Hello from a new walker - an intro and a couple of ?s

[nickie]

Hi everyone

I am looking into becoming a regular dog walker. Already registered and looking forward to the next induction. From what I've gathered, that would be on Friday, 03/11 from 11 AM, right?

I plan on coming to walk a different furry friend every Wednesday, hopefully together with my partner. (Is it okay to bring him along, or does he need to register and go through induction as well? Unfortunately, he can't do Fridays.  )

Can anyone advice me on the best/cheapest way to get to the location from Cathays/Roath or Queen Street?

Other than that, I am an EU student doing Politics and IR at Cardiff University & running Unicef UK fundraisers on the side. Always loved dogs but was never able to provide a good home for one due to my housing situation, so... ended up walking and baby sitting friends & family's pets instead. My partner and I hope we will be able to adopt from the shelter in about two years time: once we graduate, have stable jobs for extended period of time, find pet-friendly property with a secure, large backyard, etc. (Advice on pet-friendly rentals welcome even from now, seems almost impossible?  )

Hope to bump into like-minded "dog people" as we start coming often!   

Attaching a bunch of photos of me and (other people's) dogs. 


My partner and I with his mom's dog, Llew, in Ynys Mon (North Wales, 2016)



With Noster at Tychy (Poland), circa 2012

With Eddie, my grandparents' dog, near Sofia (Bulgaria), circa 2013. They found him as a stray over 10 years ago, we grew up together. 

[Baglady]

Hi and welcome Nickie!

Yes - inductions at Cardiff Dogs Home are on the first Friday of every month at 11 o'clock. We do hold inductions in Newport Dogs Home too, on the 3rd Saturday of each month (ie tomorrow) and once you have attended an induction you will be given a walker number and can walk at either centre.

You partner is most definitely welcome to join you - but if he can make the induction do try to persuade him to sign up too! We sometimes get pairs of dogs that can be walked together.

I'm afraid I don't know much about the bus & train services, nearest train station is Cogan, and there are bus stops on Penarth Road which are pretty close to the Dogs Home.

We look forward to meeting you! Even though you can't adopt right now, you can be 'aunty and uncle' to the hundreds of dogs that you will meet at Cardiff Dogs Home over the next two years!

[Bickers]

Hi Nickie,

I'm a public transport user and normally get the train. I travel down to Cogan (so you'll need the Barry train from Cathays/Queen Street) and it's about a 15 minute walk from there. The trains are every 15 minutes. Alternatively, Grangetown station is about 20 minutes walk away in the other direction but there are 8 trains an hour instead of 4 (all stopping at Queen Street).

I haven't got the bus because I catch the train to work so my ticket covers me for my walkies journeys too, but the 92/93/94 buses to Penarth run every ten minutes and stop by Grangemoor Park and The Ely Trail which are 5/10 mins from CDH. Depending on when you go, you may end up following a fellow walker back!

Have a great time, it's been nearly a year since I signed up and it's my favourite hobby. I only wish I could get there more than I do (every day would be great!) - you'll fall in love with a new friend every time you go!

[nickie]

Thank you both for the warm welcome and helpful advice!  Can't wait to get my walkers number.   How long (approx) does the training take? If it is less than an hour I might be able to persuade my boyfriend to squeeze it into his daily agenda right before his lecture at 12:30 on Friday. Thanks again!