The Dog Geezer blog
Local walks, training tips and straight advice from James, for dog owners in Heywood, Rochdale, Middleton and Bury.
Looking for a dog walker? See dog walking in Heywood, with prices, areas and how it works.
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Most UK owners pay roughly £10 to £25 an hour for a dog walker. Here are the 2026 figures side by side, the North West bands, group vs solo, monthly sums and what a fair price should include.
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Written for dog owners in Heywood, Rochdale, Middleton and Bury.
Crate training isn’t cruel when the crate is a cosy den your puppy chooses, built up slowly and used for short spells. Here’s how to do it kindly, the UK time limits side by side, and what to do on the first nights.
Read the postA GPS tracker is a good safety net on off-lead walks, new routes and dark evenings. Here’s how they work, what the subscription costs, what to check before a walk, and why it never replaces recall.
Read the postNeedle teeth on your hands, your ankles and your sleeves? Puppy biting is normal, and it passes, but how you handle the next few weeks decides how fast. Here’s the plan I’d follow.
Read the postA good harness takes the strain off your dog’s neck and your arm, but the wrong one can rub or restrict their shoulders. Here’s what to look for, what I’d pick and what I’d avoid.
Read the postMost dogs that won’t come back were let off the lead too soon. Here’s a calm, step-by-step plan using a long line, the kit that helps and what to do when your dog ignores you.
Read the postA muzzle isn’t a punishment. Here’s which type to choose, how to check the fit and a slow, step-by-step plan so your dog learns to wear one happily.
Read the postThere’s no national limit on how many dogs one walker can take out in the UK. Councils, insurers and walker codes set the real limits, and here’s how that works around Heywood, Rochdale and Bury.
Read the postPulling works, so dogs keep doing it. Here’s a calm, step-by-step plan for loose lead walking, the kit that helps and what to steer clear of.
Read the postThe best place to walk a reactive dog is somewhere quiet, open and predictable. Here’s how to find those spots around Heywood, Bury and Rochdale, plus two secure dog fields nearby.
Read the postThe best thing to give a dog with fireworks anxiety is a plan: a safe den, something long to lick, sound to mask the bangs, and a vet chat if the fear is bad.
Read the postReady when your dog is
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