Life on a Lead: Dog Walking Around Callington
I never planned on becoming a dog walker, but here I am, out and about round Callington most days, lead in hand, getting on with it. It’s honest work, proper job, and suits this corner of Cornwall down to the ground.
Most mornings start early, when it’s still a bit dim and the fields are damp underfoot. The dogs are usually waiting by the gate, tails going ten to the dozen, keen as anything to get going. Some of them come out like a rocket; others take their time, having a good look round first, just to be sure nothing’s changed overnight.
Walking dogs here means muddy boots and narrow lanes, and you’ve got to keep your wits about you. There’s always something going on in the hedges, and the dogs are convinced it’s all proper interesting. If you’re not careful, you’ll be dragged straight into a puddle that looks harmless enough but turns out to be deeper than expected. Happens more than I care to admit.
The countryside round Callington has a way of setting the pace. You soon learn there’s no point in rushing — things get done when they get done. You see the seasons change properly when you’re out every day: lambs in the fields, blackberries ready for picking, and that first hint of woodsmoke when autumn rolls in and the nights start drawing in.
It’s not always easy mind. There are dogs who pull like they’re on a mission, surprise meetings with tractors coming round tight corners, and the odd moment when a dog decides to roll in something they really shouldn’t. You just sigh, mutter “oh, my ansom”, and carry on.
What makes it worth it is the trust. These dogs get to know you, fall into step, and follow along like they’ve always walked that route. There’s something quietly special about that. No fuss, no big show — just you, the dog, and the lane stretching out ahead.
Being a dog walker round Callington isn’t flashy and it’s rarely dry, but it’s a proper job all the same. Fresh air, muddy boots, and dogs that are just happy to be out. And honestly, you could do a lot worse.