Nichola’s service will have dog tails wagging

May 6 2008 by Karen Dent, The Journal

A DOG lover is turning her back on a career in hairdressing to follow her heart and set up a dog walking and sitting service.

Nichola Provart, who has owned dogs for 24 years, worked as a hairdresser for 14 years before deciding to start her own business in Blaydon. She is dividing her time between her two careers before launching Waggy Tail Walks as a full time enterprise next month.

She said: “A lot of people are put off from getting a dog because they work full time and are unable to exercise a dog during the day. More people are going on holidays now and have to put the dog in kennels which can be very distressing for dog and owner.

“I discovered this while I worked as a hairdresser talking to customers about their pets and it seemed to be a problem area, so this is how my idea came about. I’ve wanted to do this for about three years. Dogs are my obsession.”

Nichola, whose dog is a boxer called Maisie, turned to Business Link for advice but because she was working full time, she was unable to access financial help. She downloaded and completed a business plan from the Business Link website and her adviser pointed her towards the Enterprise Support Centre in Byker.

She can take up to five dogs out at once in her specially fitted van, and in addition to “dog days out” in the countryside and shorter walks, she makes feeding and company visits to older dogs that need less exercise. The enterprise covers Newcastle and Gateshead and is expanding to Hexham.

She said: “My customers are usually people who are going back to work, or they have a new dog or they need help with a puppy. I have a meeting with them at their house and meet their dog. I am providing this service for owners’ peace of mind when they are at work or away so they know that their dog is having fun, being exercised and cared for by a genuine dog lover as if they were my own.”