The American humorist and lecturer Josh Billings once declared, “A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.” Possibly as a result of this unconditional affection, pet ownership is now linked to lower rates of depression among urban residents, according to research from University College London.
For those who wish to show their appreciation, there’s a growing number of luxurious dog services. And, as the number of dogs in London outruns the number of babies (1.2 compared to 1.1 million, according to the Office for National Statistics), there is certainly a market for such pampering.
Here are the most luxurious dog services available for your furry friend.
Wheely provides “exquisite chauffeur experiences” in London, and their members increasingly book their Chauffeur for a Day service for four-legged passengers. Suited drivers are all too happy to take pets to the park, then perhaps to a groom, massage or meetings with friends, and home safe again —without fussing about muddy paws in their immaculate cars. Pets are allowed in all cars, and the Wheely app allows the owner to keep track of their movements should they not be able to join them on their journey.
Anyone can book Wheely, and trips start from £15. Membership is offered to the most loyal passengers (who join by member invitation or by completing at least 15 journeys within six months) at no additional cost. Members enjoy special privileges, including access to the Chauffeur for a Day service. A full day is £660 for business class (in a Mercedes-Benz E-Class, EQE or BMW 5 Series) or £1,080 for first class (the more spacious Mercedes-Benz W223 S-Class and amenities including an Acqua di Parma car diffuser in Buongiorno scent). Half-days are £360 for business class or £540 for first class. SUVS and XL cars are also available.
wheely.com/en
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Lilo Ask-Henriksen, the Holistic Vet Nurse
Visit the Holistic Vet Nurse
With more than 14 years’ experience as a vet nurse, Lilo Ask-Henriksen supports pets’ long-term health through natural therapies. At her Fulham home clinic, patients are treated with Zoopharmacognosy, a new pet care approach that is recognised by some vets and rescue homes, such as the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, especially for helping to calm scared dogs. It was pioneered by Caroline Ingraham, with whom Ask-Henricksen trained, and involves the dogs sniffing various essential oils and herbs. Ask-Henriksen uses about 60 different oils, some of which have anti-inflammatory properties. Once they are relaxed, dogs are treated to reiki and massage. Ask-Henriksen then uses blue-light therapy delivered via a handheld device to provide non-invasive pain relief, immunotherapy and recovery support. Nutrition is another central element. With a postgraduate diploma in Chinese nutritional therapy from the College of Naturopathic Medicine in London, Ask-Henriksen provides tailored dietary plans including supplements. She also works alongside traditional veterinary practices to provide the best level of care.
Ask-Henriksen’s clients include those who are seeking general wellness and longevity for their animals, as well as those helping pets recover from illness, accidents and surgeries. “Dogs are part of the family, and today’s dog-lovers care for them with the same devotion and thoughtfulness they’d give to any loved one,” she says. “We are becoming increasingly aware of our own health and how holistic lifestyles are so imperative to our own wellness, so it’s only natural to integrate this for your dog as well.”
A 50-minute initial consultation is priced at £275, with follow-ups at £120 (25 minutes) or £235 (50 minutes). The Holistic Vet Nurse also offers home visits (£385 for one hour, although slightly more for, say, Monaco-based clients) and online consultations (£315 for 50 minutes). She also trains chefs and household staff in preparing bespoke, nutritionally balanced meals and keeps an emergency phone line open for her patients.
holisticvetnurse.com
Alice Berwick offers one-on-one sessions
Exercise body and mind with AB K9 Training
Alice Berwick is a dog behaviourist and trainer who started AB K9 Training in 2021 to help owners create better partnerships with their dogs, especially in busy London. “On the streets in London there are so many dogs who are scared and overstimulated,” she says. Berwick offers weekly one-on-one sessions, and while many owners come to her for the basics — lead training and recall — they often stay on for more fun training and tricks. “People are working so hard, it’s nice for them to have one hour a week that is just for their dog,” she says. “They can spoil them.” Berwick works with all sorts of dogs and, being certified by the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers and the Dog Training College, she only practises positive, force-free dog training. The true luxury is AB K9’s personalised training plans. “Most of the dogs I train cry when they see me, they’re just so happy that it’s time for a session,” Berwick says. “I believe in positive reinforcement while setting boundaries. I always work in a gentle way and the dogs love it. It’s so rewarding to see them thrive.”
An initial consultation with AB K9 Training is £120, followed by one-hour sessions for £108. Clients often contact Berwick between sessions on WhatsApp too, to ensure training is on track and for an occasional confidence boost.
abk9training.co.uk
My Dog Walker is located on a 15-acre property with access to woodlands
Sidestep the city streets with My Dog Walker
Established by Mary Hall 20 years ago, My Dog Walker whisks pets away to a fully secure 15-acre property with a meadow, clear running brook and access to woodlands — only 15 minutes from Putney Bridge. Daycare dogs are picked up in either a Mercedes limo cab or a repurposed London cab, air-conditioned and refurbished with Lintran transit boxes so they can keep safe and cool while in the bus lane. A purpose-built indoor “reception area” has a range of luxury dog beds and baskets. It is air-conditioned in the summer, with underfloor heating for the winter. Outdoors, dogs can lounge in more dog beds by a 15ft swimming pool and an additional paddling pool, as well as in the lush mix of manicured and long-grass lawns under the shade of established trees.
A member of the Professional Dog Walkers Association, My Dog Walker has five full-time staff who are all first aid accredited and have been with the business for many years (the longest serving has worked with them for 15 years and the newest eight). Each walker takes six dogs on at least two 90-minute walks a day. For dogs that are small, elderly or recovering from injury, there are shorter walk options in a separate area. Each dog is encouraged to explore at their own pace and to form bonds with other dogs. (My Dog Walker only takes full males until they’re a year old, the age they can be neutered.) Dogs are fed per their owners’ instructions, and any additional treats are organic. A day in the lap of luxury is £40 and overnight stays at the My Dog Rocks Hotel can be arranged for an additional £20 per night.
mydogwalker.co.uk
Let’s Pawty UK provides plenty of sensory activities and personalised gifts
Plan an event with Let’s Pawty UK
For pets that like to party, Let’s Pawty UK co-ordinates and decorates events for dogs and their friends and families. Much like at a children’s birthday party, the guest of honour will enjoy a (pup-friendly) birthday cake and treats and decorations in their preferred colour palette. Sensory activities include piñatas, ball pits, obstacle courses and blowing bubbles in chicken or beef flavours. Other diversions include a personalised playlist, a selfie photo wall and a paddling pool. The birthday boy or girl takes home their special hat and bandana, while guests are gifted party favours. Let’s Pawty learns as much as possible about the host to ensure their dreams come true — a recent example includes extra wrapping paper for one dog that loves shredding tissue paper. “It’s really nice to get everybody together and make memories with your pet,” says the owner-operator, Lauren Girvan. “Their lives are quite short compared to ours.”
The Pawfect Party Package, for a party of 10 people and 10 pets, is £300 for 2 hours, with £50 for each extra hour. Catering for the humans and a pet photographer comes at an extra, pre-arranged cost. Girvan and her team move around London for these events. They are often held in the dog’s home and garden — or at their favourite local pub. “It doesn’t have to be focused just on the dog, but we make sure that the dog is included while the owners and the families are celebrating,” she adds.
What started as a lockdown passion project has become a growing business, including corporate party planning — that’s parties for employees and associates’ dogs. Let’s Pawty also offers cat celebrations, although the canine alternative is proving to be more popular. This arm of the business has attracted further interest around the UK, as well as internationally in France and America. Let’s Pawty offers pet party hampers for events held without a party planner in attendance, including for occasions such as Valentine’s Day and Christmas. These are sold on eBay and Tik Tok shop (£19.99-£24.99).
letspawtyuk.com
The Egerton House Hotel’s decadent Doggy afternoon tea
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Enjoy a Doggy afternoon tea, Pet Pawtrait & Dogtini experience at the Egerton House hotel
When kibble simply won’t do, the Egerton House Hotel’s decadent Doggy afternoon tea presents three tiers of treats to your dog in the lounge of this red-brick Victorian townhouse hotel in Knightsbridge. The dining experience (£30) could include chicken liver and beef meatloaf to start, homemade peanut butter dog biscuits in the middle and a carrot cupcake with natural yoghurt to top it all off. Capturing this special experience, the charming Shelley Levy offers a personal “pawtrait” session, where she will meet the lucky chap and live-sketch and paint their portrait. At the end of the high tea experience an A4 watercolour and mixed media artwork is mounted on a frame. (This experience is only available on Wednesdays and Fridays and costs £550, including a traditional afternoon tea for two human companions.)
It’s hardly likely, but if your pet is still hungry (or perhaps comes back another evening), the Egerton also offers a Dogtini experience (£30), which is a dog bowl-sized martini (homemade chicken consommé) with meat skewers in lieu of olives, served with a side of carrot crudités and a strawberry surprise for dessert. The Egerton House Hotel also offers pet-friendly rooms, which come with their own dog basket and blankets, bottled water and bowl, freshly baked bone-shaped biscuits, a special bandana and a greeting card from the director of pet relations, Matilda the Jack Russell. A studio suite (perfect for those with four extra paws) starts from £875 per night. And yes, there is a pet breakfast menu, including various porridge and scrambled egg options.
Beth Lee-Crowther, The Pet Psychic
Animal communication with the Pet Psychic
Ever feel like your dog is trying to tell you something? Beth Lee-Crowther may be able to connect with your pet and give them a voice. Lee-Crowther has worked as a pet psychic for more than 20 years, with appearances on ITV’s This Morning and her own four-part documentary series The Pet Psychic (2024). With only a photo and the name of your pet, she says she can connect with them through clairvoyance (seeing pictures), clairaudience (hearing words and phrases) and clairsentience (feelings within the body). “Animals, I believe, are very psychic,” she says. “They can show me things in my mind.”
A typical session starts from £60 for one hour over the phone, and she must state that this experience is for entertainment only. Lee-Crowther believes our pets are with us for a reason, and that there are lessons they can teach us too. “They’re not just a pet — there is more relevance to why you are together.”
Hoping to create a deeper connection between pets and owners, Lee-Crowther wants her work to be as enjoyable and accessible as possible. As well as her media work, she holds Facebook and TikTok Lives every Wednesday, which are free to all. (She’ll also never charge when helping owners find a lost pet.) Her book, Everything You Need to Know to Become a Pet Psychic is an introductory guide to animal communication that aims to help owners create richer relationships with their pets. The Pet Psychic also hosts workshops at her home in Worcestershire (£150 for the day, in person) as well as online (£80 for a two-hour session).
psychicbeth.co.uk
