The Dog Walker

When Tom lost his office job last year, he wasn't sure what to do next. He spent the first few weeks at home feeling worried about money and bored with nothing to fill his days. — choose for gap 1 —1. Being outside every day meant Tom started meeting a lot of new people2. Tom decided that he preferred cats to dogs after all3. Tom spent most of his time walking dogs in the rain4. However, he decided to try it and his first client was an elderly woman with a small terri…5. Rachel warned him that dog walking was not a real career6. He is healthier, happier, and earns more than he did in his old job7. Some were calm and happy to walk slowly beside him8. His neighbour Rachel noticed he was struggling and came over for a chat one evening She suggested he could earn some money by walking dogs for people in the neighbourhood who were busy during the day. Tom wasn't sure at first. He liked dogs well enough, but he had never owned one himself. — choose for gap 2 —1. Being outside every day meant Tom started meeting a lot of new people2. Tom decided that he preferred cats to dogs after all3. Tom spent most of his time walking dogs in the rain4. However, he decided to try it and his first client was an elderly woman with a small terri…5. Rachel warned him that dog walking was not a real career6. He is healthier, happier, and earns more than he did in his old job7. Some were calm and happy to walk slowly beside him8. His neighbour Rachel noticed he was struggling and came over for a chat one evening The dog was old and slow, but Tom enjoyed the walk so much that he offered to come back the next day. Within a month, Tom had six regular clients. He walked different dogs every morning and afternoon, and each one had its own personality. — choose for gap 3 —1. Being outside every day meant Tom started meeting a lot of new people2. Tom decided that he preferred cats to dogs after all3. Tom spent most of his time walking dogs in the rain4. However, he decided to try it and his first client was an elderly woman with a small terri…5. Rachel warned him that dog walking was not a real career6. He is healthier, happier, and earns more than he did in his old job7. Some were calm and happy to walk slowly beside him8. His neighbour Rachel noticed he was struggling and came over for a chat one evening Others pulled on the lead and tried to chase every squirrel they saw. Tom quickly learned how to handle them all. The job also had an unexpected benefit. — choose for gap 4 —1. Being outside every day meant Tom started meeting a lot of new people2. Tom decided that he preferred cats to dogs after all3. Tom spent most of his time walking dogs in the rain4. However, he decided to try it and his first client was an elderly woman with a small terri…5. Rachel warned him that dog walking was not a real career6. He is healthier, happier, and earns more than he did in his old job7. Some were calm and happy to walk slowly beside him8. His neighbour Rachel noticed he was struggling and came over for a chat one evening He got to know the park regulars — other dog walkers, joggers, and parents with young children. Several of them became good friends. Tom realised he had been quite lonely during his time in the office without even knowing it. Now, a year later, Tom has turned his dog-walking into a proper small business. He has a website, a waiting list of clients, and he has even hired another walker to help him. — choose for gap 5 —1. Being outside every day meant Tom started meeting a lot of new people2. Tom decided that he preferred cats to dogs after all3. Tom spent most of his time walking dogs in the rain4. However, he decided to try it and his first client was an elderly woman with a small terri…5. Rachel warned him that dog walking was not a real career6. He is healthier, happier, and earns more than he did in his old job7. Some were calm and happy to walk slowly beside him8. His neighbour Rachel noticed he was struggling and came over for a chat one evening He says that losing his job was the best thing that ever happened to him.