Dog Walking & Training in and around Hailsham
A friendly, reliable and ethical dog walking and training service with positive, reward-based support to help dogs feel safe, confident and well cared for.
Our Services
A calm, positive approach to walking and training, focused on what your dog actually needs.
Areas Covered
At Bark & Stride, we provide dog walking, training, and puppy classes across the surrounding areas.
Hailsham, Horsebridge, Hellingly, Lower Dicker, Upper Dicker, Golden Cross, Chiddenly, Laughton, and nearby villages
What Our Clients Say…
Since 2014, we’ve shared a lot of walks, training wins and happy tails and here’s what the people who know them best have shared.
EXCELLENTTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We adopted a reactive rescue dog, and Sammi was recommended to us by a behaviourist as a good person to help walk her. Initially she started with visiting the house to do brain activities to improve trust with our dog. Gradually moving to shorter walks, improving her confidence. Move forward to 5 years later and our girl goes out happily with Sammi. She continues to work on her training while out and about, engaging her brain, reducing her reactivity and is a much calmer dog. Sammi is reliable, understanding, professional and kind in everything. We would be lost without her.Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. SOCS Puppy Programme Course Although we only joined half way through the class Benji our 4 month puppy learned a great deal from the experience and so did I and Benji overcame his nervousness and all under the excellent instruction from Sammi and it was so much fun and we both loved it. I would highly recommend. We're looking forward to taking part in another course soon.Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. In 2 words I would say Life Changing! Sammi was recommended to me by a friend as I was at my wits end with Mabel, our 6 month old cockapoo who had failed miserably in puppy class and had been described as a "reactive" dog by a professional dog walker passing by. I had lost confidence in myself and things were not going well. After 3 one to one sessions and some weekly group training sessions, Mabel is like a different dog and I feel human again. Sammi's approach is wonderful, at our initial consultation she listened deeply and came back with a tailored proposal to help. She is positive, caring and enthusiastic, bringing games and fun to training which have instant results and has helped me hugely with all aspects of being a dog parent including home environment, food and behaviour. Sammi shares her experience and knowledge of dogs in a way that resonates and encourages. I feel so much more confident thanks to working with Sammi and I can't recommend her enough!Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We first started using Bark and Stride's services almost 2 years ago and seriously cannot recommend them highly enough. Our puppies were only tiny when Sammi first started taking them out and so they have known Sammi for almost the same amount of time as us. The boys absolutely love their walks with Sammi and the gang, come back completely shattered and sleep for the rest of the day - sign of a good walk! Their confidence has grown immensely because of their walks with Bark and Stride and they have experienced so many different things and visited new places. For us, socialising the dogs was really important from the start and by using Bark and Stride, it is perfect as they are always meeting new friends. Sammi is professional and extremely knowledgeable; she's always willing to answer questions and help us out when we have concerns. She has helped us with training tips, knowledge about their health and built our confidence and taught us so much as dog owners too! Sammi and the Bark and Stride gang are so caring and love the dogs as they are their own. We completely trust them with our boys and never have had any concerns. No job is ever too much and they are always accommodating for extra walks when needed. Unfortunately we have just relocated due to family circumstances and we are too far away to use Bark and Stride anymore. We (and the boys) are completely gutted!! However, when relocating the only 'con' was the dogs not being able to go out for walks with Sammi anymore. Now, when that is part of a conversation about moving house, you know you've found an incredible person! I won't say 'dog walker' because Sammi are Bark and Stride are SO much more than that! Thank you so much for everything! Rob & Emma (& Frank & Milo) xxPosted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Sammi has been walking our dog Frodo for the laat two and a half years. He is always very excited for his walks with her and although he's not the most sociable dog, we completely trust Sammi and know he is getting a good run. We would highly reccommend Sammi to anyone looking for a friendly, reliable, knowledgable dog walker.Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Sami is so amazing with dogs she walks . Nova been with Sami since April 2021 and growing in confidence with other dogs after lock down found it hard being around dogs and people as had to shield so routine was changed Sami plays games encourage dogs so lots of fun on walks bonus they come home happy tiredPosted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I’ve been going out walking with Sammi and the gang for about 3 years, we go to many different places and take different routes to make the walks more interesting. Sammi has such a good relationship with all the dogs that come out on the walks, they are very eager when we come to pick them up. The dogs have an amazing time on the walks, they enjoy playing and sniffing. Sammi is very knowledgeable on dogs and dog psychology, she has experience with reactive dogs and recognises why dogs behave in a certain way and knows what to do to help them. Bailey, my dog, has also come along on some walks, his recall has greatly improved as he has learnt off the other dogs. Sammi uses lots of games on the walks to get the dogs to engage with her which they all enjoy. Bailey never liked going in water however other dogs have helped his confidence grow so much that he is addicted to swimming!Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. UPDATED 07.10.20 - Our furry loon still very much loves going out with Sammi most days of the week and gets so excited when he recognises her van arrive to collect him during the day. He couldn't understand why his favourite walker didn't come and get him when we suddenly went into lockdown as a result of COVID, but even after however many weeks of not seeing her, he remembered Sammi well when she returned to collect him and was so excited to be going out with the pack again. I'm now quite heavily pregnant and finding it more and more difficult to get out with my boy, especially in the mornings, something I'm so sad about as I really enjoy the 30-40 minutes walk with him, and miss it when I can't. Sammi has been so understanding of my situation and has offered advice and ways I can still provide him with stimulation on days I am unable to get out with him. She will follow this up with helpful videos posted on her facebook page of techniques she has used with her own dog, demonstrating how it could be done. As I've been working from home since March, I've really gotten to know Sammi from the 10-minute conversations we have on collection and return with the furry monster; and have also been able to observe how she handles the dogs and her relationship with them. Sammi really does go out of her way to ensure the dogs are looked after and has a wonderful relationship with our dog - he adores her as much as she him. If Sammi notices that there is a potential for conflict between any of the dogs in her pack, she has adapted her rota so that they are with dogs that they get on with, which we really appreciate. Sammi has been so helpful with our boy over the past few years, accommodating as and when we've needed her to, even at short notice. I'd still recommend Bark and Stride to anyone seeking a dog walker for their pooch, for whatever reason. *** We have been using Bark and Stride for about 10 months or so, and we have been nothing but overjoyed with the service we have had so far. Our boy was an anxious little soul when we started with Bark and Stride and he'd been used to having mum around all day everyday. Sammi was very understanding of this and has helped him overcome his fear of other dogs by gently introducing him to a few calmer dogs one at a time. Now he runs around with the pack in true lunatic style and gets on with most dogs he meets. He is still a bit nervous of dogs he has never met before, and he seems to know when they're not friendly and will give them some distance, but overall his confidence is so much improved. He absolutely loves going out with Sammi and he gets so excited when he hears her pull up in her van. Over the past few months, we have had a few issues with vomiting and poorly-ness, Sammi has been so accommodating and given a gentle walk when he has needed it and let us know how he has got on. This reassurance when we are both out at work and worried about our furry boy has kept us sane on a few of the more worrying occasions. Sammi has also gone out of her way to ask what the outcome of the most recent veterinary investigations were and was genuinely concerned that it was nothing more serious than a food intolerance. When I have had questions and concerns, Sammi has patiently offered us lots of advice on health and behaviour and has worked with us on training homework, in such a way that his progress has come on in leaps and bounds. Sammi posts pictures and videos of the doggos onto facebook almost daily, if not weekly, and we absolutely love seeing where they have been on their adventures. Overall, we have a lovely relationship with Sammi and we trust her to put the interests of the dogs in her care first. I lost my phone on one early morning walk and Sammi offered to retrace my steps with our boy in the hope that she could help me find it - this to me is over and above what she was expected to do and just demonstrates a genuine concern for her clients that I'm worried would be difficult to find anywhere else.Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Bark and Stride are just the best! Sammy has been looking after our Dog since he was tiny and is so reliable and has never let us down. Our dog loves nothing more than going out with her and waits every morning by the gate! He gets lovely long runs with the other dogs and we can relax knowing he is happy and cared for. I can’t recommend Bark and Stride enough. Thanks so everything!Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We just wanted to say a HUGE thank you to Sammi of Bark and Stride who recently stayed at our home to look after our two dogs while we were on holiday. Nothing was too much trouble for her and we came back to two very happy and stress free dogs who had been looked after so well. It's hard to find a good dog sitter/walker - Sammi genuinely understands dogs and has a real rapport with them. It was very reassuring to go away knowing that our lovely hounds were in such safe and caring hands. Thank you so much. I would not hesitate to recommend Bark & Stride :)Verified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more
Got Questions?
Below are some of the most common questions we’re asked by Sussex dog owners. If you’d like to talk things through properly, just use the contact form below, and we’ll be happy to help.
Group dog walks are £16 per walk. One-to-one walks, which are 30 minutes from your home, are also £16. During your initial chat, we’ll help you decide whether a group setting or a solo walk is best suited to your dog’s temperament and needs.
All new dogs require a free meet and greet before any walks begin. This gives us the chance to get to know you and your dog properly, talk through routines, and assess whether group or one-to-one sessions are the right fit.
Training walks are £30 for a 30-minute session. These can take place with or without the owner present, depending on what you’re working on and what suits you best.
Training is tailored to your dog’s specific needs, whether that’s recall, loose lead walking, confidence building or general behaviour support. The aim is to create calm, consistent progress that continues beyond the session itself.
We walk in a variety of safe and enriching locations around Hailsham and the surrounding areas, including Abbots Wood, Park Wood and parts of the South Downs. We also use quieter countryside routes when appropriate.
Walk locations are chosen carefully based on your dog’s recall ability, confidence and energy levels. Safety, suitability and enjoyment always come first.
Yes, we work with puppies and adult dogs. Sessions focus on practical, reward-based training that helps build trust and clear communication. Whether you’re starting from scratch with a new puppy or working through specific behaviour challenges, everything is structured to support long-term improvement.
Yes. Bark & Stride is fully insured, and safety and professionalism are taken seriously at all times. You’re trusting someone with your dog and access to your home, so everything is handled with care, reliability and transparency.
Walkies anyone?
Whether you need regular walks, help with training, or the best start for your puppy, Bark & Stride is here to help.