And when I finally found my way home, I saw it clearly; the quiet, the space, the familiar paths beneath my feet. Everything I had been searching for had been here, waiting patiently. And then, she arrived...
Bailee. My Second in Command, The Fun Police, The Head of Compliance!
Not planned, not expected and definitely not something I thought I wanted. But some dogs don’t enter your life by chance, they arrive because they are meant to change it. She didn’t come with easy answers, she came with questions and with behaviours I didn’t yet understand. So I learned.
I learned how to slow down and how to listen differently. She taught me how dogs really communicate, not in commands, but in quiet signals. She taught me patience and a kind of unconditional love that doesn’t rush, doesn’t force, and doesn’t give up.
At the time, I had spent nearly 20 years as a make-up artist, a completely different world: fast-paced, ever changing, always moving. You need to look your best and be your best 100% of the time. It was a loud, busy, demanding job and I just needed a new adventure! And isn’t that was life is about? But life has a way of gently (and sometimes not so gently) guiding you where you’re meant to be.
After some health challenges for both myself and Bailee, everything began to shift. What was important changed. What I needed changed. And what I was being shown… became impossible to ignore; working with dogs wasn’t just something I could do. It was something I was meant to do!
In 2020, during the bushfires, I spent time volunteering with wildlife organisations. Among injured animals and the quiet resilience of the land, I was reminded again of something deeper. Watching dingoes; instinctive, aware, and entirely present. Reshaped the way I understood the dogs in my care and beneath the leads, the routines, the expectations there is something ancient, something wise, something that existed before we ever did. And when you honour that; when you meet it with patience and respect, trust follows.
Now my days are spent outside (rain, hail or shine!) in the fresh air, the soft breeze rustling through the trees, dust in my hair with a small group of doggy friends, never more than four. I keep my groups intentionally small so every dog is seen, understood and safe.
Anxious dogs walk with steady, calm companions. Older dogs wander together at a gentler pace. Working breeds burn energy alongside others who thrive on movement and purpose. Energy, personalities and compatibility matters. I group dogs thoughtfully, with care and instinct, because harmony in the pack creates confidence in the individual and safety is not an afterthought — it is the foundation. This work isn’t about control, it’s about connection. With me, it’s automatic, I understand dogs intuitively, it’s instinct and with the help of my own dog, it took years to appreciate. It’s not something that is spoken, and not something you hear. It’s something you feel through their body language and their energy, and then I interpret that into how we, as humans communicate.
It’s as simple as a leaf stuck to a paw, a bee on a tail, a rock that wasn’t there yesterday or a trail they don’t like the look of, I’m there. That reassurance that I am always there to ease their stress, they soften, they settle and they move on, knowing they are understood. I am emotionally connected to the dogs I care for and that’s the best part of this job.
I take my role as Team Leader very seriously and we try to have as much fun as possible! But, safety is always part of the journey and it is my number one priority. I am fully certified in Canine First Aid, Prevention and Risk Management and equipped to respond calmly and effectively. Every dog is monitored closely, with my strong understanding of behaviour and body language, I can identify early signs of stress, fatigue, illness or injury. Walks are structured to minimise risk, with careful group selection, controlled environments and ongoing assessment throughout each session.
Safety is carefully managed in response to weather and environmental conditions. For example; during warmer months walks are adapted to reduce risk: avoiding bushland and tall grasses, due to creepy crawlies and grass seeds and we must have constant accesss to water and shade.
Temperature is closely monitored with walks modified or cancelled where conditions unsuitable (extreme heat or extreme winter weather) Additional care is taken with brachycephalic breeds these dogs need to remain in their own group to be monitored due to their sensitivity to heat and humidity.
My Story;
Trust, like all good things, is not built in a hurry. It’s gathered slowly — over time, through quiet moments, shared paths, and the unspoken understanding between human and dog.
For over six years now, I’ve walked alongside that understanding. What began as a simple idea has grown into something far deeper, a life woven gently into the rhythm of the community, the landscape, and the dogs who live in it.
When I was younger, I wandered from place to place, across states and even countries, following a feeling I couldn’t quite name. Always searching and always thinking in the next place; I’ll find it. But as it turns out…I’d been carrying the answer with me all along. Like Dorothy, I had my own pair of ruby slippers — I just didn’t know how to use them yet.
Dogs are not permitted to engage with high risk games, such as tug with sticks or other organic materials, only with approved toys that I supply. Play is guided and structured to reduce the risk of injury and to avoid resource guarding behaviours.
With these foundations in place, and safety thoughtfully managed, each walk is free to be what it is meant to be…an adventure!
Whether I’m leading a quiet Sniffari through soft grass on the rolling hills, or guiding an Explorers’ Trail along the twisting tracks through forests, or setting out on a Big Expedition, or simply sitting beside a dog who isn’t ready yet…
My intention remains unchanged: Calm. Structure. Kindness. Understanding.
So when you are ready, come join the pack.and let the adventures begin...
Your local dog lady,
Olivia
