A female-owned business established in January 2018 in South West London. Since then, we've had the pleasure of caring for over 60 animals - including chickens!
I’m Francesca, and animals have always been part of my life. Growing up in Italy, I would feed and care for the stray cats in our neighbourhood, and volunteer to look after my friends’ dogs whenever I could. My parents felt a dog wouldn’t fit easily into our family’s routine, so caring for other people’s pets became my way of filling that space in my heart.
In 2018, just before my 26th birthday, I decided to turn that lifelong passion into something more. After experiencing challenges while working for an animal-minding franchise, I wanted to create a business that truly valued compassion, understanding, tailored care, and safety. With the encouragement of friends and family, It’s a Dog’s Life was born.
Soon after, my trusted friend Calli joined the team to help care for our growing number of clients. That same year, Tino – a sweet-natured Cockeranian – became part of the family. Tino has played a special role in helping other dogs grow in confidence, curiosity, and social skills. His gentle nature makes him truly irreplaceable. Caring for animals isn’t just our job – it’s a joy and a privilege that inspires everything we do.
We believe in positive reinforcement training – rewarding good behaviour to encourage it to happen again. This approach not only creates happy, confident pets, but also helps us build strong, lasting bonds with every animal in our care.
We know that no two animals are alike, and we love getting to know each client and their furry, feathered, or four-legged family members. By understanding their quirks, needs, and routines, we build the kind of strong, trusting bonds that make pets feel safe and happy.
We also understand that trusting a new carer can feel daunting — which is why we focus on:
Our goal: to meet the unique needs of your companion while giving you complete peace of mind.
Fran looked after Jasper whilst we were on holiday and he had his friend Coco come to stay too. Can’t recommend Fran enough the dogs had a blast and we were kept updated with regular photos and videos. Think they had a better holiday than us !
Excellent, reliable, trustworthy pet sitting service, with regular videos showing the good relationship between Fran and my cat.
I can't recommend them more. They are kind, flexible, reliable and love all the dogs they have walked and sit for me over almost 8 years! And my dogs all love them. I'm lucky to have them!
Fran and Calli at “It’s a Dog’s life” have been taking my dog out for the past year and a half, and I couldn’t be happier with their service. They have been incredibly reliable, always showing up on time for my dog walks. Their communication is top-notch. I receive updates on my dog’s activities and well-being, which puts my mind at ease.
What truly sets them apart is their genuine care and attention to my dog, he adores them and is always excited when they turn up to take him out.
It’s evident that they both have developed a strong bond with my dog which is a testament to their caring and professional approach. Overall I’m thrilled with their services and would wholeheartedly recommend “It’s a dog’s life” to anyone in need of a reliable and dedicated Dog Walker.
Fran and Calli are just amazing. They take care of my dog for weekly walks and come to stay when I'm on holiday. Always putting Bertie's welfare and fun first. They are true animal lovers and you can see how much they love the pets they care for. They have been 100% reliable and always do what they can to accommodate extra assistance I need here and there. Look no further,these girls are a dog's best friends 😊💙❤️
