the show notes, obviously. 00:25:13.162 --> 00:25:17.002 So it's always gonna be below, if you're listening here or on YouTube, 00:25:17.272 --> 00:25:19.852 it's always gonna be just right, right below the video, the link. 00:25:19.852 --> 00:25:21.082 Go, go and follow Lauren. 00:25:22.042 --> 00:25:23.182 Well, thank you so much. 00:25:23.182 --> 00:25:23.452 Thank you. 00:25:23.452 --> 00:25:25.672 Is there somewhere else where people can go and find you? 00:25:25.672 --> 00:25:28.462 Like a website or like also where are you working locally? 00:25:28.942 --> 00:25:30.562 I don't think we actually said that. 00:25:30.772 --> 00:25:35.032 Lauren: Um, locally in Belfast, Northern Ireland, um, I work in 00:25:35.032 --> 00:25:38.062 mostly North and West Belfast. 00:25:39.682 --> 00:25:44.782 Anke: Alright, well thank you so much and uh, yeah, and I'll, we'll obviously stay 00:25:44.782 --> 00:25:46.402 in touch and we'll see each other on Yes. 00:25:46.402 --> 00:25:50.062 On Substack because I do think your, your mission would definitely 00:25:50.062 --> 00:25:54.592 need that, you know, have to dilute all the bullshit that's out there. 00:25:56.062 --> 00:25:59.542 So, yeah, thanks for coming and I'll to speak to you again soon. 00:26:00.112 --> 00:26:00.502 Lauren: Okay. 00:26:00.502 --> 00:26:01.312 Thank you very much. 00:26:01.612 --> 00:26:02.332 Thanks for having me. 00:26:03.067 --> 00:26:04.297 Thanks so much for listening. 00:26:04.817 --> 00:26:09.117 If you enjoyed the episode, don't forget to subscribe, and leave a review so 00:26:09.217 --> 00:26:10.997 other dog lovers can find the show. 00:26:11.787 --> 00:26:15.277 If you haven't already, head over to soul touched by dogs. 00:26:15.707 --> 00:26:21.277 com and sign up for weekly doggy cuteness tips, recommendations, and personal 00:26:21.377 --> 00:26:23.747 stories to warm your dog loving heart. 00:26:23.747 --> 00:26:27.477 And if you know a pawsome human you think I should interview, 00:26:27.897 --> 00:26:29.037 I'd love an introduction. 00:26:29.517 --> 00:26:31.347 Email me at Anke. 00:26:31.617 --> 00:26:35.852 That's A N k E at Soul touched by dogs.com.