About Me

I have dreamed of a career with animals for as long as I can remember!   Even as a child I would spend endless hours catching bugs, drawing horses, or playing with my family's many pets.  For my first "job" I mucked out my neighbor's horse stalls for free.  My parents bred Collies, so at an early age I learned how to raise a litter of puppies, groom, train, and show dogs.  As I grew older I held multiple jobs at pet supply stores, doggie daycares, and dog training facilities...I could never spend too much time with dogs!  In 2005 I graduated from The University of New Hampshire with a bachelor's degree in Zoology & minor in Animal Behavior.  It was then that I realized that not only did I want a career with animals, but I wanted to be a business owner as well! So after graduating from college, I continued my education and earned a Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship from Boston University while I held a sales job for a pet supply manufacturing company. 

In January of 2008 I took the plunge and began my own business, Impromptu Dog Walking, which is now BlueDog.  Why BlueDog?  It's a tribute to my first dog, a blue-merle Collie!  When I was only 6 years old my parents took me to a breeder to pick out my very own dog.  I immediately fell in love with a little blue-merle Collie who I named Maggie.  Maggie truly taught me the joys of sharing my life with dogs.  After 11 wonderful years, Maggie passed away, but I still think of her every single day, and therefore I have renamed my business BlueDog in memory of her.  I continually want to improve & educate myself and my business.  I am constantly reading about dog behavior, attending seminars, and apprenticing as a dog trainer.  My days are focused completely on dogs, if it's not with yours, it's with mine, bringing them to training classes and competing in shows.  My business has truly become a dream come true and I absolutely love what I do, I couldn't be happier with the path I have taken!

~Kim

Me & My Girls

I know how important your dog is to you, because I have two of my own who mean everything to me!  My Collies, Elsa and Reese, are very special to me.  Elsa is 7 years old and came into my life as my college graduation gift from my parents; we've been inseparable ever since.  After quickly realizing the thrill of training Elsa, her and I took to the show ring to try our luck.  Elsa excelled, earning her AKC RN, RA, and RE.  She also has her AKC Canine Good Citizen Certificate.  Elsa's reliability has made it possible for me to use her during training sessions with dogs who don't work well around other dogs. 

My girl Reese came into my home three years ago with a bang!  The energetic little girl was a challenge to train, but is proof that consistency and hard work can pay off.  She has earned her AKC Canine Good Citizen Certificate and is on her way towards her AKC RN.  She loves to join me on daily walks and makes a wonderful playmate for those energetic pups.  She also joins me around town on errands and client visits, she's my little partner in crime!

Both girls go everywhere with me, whether it's a weekend away, daily walks and training sessions, or on a walk on our own.  I'm a firm believer of continued education, so we also always attend training classes to enhance our relationship, showing what we learn at occasional dog shows.  But ultimately, Elsa and Reese are my family.  I treat them that way, just as BlueDog treats your dog that way.

 Kim's Korner!

 As I walk dogs, read books, and attend training classes, I am constantly learning something new!  Once in a while I can find the time to write about it and absolutely love sharing my knowledge!  Check out my blog for tips on training, reflections on my dog walking excursions, updates on Elsa and Reese, or just my general thoughts and opinions on all things dogs!  I hope you enjoy it!

click here for Kim's Blog

Weekend Walks

We're happy to announce that BlueDog is now able to offer weekend walks to BlueDog clients on a more regular basis!  Our weekend walker, Emma, is available most weekends to walk your pup for you.  As always, advance notice is much appreciated!  Please see our Services page for prices and Contact Us if you'd like to schedule a walk!

Emma

Our weekend walker is Emma.  She is a sophomore at Babson College and plays for the Babson Women's LacrosseTeam!  She's also a devoted dog lover and owner of two wonderful pups, Chica, a German Shorthaired Pointer, and Hannah, a Siberian Husky.  She has lived with dogs her entire life, as well as multiple other animals including bunnies, hedgehogs, and fish!  She looks forward to one day having her own two black labs, but in the meantime she's excited to walking your pups for you on the weekends!

House Sitting

 To be able to help you out during those times when you're going away and can't bring your pup with you, we offer house sitting.  Our house sitter, Susan, will stay at your house while you're away, providing safety and companionship for your pup where he's most comfortable.  For more information about house sitting visit our Services page or Contact Us for more information.

Susie
Dog walker, house sitter

 Susie is our very own house-sitter for those times when you're going away and have to leave your pup at home.  She'll stay overnight at your house, providing the most socialization and companionship possible, in a place where your pup is most comfortable...his own home!  She has shared her life with countless Beagles and Dachshunds, her breeds of choice!  Her pups spend their summers at a lake house on Bow Lake in NH, where Susie and I met as kids and shared our love for dogs.

Rebecca
Dog walker

Rebecca has grown up with dogs her entire life, her very first dog being a Dalmatian named Sara, who entered her life when she was only three years old.  She currently shares her home with a rescued, lovable Great Pyrenese mix named Sadie.  Rebecca is a graduate from Keene State College with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design. She enjoys all kinds of art and loves to create things. While a senior in college, she began volunteering at the Monadnock Humane Society and truly enjoyed the experience. So in October of 2010, she began volunteering at Nevins Farm in Methuen, volunteering over 300 hours between both shelters and earning the title of Level 2 Dog Walker!  She also helps the shelter by doing some design work, making posters and other promotional displays for the shelter.  Rebecca has been a wonderful addition to our team!

Chelsea
Dog walker

Chelsea just joined the BlueDog crew January 2012.   She is BlueDog's "in town" walker, living just minutes from downtown Andover.  She has spent her whole life caring for her famly's dogs, cats, and rabbit.  Right now her "baby boy" Tig, is a very lovable 6 year old cat who loves to snuggle.  She is currently enrolled in classes earning her bachelors degree in Biology.  Her goal is to some day open up her own sanctuary and rehabilitation center for animals, providing refuge to animals that come from abusive situations.  But, for now she gets her fix helping the animals at the MSPCA as a volunteer.  Chelsea's energy and personality fit perfectly with BlueDog and we are excited to have her as part of the crew taking care of our client's four legged family members!

BlueDog is hiring local dog lovers! Please see our Employment page if you're interested.

Our Walkers:

As my business grows, it is very important for me to grow the very best team of walkers possible.  Each of my walkers shares my lifelong passion for dogs.  They walk the same dogs consistently, so you can rest assured that the same person is coming to your house everyday and spending time with your dog. And if they ever can't make it, I will arrange to walk your dog myself!

To ensure that we are prepared to handle any situation, all of our walkers are Red Cross certified in dog first aid and CPR!  We are able to recognize when a dog is distressed, bandage a wound, perform CPR when needed, and more. This knowledge allows us to take care of your dog in all situations, ensuring that he's always in good hands!



Lauren
Dog walker

My sister, Lauren, has been a huge help to my business!  She's attending Merrimack College in North Andover to become a teacher so she's always in the neighborhood!  Just like me, she loves dogs & has a lifetime of experience with animals.  She's a proud owner of Levi, her 7 year old pug & best friend!  Lauren does everything to keep him happy and healthy, she even plans to train him to get his AKC Canine Good Citizen Certificate and certified as a therapy dog! And of course, she puts up with his snoring too!

Amy
Trainer, dog walker, house sitter

Amy is BlueDog's certified dog trainer!  She's a graduate of Mount Ida College's Dog Training program and is a student at UMass Lowell working towards her bachelor's degree. Amy also volunteered as a dog walker at the MSPCA at Nevin's Farm in Methuen, reaching the status of a level 2 dog walker and currently volunteers at the Salem NH Rescue League.  She has completed a course in clicker training and has a remarkable amount of experience in handling dogs.  She shares her home with two lovable pups, a 12 year old Lhasa Apso, Chewy, and Jalepeno, her 1 year old rescued Chihuahua mix who joins her on many walks!

 Meghan
Dog walker

Meghan loves walking dogs for us because animals are her passion!  She has grown up with many dogs and a multitude of other animals throughout her entire life.  Being a pet owner and having a passion for animals has her dreaming of becoming a vet tech one day, and she hopes to soon enroll into a college program while walking to help lead her to that dream career!  Her 120 pound pit bull/mastiff mix, Jack, and her two cats are her absolute best buddies!

Katie
Dog walker, house sitter