DILLY'S DOGS
Dilly’s Dogs is run by husband and wife team Alice and Tom Freeman. Alice is a fully qualified member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and a registered animal training instructor with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council.
With over 10 years experience working with a variety of dogs Alice noticed that many of the dogs she worked with would benefit from a 'home from home' day care environment opposed to the larger commercial daycares available. Dilly's Dogs began as a dog walking and training business but has now progressed to a fully licensed (AWRL086) and insured dog day care with a difference.
Dilly's Dogs is a strong advocate for positive reward based training meaning you can be confident your dogs will be treated with kindness and care as if they were her own.
A day at Dilly's Dogs day care
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collection from home
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two walks in local fields, woodland and National Trust parks
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mental stimulation in the form of enrichment or training
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Social interactions with dogs and people
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pockets of rest time/settle training
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dropped back home
Dog day care with a difference
Here at Dilly's Dogs we pride ourselves on offering dog day care with a difference.
We want to ensure your dog has a positive experience with Dilly's Dogs, and this starts with collection by Alice or Tom in their large car. We choose not to use a van with crate system as we understand many dogs are used to travelling in a family car and can be uncomfortable travelling in a crate, especially in a van. Luckily our clients are all near by so we can also ensure that your dogs will not be in the car for long periods during collection and drop off.
We are lucky enough to live in an area surrounded by beautiful walks including open fields, woodland and National Trust parks all accessible from our doorstep. We like to make the most of this so when your dogs come to us they will have two walks per day, along with access to our fenced paddocks when at home. This way we can be sure they are getting their physical exercise in.
Of course the dog trainer in me can't resist throwing some mental stimulation in so your dogs will also have some kind of mental stimulation through out the day, whether that be some trick training, scent work, toy play or playing on the agility equipment.
A key part to any dogs day is socialisation, as this in itself is a fantastic source of mental stimulation. Of course we love to see the dogs running around and playing together, however we are aware that not all dogs have the same play styles or energy levels so we like to focus on managed social interactions to ensure all dogs have the most positive experience possible. We also like to work on teaching dogs to focus on us humans around other dogs, a skill most owners appreciate! Luckily our low number of dogs sets the dogs up for success with this.
An important element to a dogs day that is often forgotten is rest. As we are a smaller scale dog day care with a maximum of 8 dogs we are able to offer a calmer environment with pockets of rest time as and when the dogs require. For some dogs this is one of their favourite aspects as it often includes a kong or chew to help the dogs settle (an important skill that we as owners can often forget to teach!)
SERVICES
Helping care for and train your dogs
DOG TRAINING
Alice is an APDT accredited dog trainer offering 1-1 sessions and training walks across the Horsley and Guildford area. If you need a helping hand with your dog get in touch.
DOG WALKING
Group, solo or training walks available around the Horsley and Guildford area. Professional experience with nervous, anxious and reactive dogs as well the more excitable dogs.
BESPOKE DOG DAY CARE
Fully licensed (AWRL086) home from home dog day care, your dogs will be treated like one of our own. A day at Dilly’s Dogs consists of a morning walk, enrichment, managed socialisation, play and rest as well as an additional afternoon walk. With a maximum capacity of 8 dogs we focus on your dogs welfare and ensuring they have the best day possible with us, your dogs welfare will always be our number one priority. Secure paddocks allow us to ensure all dogs can have off lead time, with separate paddocks we are also able to ensure dogs can be separated into smaller groups if needed to accommodate varying ages and fitness levels.
Excellent 1-1 training session with Alice to help with loose lead walking. I enjoyed the training and learnt a lot of tips, I now feel more confident to work on it and will have another session with Alice after Henry and I have put in some practice.
B. Keymer
Senna my 13YO Staffie is rather set in her ways but also nervous of other dogs due to being attacked a few years ago. Alice is one of the only people I trust to walk Senna in a public place. Senna adores Alice and clearly feels totally safe with her. Both Senna and I whole heartedly recommend Alice and Dilly’s Dogs.
Tania Grantham
Our little Astrix has taking training walks with Alice so she can learn to walk with us rather then pulling us. So far so good she is making great progress and we as a family love to tap in to Alice's wide ranging knowledge of dogs. She is so natural with animals and we will not have any hesitation to leave Astrix with Alice when we travel or to recommend Alice to others
S. Burt
"George 🐶 and I met Alice last week, she spent a lot of time getting to know all about George and his ways, and was very patient. George is now booked in for a weekly training session with her to improve his recall. I was left happy and impressed after meeting her and her first walk with him 👍”
Richard Bunce
"I’ve known Alice for many years and would highly recommend her. She has taken care of my dogs for me on many occasions and they absolutely adore her. I wouldn’t trust anyone else with my babies."