Kate MacDougall

I really enjoyed this memoir by a woman who chucked in her job at Sotheby's in London and started a dog-walking business. The dogs were, of course, delightful (sweet Stanley!), as were the anecdotes about crazy owners and dedicated walkers. What stood out, though, were the ways in which MacDougall charts her own growth along with that of her business. We see her develop from an anchorless 20-something into a responsible woman, with marriage, children, and home ownership as touchstones of her journey. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

4 stars
(My rating scale translation: A good read)… (meer)

The book is filled with humor. We meet quirky clients with odd demands...dogs that are also a bit quirky and pampered...as it should be. Seems these four-legged friends only drink Evian and want a bedtime story. That made me laugh because we had a dog that loved to be read to and even learned to bring us the book. My daughter learned to read at the age of 3 just so she could read "The Saggy Baggy Elephant" to her "furry sister", Snoopy. The book was probably read at least a million plus times before the cover gave up the ghost and died. There was even some of Kate's customers who even had pet cams to monitor Kate's behavior.... certainly not their dogs'. The book does have moments of melancholy. It's never lost on MacDougall that many clients are more prosperous and settled than she is. Her mother means well, but she doesn't help when she advises her to get a "proper vocation". To make matters worse Kate's boyfriend and eventual husband, Finley, doesn't like dogs...not even a little bit. He eventually learns...if not to fully love them at least to keep his mouth firmly closed on the matter. Kate is a great character...and as you would expect, the dogs are the stars of the book. Exceptional...even at their worse. The book gets a bit repetitive, but the writing is always clever and funny. I loved when she describes a client's house with hand-painted window boxes and a bondage shop around the corner...but priceless was the husky "who looked uncannily like Rod Stewart". Smart and observant dog...I always shared that same view:)… (meer)

Disillusioned by her soul-crushingly monotonous job at Sotheby's where she constantly moves paper around and never once gets to use her art history degree, Kate MacDougall decided to start a dog walking business. The idea was still a relative novelty in London in 2006 but eventually her business went from a handful of dogs in her neighbourhood to a thriving business with around 100 dogs being walked by an ever-changing group of dog walkers. As Kate recounts her years starting the business she also shares how she went from an uncertain young adult living with her boyfriend in a grotty flat to a wife and mother in a few different houses. The tales recounted here are sometimes sweet, often funny, and occasionally a little sad but with excellent food for thought. While the dogs get plenty of attention, just as much goes to the personality of their owners and the walkers which are fascinating in their own right. The writing is descriptive and immediately charming, making you feel like you're catching up with an old friend. A wonderful read (even for this not really a dog person).… (meer)