A bold new community business, 4xPaws, is launching in Cookham with a tail-waggingly fun twist: the village’s very first dog crawl on Friday, May 15th.

“This is no ordinary pub crawl because the dogs will be taking the lead and be given mouthwatering treats at every stop,” says organiser, Helen Steel. “It’s a chance for pooches to socialise just as much as humans!”

As well as being the “ulti-mutt” Spring night out, the dog crawl will also provide dog owners and young people with an opportunity to find out more about 4xPaws, a new Gen-Z-powered dog walking business set up to provide “better walks” and “brighter futures”.

The idea was sparked close to home. “As a mum of a young adult, I’ve seen first-hand how tough it can be for young people to find flexible, fairly paid work that actually builds confidence,” Helen explains. “I wanted to create something that not only supports dogs and their owners, but also gives young people a genuine opportunity to grow.”

4xPaws will offer flexible, outdoor, well-paid roles, where young adults aged 18–26 can develop real-world skills while earning. Walkers receive training in dog first aid, obedience, and customer service, building confidence and employability through hands-on experience.

“Dogs are going to be thoughtfully matched based on their personality and temperament, creating safe, sociable groups where they can play and interact comfortably,” says Helen. “We’re going to work with industry leaders in pet handling and training to ensure that our young dog-walkers receive the best possible training.”

Unlike traditional services, 4xPaws guarantees full, meaningful walks in nature - no shortcuts. “When we say we’ll take the dogs for an hour walk, that is exactly what we do - a proper, fun-filled, enriched walk out in the countryside.”

“This is a Gen Z business and a Gen Z brand. Life is too short. We need to have fun in what we do,” says Helen. “And young people have the energy and stamina to take dogs out on proper, fun-filled walks - not just quick trips around the block.”

Helen’s brother Ants, one of the UK’s top graffiti artists and a former resident artist at St Albans Cathedral, is designing the posters, advertising and branding for the business.

“4xPaws is going to have a creative street culture vibe – we want young people to find their voice in the noise”, says Ants. “This is more than a business – it’s a movement and an opportunity for communities to connect.”

After the dog crawl launch in Cookham, 4xPaws plans to expand to St Albans later this year. The long-term vision includes building a national network of local hubs that connect dog owners with trusted young walkers.