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!

Me & My Girls

 My love for dogs has led me to the show ring with my two fabulous Collies, Elsa and Reese.  Elsa is 4 years old.  She currently has her AKC Canine Good Citizen Certificate, AKC Rally-Obedience Novice Title, AKC Rally-Obedience Advanced Title, two legs of her AKC Rally-Obedience Excellent Title, and one leg towards her Novice-Obedience Title.  Elsa loves to work with me and has an amazing attitude, not only has she earned multiple titles, but she has come in first place in every single show with the exception of one, which she came in second!  I couldn't be more proud!  She joins me on many of my daily walks and all of the dogs that I walk absolutely love her company and look forward to playing with her everyday!

 My newest addition to the family is Reese, a year old Collie pup.  Reese is a lovable little girl with a big attitude!  Her and I will soon be trying our luck in the conformation and obedience show ring.  She's also earned her AKC Canine Good Citizen Certificate.  She's very quick to learn and eager to play.  She now joins me on walks as well and is a perfect playmate for those high-energy dogs!

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

BlueDog T-Shirts!

BlueDog now has t-shirts!  Cute, comfy, & stylish, show your love for your dog's walker!  We've got three different styles: women's t-shirt, men's t-shirt, and woman's tank top.  As well, choose between two silly quotes on the back of your shirt.  Email me for info!

We're Hiring!

BlueDog is looking for local dog lovers to help us walk dogs!  We're looking for caring, responsible individuals who understand that our clients and their pets come first!  To be considered you MUST have experience working with dogs, be available on weekdays from 10am-2pm, and live in Andover or North Andover.  All inquiries can contact me via our contact form or phone.

Our Walkers:

As my business has grown, I've become too busy myself to handle additional clients. That's where my wonderful walkers come in! They're just as much dog lovers as I, and continue to build amazing bonds with the dogs that they walk. They walk the same dogs consistently, so that 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!

Lauren

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!  Despite some recent back problems that may leave Levi in a "doggy wheelchair," Lauren has done 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! 

Logan

Logan is another wonderful BlueDog walker. A student at Northern Essex Community College studying Visual Arts, she grew up around animals throughout her childhood; whether it was the many cats and dogs who frequented her residence or a wounded animal that she came across while playing in the woods. She is the proud owner of a 7 year old Black Labrador Retriever named Emmie. She says her and Emmie are the best of friends and she can't imagine a day without her...because as they say, "Love is a cold wet nose!"

Susie

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 Dashunds, 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. 

Amy

Amy is our newest addition to BlueDog and brings a lot of experience to our team.  A  student at Northern Essex Community College, Amy has an incredible passion for working with animals, especially our K9 friends!  She volunteered as a dog walker at the MSPCA at Nevin's Farm in Methuen, reaching the status of a level 2 dog walker.  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 a 2 year old American Staffordshire Terrier, Sunny...who she rescued from the MSPCA!