Hi, I'm Anya, the person behind Otis and Friends
I've lived in the area for the past eight years and have really come to love being part of the Crystal Palace community. I originally come from Italy, but London has been home for many years now, and there is nowhere else I would rather have built Otis and Friends.
Dogs have always been a huge part of my life, but I can safely say they are my absolute obsession. During lockdown, I spent even more time with my own dog, Otis, and it was through him that I realised I wanted to turn my love of dogs into something more.
Otis was the reason I decided to work with dogs, and lockdown gave me the time to properly pursue it. I completed a range of dog related courses, learning more about dog behaviour, training, body language and how to understand dogs as individuals. What started as a passion quickly became something I knew I wanted to build my career around.
When I'm not working with dogs, I love spending time at the beach, discovering new places, visiting art exhibitions and keeping active at the gym.
Meet Otis
Otis is my dog, and he is the reason Otis and Friends exists.
When I first had Otis, I quickly realised that he experienced the world a little differently. He was reactive, and learning how to understand and support him completely changed the way I looked at dogs.
It taught me that behaviour is communication, and that there is often much more going on beneath the surface than we realise. It taught me to look at the individual dog in front of me rather than expecting every dog to behave in the same way.
Most importantly, it gave me a huge amount of empathy for dogs who can find certain situations difficult.
My experience with Otis led me to learn more and more about dog behaviour, positive reinforcement training and the handling of reactive and sensitive dogs. What started as something I needed to understand for my own dog became a genuine passion and a big part of how I approach every dog in my care today.
Why Otis and Friends is different
I believe being a good dog walker is about much more than simply taking a dog for a walk.
Every dog has their own personality, needs and quirks, so I take the time to get to know them as individuals. My experience with Otis has taught me to pay close attention to body language and behaviour, using kind, positive and force free handling methods throughout their time with me.
I’m also a big believer that being a great dog walker means being organised, reliable and professional. I plan my days carefully, communicate clearly with owners and take pride in making sure everything runs smoothly.
Most importantly, I treat every dog in my care as if they were my own.
From Otis to a whole lot of friends
What started with one reactive dog has grown into a business I’m incredibly proud of.
Since starting Otis and Friends, I’ve had the privilege of getting to know so many wonderful dogs and their owners across Crystal Palace, South Norwood, Gipsy Hill and surrounding areas.
For me, dog walking is about much more than exercise. It is about companionship, enrichment, confidence, routine and giving dogs the chance to have a brilliant time while their owners have complete peace of mind.
That is what Otis and Friends is all about.
Looking for a dog walker you can trust?
If you're looking for a professional, reliable and genuinely caring dog walker, I'd love to hear from you.
Tell me a little about your dog and what you're looking for, and we can arrange a meet and greet to see if Otis and Friends is the right fit for you both.
After all, Otis started this adventure, and I'm very lucky that so many wonderful dogs have joined us along the way.