London's Number One Dog-Walking Agency: A Memoir

Written by Kate MacDougall

Narrated by Anna Popplewell

“ Sparkles with humor, joy and wit. London’s Number One Dog-Walking Agency bounds along with the energy of a rambunctious pup and exudes the wisdom of a beloved canine with an old soul (you know the type)."" — BookPage

The irresistibly charming memoir of a young woman who started her own business as a dog walker for London’s busy, well-heeled dog lovers. A true love letter to London, dogs, and growing up. 

Aside from the odd biter or growler, the occasional bolter and the one dog who didn’t want to walk, the canines were the easy part. They were a muddy, messy joy in all shapes, sizes and breeds, from greedy Labradors to pampered pugs and everything in between. It was the owners who were the real challenge, a giddy mix of the over-protective, the clueless, the eccentrics and the perfectionists. There is no rule book on how to navigate the obsessions of the London dog owner. A degree in human psychology would have been far preferable to any sort of animal qualification. Not that I had either…

In 2006, Kate MacDougall was working a safe but dull job at the venerable auction house Sotheby’s in London. After a clumsy accident nearly destroyed a precious piece of art, she quit Sotheby’s and set up her own dog-walking company. Kate knew little about dogs and nothing about business, and no one thought being a professional dog walker was a good use of her university degree. Nevertheless, Kate embarked upon an entirely new and very much improvised career walking some of the city’s many pampered pooches, branding her company “London's Number One Dog Walking Agency.” 

With sharp wit, delightful observations, and plenty of canine affection, Kate reveals her unique and unconventional coming-of-age story, as told through the dogs, and the London homes and neighborhoods they inhabit. One walk at a time, she journeys from a haphazard twentysomething to a happily—and surprisingly—settled adult, with love, relationships, drama, and home ownership along the way. But, as Kate says, “It’s all down to the dogs” and what they taught her about London—and life. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Jul 6, 2021
• ISBN: 9780063059818

Kate MacDougall

Kate MacDougall is a writer and journalist who now lives in rural Oxfordshire with her family. She writes features for publications including Country Life, the Telegraph, Horse & Hound, Homes & Antiques whilst also wrangling three small children and two disobedient dogs.

Reviews for London's Number One Dog-Walking Agency

[Lisa Dinsmoor · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Book started off a little slow but got so much better as it went on. Loved the dogs and all their personalities and the crazy at times dog owners.

[Jason Wesley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A fun read. It won't change your life but it will give you a much needed laugh and break from the stress of the day.

[mickyfine · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Disillusioned by her soul-crushingly monotonous job at Sotheby's where she constantly moves paper around and never once gets to use her art history degree, Kate MacDougall decided to start a dog walking business. The idea was still a relative novelty in London in 2006 but eventually her business went from a handful of dogs in her neighbourhood to a thriving business with around 100 dogs being walked by an ever-changing group of dog walkers. As Kate recounts her years starting the business she also shares how she went from an uncertain young adult living with her boyfriend in a grotty flat to a wife and mother in a few different houses. The tales recounted here are sometimes sweet, often funny, and occasionally a little sad but with excellent food for thought. While the dogs get plenty of attention, just as much goes to the personality of their owners and the walkers which are fascinating in their own right. The writing is descriptive and immediately charming, making you feel like you're catching up with an old friend. A wonderful read (even for this not really a dog person).

[carolfoisset · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Charming book (excellent audio w/ accent a plus!) Especially entertaining if you are a dog owner, but not necessary to enjoy the book. A life story with life lessons gently woven in. Highly recommend

[lisa2013_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I didn’t want to put this book down. I also didn’t want it to end. A dilemma.Utterly delightful! Completely charming!Beautifully written and engagingly told. Funny and at times poignant.What fun! I was laughing out loud so much of the time. Much of it was hilarious. It’s been years since I laughed so much when reading a book and there haven’t been that many times I’ve read books I’ve found this amusing. Because it was also at times touching and serious and sweet it had more depth than most humorous books.I love dogs and I’ve wanted to visit (ideally live in) London/England since I was 8 years old and spending time in England (and I guess all of the UK) is my number one most important bucket list item. Thanks to the availability of online maps, I spent a fair amount of time looking at all the locations of and photos of the London neighborhoods and parks and the other UK locations mentioned in the book. I experienced fernweh and it was completely worth it.I appreciated the short Afterword giving info about what happened with some of the people and dogs.This is a great though unusual coming of age story, sort of. It mostly goes from new-ish adulthood to settled adulthood.5 stars all the way through. Highly entertaining!Some quibbles though because they’re particular pet peeves of mine. I don’t like it when people who have companion dogs as family members are called their owners and I don’t like it when animals are not rescue dogs/are purchased from breeders. I noticed it every time each came up which was almost every time. I still loved the book but I got a little upset about those things as I read. Also, I was slightly upset by what happened with some of the dogs/the way the dogs were cared for, and some readers will probably be significantly more upset than I was.I read the hardcover edition but I sometimes simultaneously read the audiobook edition and I loved the narration. I’m sure it was a contributing factor for me finding the book as amusing as I did.Highly recommended! Especially recommended for readers who love dogs, and readers who are interested in London and other parts of the UK too.Book hangover time might now be inevitable for me.

[brangwinn · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

With a title like this I was expecting an Alexander McCall Smith type of story and in a way it was, but it just wasn’t as interesting and I couldn’t connect with the characters. The stories about the dog-walking agency are amusing. Its an easy and quick book to read for dog-lovers.

[jillrhudy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Thanks to William Morrow and Netgalley for the advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.A pleasure read for dog lovers! The surprise: instead of only being treated to funny anecdotes about walking various dogs, you grow through different phases of life with the author and also with some of the dogs. Kate begins in the early 2000s as a disgruntled young worker, too clumsy for the Sotheby's auction house and dreaming of turning her love for dogs into a job. She takes a chance on starting a small business, and walks her way to success. Every charming, delightful chapter is centered around a particular dog, but you also get into what Kate learned from that dog. She hires other dog walkers, and their relationships with various dogs also teach Kate important lessons about life, love, and what is really important.The business takes a hard hit during the recession, but Kate perseveres.Because those who can afford a dog walker (and afford to live in London) tend to be wealthier than average, the memoir is reminiscent of The Nanny Diaries in terms of what wealthy people do with their dogs, spend on their dogs, and expect of their dogs and their dogs' caregivers.I found this to read like a diary, a devotional, or a set of short stories: you could enjoy one chapter, savor it a while, put the book down and come back to learn about another dog and another phase of life. Amazingly deep and, you know this already but. . .prepare to cry.