681: Mental Health, Safety, and Walking Reactive Dogs with Tanikka Spear

How do you keep showing up for pets and their people when your mental health is hanging by a thread? Tanikka Spear, owner of Urban Pets in southeast England, shares about living with chronic depression, anxiety, and PTSD while running a dog walking and pet sitting business. She shares how reactive dogs "fell into her lap," what it takes to safely walk a 50-kilo dog, and why understanding the dog's emotional world matters so much. Tanikka opens up about suicidal ideation, the fear that finally pushed her to seek help, and the support systems that keep her going—from family to clients who offer coffee and hugs on hard days.

Main topics:

• Living with chronic mental illness
• Working safely with reactive dogs
• Client communication and progress updates
• Burnout, boundaries, and hard days
• Finding support and speaking up

Main takeaway: "It's an hour of their day, maybe two hours of their day, but that's probably the best part of their day. And if I don't show up, then they don't have that." – Tanikka

In this week's episode, Tanikka shares what it's like to live with chronic depression, anxiety, and PTSD while caring for highly reactive and aggressive dogs. She talks about the days when she wakes up at 20% but still has to show up at 100% for safety, for her clients, and for the dogs who trust her. We dive into safety systems, high-vis gear, quiet walking routes, and the emotional toll of working with big feelings on both ends of the leash. If you've ever felt "lazy" or broken when you're really just struggling, this conversation will remind you that you're not alone and that your work still matters.

About our guest: Tanikka is the owner of Urban Pets, a dog walking and pet sitting business based in southeast England. Although she never set out to specialize in reactive and aggressive dogs, those cases found her, and she discovered a deep passion for helping dogs with big feelings and complicated histories. Living with chronic depression, anxiety, and PTSD, she brings a unique empathy to her work, recognizing that many dogs are experiencing their own invisible struggles. Through careful management, safety-focused systems, and honest communication with clients, she helps reactive dogs build confidence while supporting the humans who love them.

Links:

https://urbanpetservices.co.uk

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Full show notes and transcript

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Pet Sitter Confessional, its hosts, or sponsors. We interview individuals based on their experience and expertise within the pet care industry. Any statements made outside of this platform, or unrelated to the topic discussed, are solely the responsibility of the guest.

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