London's Number One Dog-Walking Agency: A Memoir
- Downloads：1022
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-07-09 05:31:10
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Kate MacDougall
- ISBN：B08GKQX2SH
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
Reviews
Jenn
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I won a copy of this book。I knew I was going to like it when I read the blurb for it。 I was very happy to find I was correct in my assessment。 Kate MacDougall took a chance at a new business and found her calling。 Just a really good read。
Emily Bush
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London’s Number One Dog-Walking Agency was a fun look at the ins and outs of a dog walking business。 Kate tells her story of starting the agency （against her mother’s wishes） when she could no longer handle having an inside desk job。 She tells many interesting stories of dogs， walkers， and clients - some hilarious and others cringe-worthy。 Also woven through the stories are Kate’s own stories of family， growing up， and her fears as the business and her family grow。 Thank you to NetGalley and the London’s Number One Dog-Walking Agency was a fun look at the ins and outs of a dog walking business。 Kate tells her story of starting the agency （against her mother’s wishes） when she could no longer handle having an inside desk job。 She tells many interesting stories of dogs， walkers， and clients - some hilarious and others cringe-worthy。 Also woven through the stories are Kate’s own stories of family， growing up， and her fears as the business and her family grow。 Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy。 。。。more
Ani
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Kate MacDougall quit her boring， but steady job at an auction house in London to start her own dog-walking agency。 Despite the protests and comments from friends and family Kate went ahead with her aspirations and set up a company "London's Number One Dog-Walking Agency"。 Filled with anecdotes of her personal life and stories of dogs and clients alike， this memoir comes across as authentic， funny， and relatable。 The memoir is organized by the different dogs she or her employees walked， which is Kate MacDougall quit her boring， but steady job at an auction house in London to start her own dog-walking agency。 Despite the protests and comments from friends and family Kate went ahead with her aspirations and set up a company "London's Number One Dog-Walking Agency"。 Filled with anecdotes of her personal life and stories of dogs and clients alike， this memoir comes across as authentic， funny， and relatable。 The memoir is organized by the different dogs she or her employees walked， which is unconventional， but very effective。 Stories of the walks， the disasters， the miscommunications， and the complaints presented in a witty and delightful way。 This was a truly fun read that also incorporated Kate's coming of age story allowing readers to witness the company grow from a young women with couple dog walkers and clients to something much bigger。 The lessons from people and dogs and London life offer a fresh， playful， vibrancy。 I highly recommend this book to animal lovers and those looking for refreshingly down to earth memoir that is sure to make you laugh。 。。。more
Elizabeth Fean
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This book tells the story of how Kate MacDougall took the very big step of setting up a dog walking agency。After university she had a number of admin jobs and finally a post at Sotheby's where she became known as Clumsy Kate。 A chance meeting with an old actor friend gave her the idea of dog walking despite her lack of knowledge about setting up a business。 The book tells of her experiences with the dogs， their owners and the dog walkers she employed。 Her partner， Finley was not a dog lover but This book tells the story of how Kate MacDougall took the very big step of setting up a dog walking agency。After university she had a number of admin jobs and finally a post at Sotheby's where she became known as Clumsy Kate。 A chance meeting with an old actor friend gave her the idea of dog walking despite her lack of knowledge about setting up a business。 The book tells of her experiences with the dogs， their owners and the dog walkers she employed。 Her partner， Finley was not a dog lover but was very supportive and even walked a dog occasionally。 Her mother could not understand why she had given up her job to walk dogs。 Kate often asked herself what life was about and despite the difficulties she met such as dogs who didn't want to walk， or were not allowed to get dirty she found the answer in her agency。 This is an easy read and a must for dog lovers 。。。more
Darla
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This is a memoir you can share with the dog-lovers in your life。 Kate is suddenly without a job in 2006 and decides to start walking dogs。 How hard could it be？ Get some clients， put the dogs on the leash to the park and back home and Bob's your uncle， you are making a living。 Chapter by chapter we see the business evolve。 What I loved was the focus on one dog per chapter with amusing anecdotes and dry humor sprinkled throughout。 Kate is not afraid to poke fun at her own naive assumptions or giv This is a memoir you can share with the dog-lovers in your life。 Kate is suddenly without a job in 2006 and decides to start walking dogs。 How hard could it be？ Get some clients， put the dogs on the leash to the park and back home and Bob's your uncle， you are making a living。 Chapter by chapter we see the business evolve。 What I loved was the focus on one dog per chapter with amusing anecdotes and dry humor sprinkled throughout。 Kate is not afraid to poke fun at her own naive assumptions or give us the straight scoop on an embarrassing situation or two。 I especially enjoyed the bits of a "where they are now" as a part of the Afterword。 This might make you appreciate the dog in your life more。Thank you to William Morrow and Custom House and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review。 。。。more
Gail O'Connor
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Just couldn't keep my interest。 I needed something warm and fuzzy with that title。 I'm sure everyone else will love it。 Just couldn't keep my interest。 I needed something warm and fuzzy with that title。 I'm sure everyone else will love it。 。。。more
Lori Tatar
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This is a charming story of a woman who launches her own business and finds herself becoming busier and more in demand。 With celebrities and wealthy clients， her agency is highly sought after， and the staff sometimes hard to come by。 Others are perfect for the job， including both the dogs and the human customers。 This is a light， fun read that just feels good。
Marian
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After 4 years in a job that left her bored and restless， Kate MacDougall takes the leap into a new and completely foreign venture for her -- dog walking。 Through sheer determination， MacDougall takes what seems to be a temporary lark and transforms it into a thriving business。Throughout the book， MacDougall introduces her readers to a host of interesting dogs and their even more interesting owners with a fair amount of laugh out loud moments。 But even more important than the dogs and their owner After 4 years in a job that left her bored and restless， Kate MacDougall takes the leap into a new and completely foreign venture for her -- dog walking。 Through sheer determination， MacDougall takes what seems to be a temporary lark and transforms it into a thriving business。Throughout the book， MacDougall introduces her readers to a host of interesting dogs and their even more interesting owners with a fair amount of laugh out loud moments。 But even more important than the dogs and their owners is the transformation of MacDougall herself -- from a not-so-confident business owner who tends to doubt her abilities to a savvy businesswoman with a working force of employees。。 And as the book progresses， we also watch MacDougall as she grows in her relationship with boyfriend， Finlay。A fun and delightful read holding forth the adage that dogs truly are man's best friend。I would like to thank #NetGalley and William Morrow and Custom House for this ARC in exchange for my review of #LondonsNumberOneDogWalkingAgency。 。。。more
Beccs Eglin
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Premise sounds really cute but it just seems slow but I didn't feel engaged！ Premise sounds really cute but it just seems slow but I didn't feel engaged！ 。。。more
Hannah
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A decent audio book upped this to 3*。 As much of this book was about children than dogs which wasn't what I wanted， personally。 A decent audio book upped this to 3*。 As much of this book was about children than dogs which wasn't what I wanted， personally。 。。。more
Barb
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Heheh， I didn't even realize this was a memoir until about a third of the way in。 Yes， I know。。。 it's RIGHT THERE in the title！ But it had a comical title and cover and from the minute I started it I found it entertaining and fun。 Memoirs are often much more serious。 A cute and somehow improbable main character coming of age story。。。meaning adulthood。 And then to find out it is all true， makes it that much more lovable and endearing。 This will be a bookseller's dream as the audience could be hug Heheh， I didn't even realize this was a memoir until about a third of the way in。 Yes， I know。。。 it's RIGHT THERE in the title！ But it had a comical title and cover and from the minute I started it I found it entertaining and fun。 Memoirs are often much more serious。 A cute and somehow improbable main character coming of age story。。。meaning adulthood。 And then to find out it is all true， makes it that much more lovable and endearing。 This will be a bookseller's dream as the audience could be huge。 Such an interesting view of the pet and pet owner world combined with a young woman's search to find her place in the world outside of her mother's expectations。 I admire the author's skill of observation， but more so her ability to convey those thoughts to us with an insight of a therapist （she's not， of course） and the delivery of a stand up comic （which I would bet she could be）。 She divided her stories， chapters， and years into dog clients。 So we can see the ups and downs of her life and business。 What is nice about this is that they can be short spurts， and if you are busy （as I often am） you can easily put the book down a quick chapter at a time and pick up where you left off。My only criticism is I would get lost in London。 I don't live there， although I have been three times。 Lots of references to neighborhoods and parks that a Londoner would immediately know， just as if this had been set in Manhattan and I would know the specific streets and neighborhood idiosyncrasies。 I was initially tempted to look it all up on Google Earth， but then decided there was too many， so I just sat back and let her describe the situations her business presented in each area。 Everything is lovingly described as is her extraordinary partner。 He is remarkable and certainly central to her life AND the book。 And don't forget the dogs。 Who doesn't love dogs。。。？ Heheh， there are some。 Don't miss this。 A very good book for summer reading :D。 Thank you to Goodreads Giveaways for my copy of the ARC。 It's a gem。 。。。more
Sarah
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I'd like to thank Goodreads and the publisher for an ARC of this book。 This is my honest review。This book was a charming memoir。 It was a comforting companion that gave me a brief glimpse into the lives of all of Kate's clients and a very open look into Kate's own。 It chronicled a period of growth for Kate， starting when she bravely begins a career as a dog walker， full of hope and ambition。 It shows how she develops into a more savvy businesswoman - balancing both the needs of the dogs and thei I'd like to thank Goodreads and the publisher for an ARC of this book。 This is my honest review。This book was a charming memoir。 It was a comforting companion that gave me a brief glimpse into the lives of all of Kate's clients and a very open look into Kate's own。 It chronicled a period of growth for Kate， starting when she bravely begins a career as a dog walker， full of hope and ambition。 It shows how she develops into a more savvy businesswoman - balancing both the needs of the dogs and their owners。 I enjoyed seeing Kate change throughout the book， her life the background story as we got the snippets about the different dogs， the different clients， and everything else going on in the world around here。 I connected with her occasional identity crisis， all the moments when she questioned whether what she was doing was actually what she should be doing。 I think that's something anyone can relate to。 The book is light-hearted and sweet， and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys stories about dogs， people， or just wants something that's a bit like a warm cup of tea。 。。。more
Lucie
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I was kindly provided with an advanced copy for review。 First of all， the cover is stunning， it's so beautiful and subtle， someone has done a really good job on that one。 Secondly， this book seemed to be exactly my sort of "light read"。 I love dogs。 I live with three dogs。 And I have at times wondered whether dog walking might not be a more relaxed career path。 I really enjoyed this book。 It was interesting to follow the author's own journey into the dog walking business and the whole change of I was kindly provided with an advanced copy for review。 First of all， the cover is stunning， it's so beautiful and subtle， someone has done a really good job on that one。 Secondly， this book seemed to be exactly my sort of "light read"。 I love dogs。 I live with three dogs。 And I have at times wondered whether dog walking might not be a more relaxed career path。 I really enjoyed this book。 It was interesting to follow the author's own journey into the dog walking business and the whole change of career。 I thought that using dog names and stories for each chapter was a great idea。 Some chapters were great， well written and you wanted to know what happened。 Some others were a bit more "dry" and didn't flow as well。 This means that at time I had to force myself to keep on reading and not skip a chapter， but I found that I could relate to a lot in the book and enjoyed it。 。。。more
Dayna
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As a dog-lover， I was thrilled to receive an ARC from a Goodreads giveaway。 In the initial chapters， the attention seem to focus more on humans than on dogs， & I began to suspect it was going to be like an old Woody Allen film， where the 'great roles for women' were merely pretexts for WA to talk about himself。 However， since we can never know what dogs really think & can do little more than project our feelings & impression on them， seeing their effect on the humans around them & vice versa giv As a dog-lover， I was thrilled to receive an ARC from a Goodreads giveaway。 In the initial chapters， the attention seem to focus more on humans than on dogs， & I began to suspect it was going to be like an old Woody Allen film， where the 'great roles for women' were merely pretexts for WA to talk about himself。 However， since we can never know what dogs really think & can do little more than project our feelings & impression on them， seeing their effect on the humans around them & vice versa gives us some insight into the cross-species partnership。 Those indifferent to dogs tend to dismissed them as sycophantic opportunists， yet there you need not venture far to see their innate empathy & kindness。 （In the book， there was the now elderly Stanley supporting the blind & deaf Buster。） This is definitely a book for anyone who enjoys dogs & perhaps even fence-sitters like the author's human significant other。 。。。more
Harriet
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I was drawn in by the gorgeous cover and thankfully， I enjoyed the contents too！ This book is really heart-warming and sweet and I loved the stories of the different dogs （especially Stanley！）。 I would definitely recommend this to any dog lover， although if you aren't super keen on them， you may find this a bit boring or repetitive。 I really liked it though！ I was drawn in by the gorgeous cover and thankfully， I enjoyed the contents too！ This book is really heart-warming and sweet and I loved the stories of the different dogs （especially Stanley！）。 I would definitely recommend this to any dog lover， although if you aren't super keen on them， you may find this a bit boring or repetitive。 I really liked it though！ 。。。more
Denise
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Pros :: What fun！ So thoroughly enjoyed the writing， the lighthearted stories， the living in London， the dogs。 Although there were the joys of walking the dogs， there were the reflections of the not so great part of owning a business， customers pushing boundaries （or being jerks）， awful （ie drunk） employees， soggy weather， picky and weird customers and the essence of how wonderful dogs are。 "The intoxicating gidiness of owning your first puppy was as potent and fervid as any narcotic， and just a Pros :: What fun！ So thoroughly enjoyed the writing， the lighthearted stories， the living in London， the dogs。 Although there were the joys of walking the dogs， there were the reflections of the not so great part of owning a business， customers pushing boundaries （or being jerks）， awful （ie drunk） employees， soggy weather， picky and weird customers and the essence of how wonderful dogs are。 "The intoxicating gidiness of owning your first puppy was as potent and fervid as any narcotic， and just as addictive。" （43%） Kate MacDougall seems like she'd be a fun friend to have。 Cons :: Nothing。 Cover art :: 5 out of 5 Good use of images， colour and London as a background。 。。。more
Paige Vauter
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This book is a great summer read！ It’s the perfect escape， witty and charming， on becoming yourself， motherhood， and loving dogs。
Melanie Moore
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A delightful memoir for all the dog lovers！
Michelle Pulignani
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Loved this story
isobel dunlop
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Loved loved loved this book！ If you are a dog lover this book will make you giggle。 I constantly talk about our family dogs as if they are mini humans and the stories the dog-Walkers had about the requests of demanding dog owners will make you laugh。 Also the personal story of Kate and her navigation through life which is very relatable！
Nina
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The best memoirs make you feel as if you know the author personally， with all of her quirks and adorable qualities。 This is one of those memoirs。 The individual dogs come alive with wonderful ， unique descriptions。 Their owners do， too。 Anyone who loves dogs will love this book。 Book club members will be able to revisit the funniest parts and to pick their favorite dogs。 This book is uplifting and life-affirming。
Kim McGee
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You don't have to be a dog lover or owner to appreciate this clever memoir of a young woman who， unhappy with her job ， starts a dog-walking agency that eventually takes over her life。 Each chapter is devoted to one of her clients and with it a warm story not only of the dogs but also the owners and Kate's employees。 Bits of love for London and a high five for following your passion even before you know what your true passion is。 This is a dog biscuit of a book - a treat to read and much tail wa You don't have to be a dog lover or owner to appreciate this clever memoir of a young woman who， unhappy with her job ， starts a dog-walking agency that eventually takes over her life。 Each chapter is devoted to one of her clients and with it a warm story not only of the dogs but also the owners and Kate's employees。 Bits of love for London and a high five for following your passion even before you know what your true passion is。 This is a dog biscuit of a book - a treat to read and much tail wagging。 My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy。 。。。more
Kon Frankowski
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Stories written by life are as charming as they are heartbreaking。 The sweetness in all its reinvigorating guises is always slightly spoiled by a dollop of bitterness。 But， as Kate MacDougall said in her furry debut， "you either get where you want to go or you don't， and the middle bit is just life。"London's No。1 Dog-Walking Agency， a 2021 debut from Kate MacDougall， is a warm account of the trials and tribulations of her life as a dog walker， a budding businesswoman， a wife， a mum， a human。 It' Stories written by life are as charming as they are heartbreaking。 The sweetness in all its reinvigorating guises is always slightly spoiled by a dollop of bitterness。 But， as Kate MacDougall said in her furry debut， "you either get where you want to go or you don't， and the middle bit is just life。"London's No。1 Dog-Walking Agency， a 2021 debut from Kate MacDougall， is a warm account of the trials and tribulations of her life as a dog walker， a budding businesswoman， a wife， a mum， a human。 It's a beautifully written account of a person on a journey of discovery。 And that discovery is indeed the motif that rolls throughout the story precisely as it does in our lives。 Things happen。 Things change and transform。 We grow as professionals， as human beings。 We discover new， rediscover the old， and we are in a constant state of flux。 MacDougall captures it perfectly through the poignant stories about dogs she walked throughout her career。 Despite the setting， dogs are not as important as we are lead to believe。 It's a story of humanity and what it is。 As wonderful as they are， dogs in this story are a background to the perceptive look Kate MacDougall takes at the lives of others。 Every story of a dog is a story of their owner intertwined with MacDougall's own struggles。 It's a brave and honest account that a transition into new life is rarely comfortable and never goes as smoothly as we'd like。 The style of the book is captivating。 MacDougall has a way with words and knows how to punch straight in the feels without saying much。 She seamlessly combines chattiness over a cuppa with well-worded articulacy and eloquence。 The language is lyrical and tinted with nostalgia whilst pleasantly readable。 It's indeed a pleasurable read I would recommend wholeheartedly。 。。。more
Gabrielle S
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So for whatever reason I had thought this was fiction which left me a little puzzled initially。 But once I realized it was a memoir I quite liked it。 I walk dogs sometimes although I am not going to make a career out of it。
Louisa Clark
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Absolutely loved this book。 Highly recommend for anyone who is in need of something comforting and heartwarming。
Maggie
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Kate had drifted into her job at Sotheby's however her heart wasn't in it & after an unfortunate accident with two porcelain pigeons she decided she needed a fresh start。 Trying to decide what to do next she found herself walking dogs- at this time， unlike today， there weren't the dog walking businesses there are now。 Taking a step into the unknown she begins her often hilarious journey。 Being a huge dog lover， this was bound to appeal to me。 I loved Kate's style of writing & the quirky characte Kate had drifted into her job at Sotheby's however her heart wasn't in it & after an unfortunate accident with two porcelain pigeons she decided she needed a fresh start。 Trying to decide what to do next she found herself walking dogs- at this time， unlike today， there weren't the dog walking businesses there are now。 Taking a step into the unknown she begins her often hilarious journey。 Being a huge dog lover， this was bound to appeal to me。 I loved Kate's style of writing & the quirky characters- both human & canine！！Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this lovely book。 。。。more
Sharon
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I really enjoyed this book。I found it was an easy， light read。 Just what I needed on a nice a weekend away at our caravan。Finished in a couple of sittings。 Always love books that can make me laugh out loud in places。I had not heard much about Kate MacDougall before and was not really sure what to expect， and I was definitely not disappointed。 Will certainly be looking out for more by this author。It was an enjoyable book to read about some of the dogs and their owners that Kate got to work with。 I really enjoyed this book。I found it was an easy， light read。 Just what I needed on a nice a weekend away at our caravan。Finished in a couple of sittings。 Always love books that can make me laugh out loud in places。I had not heard much about Kate MacDougall before and was not really sure what to expect， and I was definitely not disappointed。 Will certainly be looking out for more by this author。It was an enjoyable book to read about some of the dogs and their owners that Kate got to work with。 Having the chapters separated by the dogs I found was great， and I liked getting to read more about her life at the time she walked each of the dogs。I loved the cover or this book its stunning， I love all of the detail on it。 It is a real eye catcher which I think fits perfectly with the book。This is a great book and its a definite must read for dog lovers everywhere。 。。。more
Claudia Silk
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A wonderfully written memoir that on the surface seems to be about dog walking in London's various parks but it turns out to be so much more。 Kate MacDougall takes us on a journey through her early twenties to marriage and motherhood while introducing us to her various dog clients and their families。 Not surprisingly the dogs turn out to be more likable than the families！ Really well done。 A wonderfully written memoir that on the surface seems to be about dog walking in London's various parks but it turns out to be so much more。 Kate MacDougall takes us on a journey through her early twenties to marriage and motherhood while introducing us to her various dog clients and their families。 Not surprisingly the dogs turn out to be more likable than the families！ Really well done。 。。。more
Sandra
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