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Former doc becomes top dog

A doctor of psychology has swapped life as a university researcher to become the North East’s own dog whisperer.

Nicola Hopley has launched her own canine crèche called Gosforth K9 Daycare and has already seen surging demand which will see her inundated by four-legged customers through to the summer.

The former Northumbria University lecturer has also launched a website which she hopes will help the business take off ahead of the summer holiday season.

Mrs Hopley said: “I’d been looking after friends’ pets for years, just as occasional favours when they were on holiday, but it got to a point where I was looking after the dogs of most people I knew.

“My family and friends had always encouraged me to develop it into a business, but it wasn’t until one of the university research projects I was working on ended that I jumped at the chance.

“I know how hard it can be to find somewhere for a family dog when people go on holiday, as I used to have a nightmare trying to avoid putting our three-year-old German Shepherd, Lottie, into kennels.

As well as a day care service, Gosforth K9 Daycare - whose company strapline is ‘your dog’s home from home’ - also has home boarding and a dog walking service for owners who prefer their pets to stay in their own home.

“I’m not sure I’m quite Doctor Doolittle yet, but my friends are already calling me the Dog Whisperer,” added Mrs Hopley.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .