There’s no shortage of dog lovers in Annandale, and we’re lucky enough to spend our days with some of the suburb’s very best four-legged residents.
One of our favourite things about what we do is getting to know every dog properly. Not just their name and walking schedule, but all the little things that make them them.
That’s what dog walking and doggy day care are really about for us. Yes, there’s exercise and stimulation involved, but there are also friendships, routines, confidence-building and plenty of fun along the way.
We spend plenty of time with dogs throughout the Inner West, but our dog walking and doggy daycare in Annandale introduces us to some particularly memorable personalities. So, in honour of some of the wonderful dogs we get to hang out with around Annandale, we thought we’d introduce you to three members of the Sheriff pack.
Darla: the gentle giant who found her pack
First up is Darla, a gorgeous Great Dane with very long legs, a very big heart and a growing group of doggy best friends.
Darla lives in Annandale with Mum, Dad and her new human baby sister. With a new baby joining the family, life at home has naturally become a little busier, so Darla started coming along on our group walks around three months ago.
Like plenty of dogs entering a new environment, she wasn’t completely convinced about the arrangement at first.
We never want a dog to feel rushed, so the first step was simply giving her some time, patience and gentle encouragement. Little by little, Darla realised that climbing into the Sheriff van meant something very important was about to happen – she was heading out with her mates.
Fast forward a few months and things look very different.
Now, Darla jumps straight in without a second thought. No standing back wondering what everyone else is doing. She knows the routine and she’s ready for her adventure. And once Darla gets to the park, those Great Dane legs are put to very good use.
Watching a Great Dane tear around with her friends is quite a sight, and Darla has bonded beautifully with the rest of the pack. What started as a new and slightly unfamiliar experience has become an important part of her week.
For Darla’s family, regular dog walking in Annandale also means that while plenty of attention is understandably going towards her new baby sister, Darla still gets dedicated time to exercise, play, explore and just be a dog.
She gets to head out, see her friends, burn some energy and arrive home ready to relax with the family.
Rosie: if there’s water, she’ll find it
Then there’s Rosie.
Rosie is a three-year-old Labrador with a very clear philosophy on life: If there is water nearby, get in it.
Clean water. Muddy water. Suspicious-looking puddle that every other dog has walked straight past. It doesn’t matter. Rosie will find it.
She joins the Sheriff pack for group walks three times a week, which gives her plenty of opportunities to get outside, stretch her legs and catch up with her doggy friends.
There’s something wonderfully Labrador about Rosie’s enthusiasm. She doesn’t overthink things. If something looks fun, she’s in. If there’s a puddle, she’s probably standing in the middle of it before the rest of us have even noticed it exists.
Naturally, this occasionally means returning home a little muddier than when she left. But Rosie’s happy, we’re happy and, importantly, Mum is happy too.
Rosie’s mum is semi-retired and spends her days working as a ceramicist, so Rosie’s regular walks give them both a routine that works. While Mum gets on with her day, Rosie gets to head off for exercise, social time and whatever aquatic adventures she manages to discover along the way.
That regular routine is one of the things we love about dog walking in Annandale. Dogs start to recognise the days, the sounds and the little signals that tell them their walk is coming.
For some dogs, that means waiting near the door. And for Rosie, we suspect it’s mostly wondering whether today’s destination has a puddle worthy of investigation.
Either way, three dog walks a week means plenty of opportunities to keep those Labrador legs moving and that tail wagging.
Celine: the border collie pup with energy to burn
Our third Annandale star is Celine, one of the newest members of the Sheriff pack.
Celine is a beautiful young border collie, which means one thing is pretty much guaranteed – she has energy.
Border collies are famously clever and active dogs, and Celine is very much living up to the reputation. She wants to move, play, explore and be involved in everything happening around her.
While Mum is hard at work during the day, Celine joins us for doggy day care, giving her a big dose of activity and adventure while Mum gets on with work.
Our day care gives her two outings packed with exercise, play and time with her doggy friends, which suits a young pup with plenty of energy perfectly. We also don’t exactly have to convince her that it’s time to go. The moment Celine sees us arrive, her eyes light up.
Those outings give Celine the chance to burn energy, experience different environments and enjoy plenty of stimulation before we take her home again.
Once she’s back home, we give her some food and settle her into her crate. After two outings with the pack, she’s usually very ready for a sleep and settles in until Mum gets home.
For busy dog owners, that’s one of the big benefits of doggy daycare in Annandale. Instead of a young, energetic pup spending the day waiting for everyone to come home, Celine gets a day filled with activity and companionship, followed by some well-earned downtime.
Mum can concentrate on work knowing Celine is out doing what she loves. And Celine gets to spend a good chunk of her day being Celine.
Everybody wins.
Keeping Annandale tails wagging
We’ve been keeping tails wagging since 2014, and getting to know local dogs and their families is still one of the very best parts of the job.
For some families, having a dog walker means their best friend gets a proper adventure while everyone is at work. For others, doggy day care gives an energetic pup the extra exercise and stimulation they need during a busy day.
Whether your dog is a gentle giant like Darla, a professional puddle hunter like Rosie or an energetic youngster like Celine, we’re here to give them something to look forward to. And, naturally, plenty of opportunities to make a few best friends along the way.
If you’re looking for dog walking in Annandale, take a look at our group dog walking service and see what a day out with the Sheriff pack looks like. Or, if your pup needs an even bigger adventure while you’re at work, our doggy day care gives them outings filled with play, exercise and companionship before heading home for a very well-earned nap.
You can also learn more about our dog walking and doggy daycare services in Annandale, or explore the surrounding areas we service across Sydney’s Inner West.
Darla, Rosie and Celine will tell you it’s pretty good.