Hi, I’m Derek… although most people know me as Del.
Welcome to my little corner of the internet.
If you’ve arrived here because you know me through Finchley Dog Walker, Scouting, or you’ve stumbled across one of my articles, I’m really pleased you’re here.
This isn’t a business website. It’s my personal website—a place where I share the things I’ve learned over the years, the experiences that have shaped me, and the animals and people who’ve taught me some of life’s biggest lessons.
Whether you’re here because you love animals, enjoy the outdoors, are interested in technology or simply like learning something new, I hope you’ll find something here that’s useful.
Learning from animals, sharing what they’ve taught me
Animals have been part of my life for as long as I can remember.
Over the years I’ve shared my home with several rescue Border Collies. Although, for the first time in many years, I currently find myself without a dog of my own, I’ve realised that every one of my rescue dogs came into my life at exactly the right time. Each one taught me something different about trust, patience and understanding the individual animal in front of me.
I’ve also been lucky enough to share my home with Siamese, Devon Rex, Cornish Rex and Sphynx cats, each with their own wonderfully different personalities. Living with both dogs and cats has shown me that there is no “one size fits all” approach. Every animal is unique, and that’s something I’ve always found fascinating.
The journey that changed my life
For eighteen years I worked in an office, never imagining I’d one day make a career working with dogs.
Everything changed after I was made redundant.
At the time, I was walking my own rescue dog, Roxy, when a neighbour asked if I could also walk her recently adopted Battersea rescue while she was at work. What started as helping a neighbour quickly became a regularMonday-to-Fridayy walk.
It didn’t take long for me to realise I’d found something I genuinely loved.
Working with dogs wasn’t just about exercise. It was about building trust, understanding each dog’s personality and being the calm, reliable person they were happy to spend time with.
That one opportunity eventually became Finchley Dog Walker.
The dog who changed my life
If there’s one dog who changed my life, it was Roxy.
She came into my life in 2011, shortly after I lost my previous dog, Missy. Like many rescue dogs, she arrived in full survival mode. She was frightened of men and didn’t find it easy to trust people.
Roxy taught me one of the most valuable lessons I’ve ever learned.
Trust can’t be rushed.
Everything had to happen at her pace. Some days the progress was almost invisible, but every small step mattered. She taught me to slow down, to be patient and to celebrate the little victories.
Because of Roxy, I met Sue at Tip Top Dog School, where I spent several years helping with positive training classes until the COVID pandemic. It was an experience that deepened my understanding of behaviour, communication and the importance of seeing every dog as an individual.
Even today, many of the decisions I make are influenced by what Roxy taught me.
Scouting – a lifelong adventure
Scouting has been part of my life since I joined Cubs at the age of eight.
Some of my closest friendships began there and are still going strong today.
What first captured my imagination was learning practical skills. Fire lighting has always been a favourite because there’s always another technique to learn and another challenge to overcome. Today I enjoy passing those skills on to younger people, helping them discover the confidence that comes from learning something new.
I’m proud to volunteer as a Group Lead Volunteer for two Scout Groups and as a District Activities Manager. Whether it’s climbing, archery, target sports, campfires or outdoor cooking, I enjoy helping young people discover what they’re capable of.
Always learning
If there’s one thing that connects everything I do, it’s curiosity.
I love learning.
Whether I’m researching animal behaviour, building websites with WordPress, designing resources in Canva, exploring artificial intelligence, discovering new technology or learning another outdoor skill, I enjoy understanding how things work and finding practical ways to use them.
Over the years I’ve discovered that learning doesn’t stop when you leave school. In many ways, that’s when the real learning begins. Every project, every challenge and every new skill teaches us something valuable, and I enjoy sharing those experiences in the hope they might help someone else.
Why this website exists
This website brings all of those interests together.
You’ll find articles about dogs, cats, rescue animals, behaviour, responsible pet ownership and the everyday experiences that have taught me the most.
You’ll also find posts about Scouting, outdoor skills, WordPress, Canva, artificial intelligence, and other technologies I’m exploring. They may seem like very different subjects, but they’re all connected by one simple idea…
…a love of learning and a desire to share what I’ve discovered with others.
I don’t pretend to know everything, and I never will. I’m always learning, always asking questions and always looking for better ways to understand the world around me.
If something I write helps you better understand your pet, inspires you to learn a new skill, solves a problem or makes you think a little differently, then this website has achieved exactly what I hoped it would.
So, whether you’re here for the animals, Scouting, technology or simple curiosity, make yourself at home.
I’m glad you stopped by.
Del
WhatsApp 07707 763344