As I run out the door to head to work each day, I always take two essential items with me: my daughter and my ERGObaby Sport carrier. Good hiking shoes, water and a few clean nappies are helpful, but when it comes to the crunch, the first two are all I need to have a fantastic work day.
I am a professional dog walker. I run my own business, Absent Minders, and on any given day I walk at least 20kms in all kinds of weather whilst carrying 14kgs on my back, and I love it.
In my old life I was a vet nurse – that was until I lifted a 35kg lab called Abby which resulted in two blown discs and major muscle damage which required major back injury. I found myself physically unable to work for 17 months, after which time I found myself needing a new career.
I had a talent for taking blood from animals so moved sideways into Phlebotomy and started working fulltime in a private hospital taking blood from humans. After the birth of my babe, Mietta, I knew I couldn’t return to fulltime work in the hospital. I needed a business to work around Mietta’s requirements and my skills. Absent Minders was created.
After much research I bought an ERGObaby carrier and was amazed that I could carry this 6 – 8kg baby on my front for a 10km walk without blowing my back out. The ERGObaby design is so brilliant that the weight was carried on my hips and if anything caused me to walk straighter and protected my back.
Etti was 8 months old when we walked our first client. Together we quickly worked out how to manoeuvre her onto my back. I loved it because it kept my hands free and more importantly, it kept her out of harms way.
Using the ERGObaby allows me to concentrate on my clients. I run a professional business where I need to be attuned and attentive to the dog’s behaviour. Once Mietta is safely up on my back I can do this while still including her in every part of my day.
We don’t have aggressive clients but they do jump with excitement and I know she’s out of reach. Her feet, mind you, do get many licks, which she finds hilarious. There are a few clients who I run in parks off lead and they are well trained enough that now Mietta can slide down off my back and run around with them Our ERGObaby carrier then hangs down, unobtrusively, until needed for the return walk home.
Because of my vet nurse background I get many clients who have been abused or mistreated and in these cases I often can’t wear sunglasses or loud shoes – so a pram is certainly out of the question. The ERGObaby allows me to bring Mietta without impeding on the dog/ walker relationship.
I am excited to have a vet nurse joining me in January with her three month old baby and she already has her ERGObaby ready!
The ERGObaby carrier is an essential part of our everyday life, and an essential part of my business.
Written by Jess Eggins – Taking the lead when you can’t
You can visit Jess on the Absent Minders Facebook page or via her website Absent Minders
