John O Dog Care
John O Dog Care
For John O’Brien, launching John O Dog Care in Great Dunmow was about turning a lifelong love of dogs into a livelihood, offering calm, one-on-one walks and care built around trust and individual attention. However, three months in, marketing had become his biggest hurdle. Support through the North Essex Economic Board’s business support programme – NEEB Link – gave him a fresh perspective on unexpected marketing angles and new channels worth exploring, leaving him with the strategic direction and confidence to move his business forward.
A new leash on life
After years of working in customer service, John made the decision to build a business around something he loved. It was in February 2026 when he took the leap into self-employment and launched John O Dog Care, offering services around calm, one-on-one dog walks, daytime care and pet visits across Great Dunmow and the surrounding area.
John had been caring for dogs since he was ten years old, looking after pets belonging to his friends, family and neighbours long before he even thought of it as a job. That early experience shaped the way he now runs his business. Rather than group walks or a one-size-fits-all approach, every walk is tailored to the individual dog, from a puppy to a senior dog to a dog that’s more reactive and requires a patient hand. Being DBS-checked and fully insured, he keeps owners regularly updated with photos and messages, so they can relax knowing their dog is safe.
Fetching support through NEEB Link
Not long after starting, John hit a wall that many new business owners will recognise. He knew he needed to be visible online, but the effort he was putting in wasn’t being translated into results.
“I launched John O Dog Care just three months ago and quickly found myself stuck in a marketing rut, boosting Facebook posts with minimal results and running out of ideas beyond pictures of happy dogs”
— John O’Brien, Owner, John O Dog Care
Looking for a way forward, John turned to support through NEEB Link. NEEB Link is a fully funded business support programme open to businesses of any size and sector across Braintree, Chelmsford, Colchester, Maldon, Tendring and Uttlesford. It brings together expert advice, masterclasses, pop-in clinics and a dedicated app, giving business owners the flexibility to pick the support that suits where they are and what they need.
Through the programme, John accessed four hours of one-to-one support, working with marketing advisor and mentor Sarah, where he was able to unpick what wasn’t working and think differently about how he promoted his business. In addition to this, he attended the 90-minute masterclass on Marketing with AI back in June and also benefitted from the pop-in clinic held in Uttlesford.
Learning new tricks
The impact of that time spent was immediate, sharing that “Working with Sarah had been a genuine turning point. She helped me step back from the frustration and think far more strategically about my marketing.”
One idea that stood out was tying John’s dog walking business to wider cultural moments, such as using the World Cup as a hook to promote his services in a way that felt fresh rather than following what other local businesses were already doing. Sarah also produced design and graphic work that gave John a solid foundation to build his marketing from, and suggested he put more focus on LinkedIn, a platform he hadn’t previously considered.
“I came in with tunnel vision. I’m leaving with clarity, confidence, and a real plan for growth. The support has been invaluable.”
— John O’Brien, Owner, John O Dog Care
Leading the pack
“I really enjoyed supporting John on his business startup journey. As a gentleman with lots of life experience, to start a new business could have been daunting, but John approached the tasks I gave him with quiet confidence. I enjoyed helping him with his branding and social media. Seeing the brand come to life on a bespoke printed T-shirt was rewarding for both of us. I wish him all the best with his business.”
— Sarah Brockwell, Business Mentor, NEEB Link
Looking back on where John once felt stuck, he now has a clear sense of direction and a solid marketing strategy to build on. The frustration that was there has been replaced with a plan he understands and believes in, giving him the confidence to grow his dog walking business in Uttlesford.