Dog Walking, House Sitting and Pet Care Services in Finchley
Calm, one-to-one care for dogs, cats and small pets
If you are looking for a dog walker or pet sitter, you probably want more than someone who simply turns up, clips on a lead or fills a food bowl.
You want someone who gets to know your pet.
Someone who notices when something is not quite right.
Someone who is prepared to slow down, change the plan or give your pet more space when they need it.
Hi, I am Derek, although most people know me as Del.
I have provided professional dog walking and pet care since 2011.
I offer calm, one-to-one dog walking and in-home pet care in Finchley, Muswell Hill and nearby North London areas.
My services include:
- house and pet sitting
- cat sitting and feeding visits
- solo dog walks
- rescue, nervous and reactive dog support
- hot-weather dog comfort visits
- puppy visits
- rabbit and small-pet care
- pet-care and holiday home add-ons
- Pet and Home Readiness Visits
There are no group walks.
No vans.
No cars used to collect several dogs.
I work locally and care for one household at a time.
Everything starts with your pet, their routine and what they can comfortably cope with.
Which pet care service do you need?
Not sure where to start?
Here is the simple version.
Going away and want your dog to stay at home?
Start with House Sitting and In-Home Pet Care.
House-sitting starts at £60 per night.
Going away and leaving your cat at home?
Start with Cat Sitting in Finchley.
A single pet visit is £15.
Two visits in one day are £25.
Does your dog need regular one-to-one walks?
Start with Solo Dog Walks.
A 30-minute solo walk is £18.
A 60-minute solo walk is £25.
Is your dog nervous, reactive or newly rescued?
Start with Rescue Dog Support in Finchley.
Focused 60-minute support walks are £30.
Is it too hot for your dog’s normal walk?
Read about Hot-Weather Dog Comfort Visits and Pet Care Add-ons.
Standalone comfort visits are £18 for up to 30 minutes or £25 for up to 60 minutes.
Where an adapted visit replaces a regular booked walk, the normal booked walk price applies.
Do you have a puppy?
Start with Puppy Visits in Finchley.
Puppy visits or short puppy walks of up to 30 minutes start from £15.
Going away and leaving rabbits, guinea pigs or other small pets at home?
Start with Small Animal Care in Finchley.
Visit prices normally follow my home-visit rates of £15 for a single visit or £25 for two visits in one day.
Need a few practical jobs completed while you are away?
See Pet Care Add-ons and Holiday Home Help.
Small tasks may already fit within a normal pet visit.
Extra time starts from £6 for 15 minutes.
Preparing to use a sitter or worried your pet-care arrangements are unclear?
My Pet and Home Readiness Visit costs £75 per household.
It includes up to 60 minutes in your home and a personalised written checklist.
If you are still unsure, send me your postcode and a short note about your pet.
I will tell you honestly which service I think is the best place to start.
House sitting and in-home pet care
Some dogs simply do not cope well with kennels or boarding.
They may be rescue dogs.
They may be older.
They may find unfamiliar dogs overwhelming.
Or they may simply rely on their normal home and routine more than people realise.
My house-sitting service allows your pet to stay in the place they know best.
Their own home.
I stay overnight and follow your pet’s normal routine as closely as reasonably possible.
Care can include:
- feeding
- fresh water
- medication where agreed
- local walks suited to your dog
- toilet breaks
- calm companionship
- following normal sleeping routines
- regular updates
- basic agreed home checks
The aim is not to turn your pet’s week upside down because you have gone away.
I try to keep things familiar.
House sitting is often particularly suitable for:
- rescue dogs
- nervous or reactive dogs
- senior dogs
- dogs who dislike boarding
- dogs who struggle around unfamiliar animals
- multi-pet homes
- pets with established routines
House-sitting starts at £60 per night.
Full-time house sitting, where a dog cannot be left alone, is £100 per night.
Read more about House Sitting and In-Home Pet Care
Planning to go away?
You may also find my Pet and Home Readiness Visit useful if you want to organise routines, emergency information and practical home arrangements before someone else takes over your pet’s care.
Cat sitting and holiday cat visits
Cats often get overlooked when people talk about professional pet care.
I have been guilty of sharing far more dog advice than cat advice myself.
But many cats need far more than just a bowl of food left out before you go away.
They still need:
- fresh water
- food prepared as instructed
- litter trays checked and cleaned
- medication where agreed
- changes in behaviour noticed
- quiet company if they want it
- play or enrichment where appropriate
- someone to notice when something does not look right
My cat-sitting visits allow your cat to stay in their own home and follow a familiar routine.
Some cats are waiting at the door.
Others disappear when I arrive and watch me from another room.
That is fine.
I do not force interaction.
I work at the cat’s pace.
A visit can include:
- feeding
- changing and refreshing water
- litter tray care
- medication support where agreed
- play and enrichment
- quiet companionship
- general welfare observations
- an update and photograph where appropriate
During hot weather, I also pay attention to things such as water, the rooms your cat is using, food intake and changes in normal behaviour.
A single visit is £15.
Two visits in one day are £25.
Read more about Cat Sitting in Finchley
Going away during the warmer months?
My Summer Cat-Sitting Checklist will help you organise food, water, cooling arrangements and emergency information before you leave.
You can also explore my Cat Care Advice Hub.
Solo one-to-one dog walking
I do not offer group walks.
Every dog walk is one-to-one.
I collect your dog from their home and walk locally on foot.
There is no van journey.
No collection route involving several other dogs.
No pressure for your dog to fit into a group.
This works particularly well for dogs who:
- find unfamiliar dogs stressful
- become overwhelmed in busy environments
- are nervous or reactive
- prefer a slower pace
- need time to sniff
- are older
- are recovering their confidence
- simply enjoy having the walk to themselves
I adjust the route and pace to the dog in front of me.
Some dogs enjoy a steady walk through local green spaces.
Some need more distance from other dogs.
Some need time to stop and sniff.
A nervous dog may initially only feel comfortable walking to the corner.
That still counts.
I am far more interested in helping your dog have a manageable walk than clocking up miles for the sake of it.
Solo walk prices are:
- 30-minute solo dog walk: £18
- 60-minute solo dog walk: £25
Read more about Solo Dog Walks in Finchley and Muswell Hill
You can also read Solo Walks v Group Walks if you are unsure which type of walking service would suit your dog.
Rescue, nervous and reactive dog support
Rescue dogs have always been a big part of Finchley Dog Walker.
My own rescue dog, Roxy, was one of the reasons I started the business.
She was awkward but awesome.
Living and working with rescue dogs has taught me that confidence cannot be rushed.
Some dogs need time to trust a new person.
Some bark when I first arrive.
Some freeze outside.
Some become overwhelmed by dogs, traffic or sudden movement.
That does not mean they need to be forced through it.
My approach is calm, patient and reward-based.
Depending on the individual dog, I may use:
- quieter local routes
- additional space from triggers
- slower walks
- sniffing and decompression
- calm enrichment
- predictable routines
- reward-based confidence building
- shorter sessions while trust develops
I do not use shock collars, prong collars, choke chains or other aversive equipment.
I am also not a clinical behaviourist.
My rescue and reactive dog support is practical, day-to-day support.
Where a dog needs specialist behavioural or veterinary help beyond my role, I will say so and recommend that you speak to an appropriately qualified professional.
Focused 60-minute rescue, nervous or reactive dog support walks are £30.
Read more about Rescue Dog Support in Finchley
If you have recently adopted a dog, my Rescue Dog Advice Hub also brings together my main rescue guides.
Hot-weather dog comfort visits and adapted care
There are days when the safest dog walk is the walk that does not happen as originally planned.
Hot weather is an obvious example.
A full normal walk may not be appropriate for every dog when conditions become hot.
The dog’s age, health, breed, individual tolerance, direct sun, shade, surfaces and the conditions at the time all matter.
When a normal walk is not sensible, I may adapt the booked care.
Depending on the dog and conditions, this can include:
- a brief toilet opportunity in the garden or nearest safe area
- fresh drinking water
- calm indoor enrichment
- a treat search or scent game
- preparing an owner-supplied Kong or LickiMat
- quiet companionship
- feeding or agreed medication
- closing agreed curtains to reduce direct sunlight
- checking your dog’s general comfort
- a photograph and update
The aim is not to exhaust your dog by keeping them indoors because they missed a walk.
It is calm, useful care.
Where a comfort visit replaces a regular booked walk, the normal walk price applies.
I also offer standalone hot-weather comfort visits, subject to location and availability:
- up to 30 minutes: £18
- up to 60 minutes: £25
You can also read my Extreme Weather Policy for more information about how I adapt care when conditions are unsafe.
For practical hot-weather advice, see my Summer Dog Safety Guide and Hot Weather Dog Kit.
Puppy visits and calm puppy support
Puppies need different care from adult dogs.
More exercise is not always the answer.
Young puppies need:
- regular toilet opportunities
- rest
- feeding
- gentle enrichment
- calm company
- consistency
- time to learn about everyday life
My one-to-one puppy visits take place in your puppy’s home and are tailored to their age and normal routine.
Depending on your instructions and your puppy’s age, a visit may include:
- a toilet break
- feeding
- changing water
- cleaning up small accidents
- gentle play
- simple scent games
- calm enrichment
- short reward-based training practice
- lead and harness familiarity
- quiet company
- a photograph and update
These are not formal dog-training sessions.
I can reinforce the calm, reward-based routines you are already using at home.
Once your puppy is old enough and your vet is happy for them to go out, I can also gradually introduce short one-to-one walks.
A puppy visit or short puppy walk of up to 30 minutes is £15.
Read more about Puppy Visits in Finchley
New puppy owner?
My Bringing a Puppy Home Complete First-Year Guide is a useful place to start.
Rabbit, guinea pig and small-animal care
Dogs and cats are not the only pets I look after.
I also provide home visits for rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and other small pets, provided the care required is within my experience and can be agreed in advance.
Small animals often rely heavily on routine.
Moving them unnecessarily can create additional disruption.
A home visit may include:
- feeding according to your instructions
- changing or topping up fresh water
- basic enclosure care
- simple litter or bedding care
- general welfare observations
- following an agreed routine
- an update and photograph where appropriate
I will ask for clear written instructions before care begins.
If your pet has specialist medical, husbandry or species-specific needs outside my experience, I will be honest about that.
Visit prices normally follow my home-visit rates:
- single visit: £15
- two visits in one day: £25
Read more about Small Animal Care in Finchley
Rabbit owner?
You may also find my Rabbit Holiday Care FAQ and Summer Cooling Tips for Rabbits useful.
Pet-care add-ons and holiday home help
Sometimes the pet is not the only thing you are thinking about when you go away.
What about the plants?
The bins?
Post coming through the door?
A delivery left outside?
If I am already visiting your home for pet care, a few small agreed tasks may fit within the normal visit.
These can include:
- bringing in post
- moving a small delivery inside
- putting out or bringing in one household bin
- opening or closing agreed curtains
- switching agreed lights on or off
- carrying out a simple visual check for obvious household problems
- watering a few indoor plants
Your pet’s care always comes first.
I will not cut short your cat’s care or rush a nervous pet because there are twenty plant pots to water.
Where practical jobs require additional time, you can add:
- 15 additional minutes: £6
- 30 additional minutes: £12
Standalone home or garden checks may also be available locally:
- up to 30 minutes: £18
- up to 60 minutes: £30
This is practical holiday help.
I am not a gardener, cleaner, property manager or security surveyor.
View Pet Care Add-ons and Holiday Home Help
Pet and Home Readiness Visit
Sometimes you are not looking for regular dog walking or pet sitting.
You simply want a practical second pair of eyes before something changes.
Perhaps you are:
- bringing home a rescue dog
- preparing for a puppy
- arranging a pet sitter for the first time
- going away
- caring for an older pet
- managing several pets with different routines
- worried about doors, gates or escape risks
- trying to put medication and emergency information in one place
My Pet and Home Readiness Visit is a practical review of your pet’s routine and home arrangements.
The standard £75 service includes:
- a short pre-visit information form
- up to 60 minutes in your home
- a practical review of your pet’s routine and home environment
- discussion of access, escape risks and emergency arrangements
- a personalised written checklist
- clear priorities for anything that may need attention
- links to reliable animal-welfare information
- recommendations for specialist help where something falls outside my role
The price is per household rather than per pet.
This is not a security survey.
It is not a veterinary assessment.
It is not a behaviour consultation.
It is a practical preparation visit based on my experience in pet care, rescue, and working with nervous dogs, security work, and Scouting.
Read about the Pet and Home Readiness Visit
Why I keep my services local and one-to-one
My business is deliberately not built around collecting as many dogs as possible.
I do not have a van full of crates.
I do not collect six dogs and drive them to the same park.
I work locally and on foot.
For dog walks, that means the walk begins and ends at your home.
Your dog’s booked time is about your dog.
For home visits and pet sitting, it means I can focus on your household and the routine you have asked me to follow.
This approach works particularly well for nervous, sensitive and routine-driven pets.
It also means I will sometimes say that I am not the right person for a booking.
I would rather be honest than take on a pet, location or routine I cannot safely manage.
Calm care since 2011
I have worked professionally with dogs and pets since 2011.
My approach is calm, force-free and reward-based.
I am fully insured and Enhanced DBS checked.
My training and continued learning include canine first aid, canine body language, reactive dogs and enrichment-based approaches.
But qualifications and courses are only part of it.
A lot of pet care is noticing.
Has the cat eaten?
Is the dog moving differently today?
Has the nervous dog suddenly stopped taking treats?
Is the rabbit behaving normally?
Does the puppy need a break rather than more excitement?
Good pet care is not about following the same checklist regardless of the animal.
It is about knowing the routine, observing the pet and responding sensibly when something changes.
Where I provide pet care
I mainly work across Finchley, North Finchley, East Finchley, Finchley Central, Muswell Hill and nearby areas.
The exact area I can cover depends on the service.
Dog walks are kept very local because I work on foot.
House sitting and some home-based pet-care services may be available across a slightly wider area.
The easiest way to check is to send me your postcode and tell me which service you need.
Check the Finchley Dog Walker Service Area
Not sure which service is right?
That is completely fine.
You may be trying to decide between:
- a dog walk and a home visit
- solo walking and rescue dog support
- house sitting and shorter pet visits
- cat sitting and a cattery
- puppy visits and short walks
- normal dog walking and adapted hot-weather care
You do not need to diagnose your pet or choose the perfect service before contacting me.
Tell me:
- your name
- your postcode
- which service you think you need
- the days, dates or times involved
- a little about your pet
- any health, medication, nervousness or reactivity I need to know about
I will ask a few questions and tell you whether I think I can help.
If I am not the right fit, I will be honest.
WhatsApp: 07707 763344
Email: info@finchleydogwalker.co.uk
Frequently asked questions
Do you offer group dog walks?
No.
All my dog walks are one-to-one.
Do you use a van to collect dogs?
No.
I work locally and on foot.
Dog walks start and finish at your dog’s home.
Can you help a nervous or rescue dog?
Yes.
A large part of my work involves rescue, nervous and sensitive dogs.
I take things slowly and do not force interaction or progress.
Do you work with reactive dogs?
Yes, where I can safely meet the dog’s needs.
I provide practical, one-to-one walking and routine support.
I am not a clinical behaviourist and will recommend specialist help where a dog’s needs are beyond my role.
What happens if it is too hot for my dog’s normal walk?
I follow my Extreme Weather Policy.
The walk may be shortened, moved where practical or adapted into meaningful alternative care.
This can include a short toilet opportunity where safe, water, calm enrichment, scent work and a welfare check.
Can you give medication?
I can provide agreed medication support for some pets where clear instructions have been provided, and the care is within my competence.
Please tell me about medication when you first enquire.
Do you provide cat sitting?
Yes.
I offer calm home visits for cats, including feeding, water, litter box care, agreed-upon medication support, and general welfare observations.
Do you look after rabbits and guinea pigs?
Yes.
I offer home visits for rabbits, guinea pigs and some other small pets where the routine and care required can be agreed in advance.
Do you provide house sitting?
Yes.
I stay in your home so your pet can remain in familiar surroundings and follow their normal routine as closely as possible.
Are you insured and DBS checked?
Yes.
I am fully insured and Enhanced DBS checked.
How do I book?
The quickest option is to WhatsApp me.
Please include your postcode, the service you need, the dates or days involved and a short note about your pet.
I will ask a few questions before confirming whether I can help.
Looking for calm, one-to-one pet care?
You do not need your pet to fit into a group.
You do not need a rescue dog to trust me immediately.
And you do not need to force a normal walk when the weather or your dog’s needs mean the plan should change.
My job is to get to know the pet in front of me and provide calm, practical care that fits their routine as closely as possible.
If you are looking for dog walking, house-sitting, cat-sitting, or home pet care in Finchley or nearby North London areas, send me a message.
Tell me your postcode and a little about your pet.
We can start from there.
WhatsApp: 07707 763344
Email: info@finchleydogwalker.co.uk
Disclaimer
This page explains the pet care services I offer and is for general information only. I am not a vet or clinical behaviourist. Health concerns should be discussed with your vet, and complex behavioural concerns may require the services of an appropriately qualified reward-based behaviour professional. All services are subject to availability, location, a suitable meet-and-greet where required, and my current terms, policies, and insurance conditions.