Ardleigh's Dog Training goes online to help pooches during lockdown

The ability to react in a crisis and then adapt is essential.

And in the unprecedented times we find ourselves living through, this trait is more necessary than ever.

As part of the Gazette’s #BackingEssexBusiness campaign we want to highlight some of the businesses who have been thinking outside the box to continue to providing much-needed services to the residents of Essex.

Businesses like Ardleigh’s Dog Training for Essex and Suffolk.

Owner Joe Nutkins has been running online doggie fitness sessions, completely free of charge, for her supporters.

She describes them as “like a Joe Wicks personal training session but for canines”.

Using her own Norwich terriers - Merlin, Cassie and Taylor - as well as friends’ dog Piper, she is showing those stuck at home some tips and tricks to keep dogs fit and healthy during these most unusual circumstances.

Joe said: “Due to the lockdown I am seeing lots of people saying they are not taking their dogs out as much.

“But there is so much you can do at home. You do not need to have special equipment, obviously I do because it is my business, but you don’t need it.

“I thought if I started showing people how to do things at home I could pass on my knowledge.

“I think a lot of people expected the lockdown to only be a few weeks.

“Now people are starting to realise its going to be a while longer and they need to do things to help maintain their dogs mental and physical health.”

Although she’s been a dog behaviourist for 15 years and run her own business for 12, Joe admits times have never been tougher than today.

She can’t run her usual workshops or one-to-one training sessions with clients and their faithful hounds.

But the ability to help other dog owners through these difficult times is keeping her going strong.

Joe said: “It is lovely being able to help people.

“The feedback I am getting has been positive so far. Most people have never done this kind of thing online before but people are telling me they cannot wait to do it again.

“It is nice receiving videos of my clients and their dogs doing some of what I am teaching.”

And Joe believes our animals’ health is often being forgotten about as we wrestles with the other impacts of the virus outbreak.

“People need to keep on top of their dogs’ health,” she said.

“We cannot do nothing otherwise in six months time we will have a generation of puppies and dogs suffering from separation anxiety when things go back to normal.

“If we do things now it will be better in the long run.”

Visit facebook.com/dogtrainingforessexandsuffolk to find out more or join one of Joe’s online sessions.

Other entrepreneurs, like Paul Jackson, have also been thinking outside the box to keep the country running during the lockdown.

Using his tech knowledge Paul, who has extra free time after being furloughed from work, has created isolationdeliveries.co.uk, a website tool which helps residents find supermarket delivery slots for groceries in Colchester.

Whilst the big supermarkets’ slots might be all booked, there are dozens of smaller firms still working to support local residents’ needs.

So Paul’s website is not only helping vulnerable and isolated residents, but independent firms in Colchester.

Another business to branch out is Wivenhoe-based Norwegian Bakery, which is now offering delicious freshly baked bread as well as a delivery service of its popular sweet treats, to residents across the borough.

At the Gazette we’re confident our businesses’ ingenuity will get them through this crisis.

And we hope our #BackingEssexBusiness campaign, and in turn our thousands of loyal readers, can help out.

We want you to get involved by shouting out a business which has either gone above and beyond to help the community, or has diversified to help in these extraordinary times.

Get involved using the hashtag #BackingEssexBusiness or check out gazette-news.co.uk for news and stories regarding the campaign. You can contact us by emailing gazette.newsdesk@newsquest.co.uk.