IT'S less than three year ago that Brodie Barnes-Davis launched a dog walking and pet sitting business.

But since then, she's barely had time to 'paws' for thought as the venture has expanded, and Brodie's success has now been recognised by her landing two prestigious awards.

Not only has Taylor Made Pet Care won Cumbria's Best New Business of the Year Award, but it it has also landed the title of Best Pet Day Care Centre in Cumbria.

And it was almost a hat trick of awards as Brodie was also nominated as a finalist in the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Brodie was just 18 when, after completing a three year Animal Management Diploma and graduating with a distinction, she began a business offering dog walking and home boarding.

But demand was so high the business quickly expanded and as Brodie's reputation grew, she went into partnership with her mother Leanne and things went from strength to strength.

"When she started, she was literally operating from the back of her Vauxhall Corsa, but she was inundated and it's just grown from there," said Leanne.

From using a one acre field for exercise, Taylor Made quickly expanded, and now operate on a thee acre site at Skelsmergh and has taken on three more members of staff.

The business, which now runs three vans and offers a door to door pick up and drop off service for pets, is concentrated in the Kendal area but they now have regular customers from further afield and even one who travels from Carlisle to leave their dog in their care.

Every pet is offered a structured day which includes treat hunts, ball play and walks at Taylor Made's Skelsmergh base, where all all weather indoor exercise arena is currently being constructed.

Brodie, who is now 24, is also shortly due to qualify as a dog behavioural practitioner, which she hopes will mean she can offer a greater range of skills and make the pets' stay at Taylor Made an even happier one.