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New Chapter Begins as Ritchie & Amber Take the Lead at PHG

07 April 2025Personal services

The Exciting Transition of the PHG Franchise

April 2025 marked an incredibly exciting moment, as Ritchie and Amber officially took over the PHG franchise following the very well-deserved retirement of founders Peter and Julie Maxted. Having joined PHG as franchisees back in 2018, they fell in love with the brand almost instantly — the warm ethos, the hands-on approach, the family feel, and of course, the huge love for animals that runs through the whole of PHG.

Running PHG together genuinely feels like a dream come true for them both, and they’re determined to carry forward the values that have made PHG so special from day one — friendly, down-to-earth, pet-focused, and proudly non-corporate.

To this very day, Ritchie and Amber continue to run PHG Southampton alongside leading PHG. Staying hands-on with pets keeps them grounded, connected, and completely in touch with the everyday realities of running a gold-standard pet care business.

By running the PHG franchise while staying hands-on in Southampton, Ritchie and Amber are able to provide excellent support and generate new momentum without losing the friendly, personal touch that makes PHG so special.

Pets, Homes and Gardens (PHG) is a beloved pet care franchise that stands out for its community-oriented approach and unwavering dedication to the well-being of animals. PHG delivers premium dog walking, home visits, house sitting and boarding. Under the leadership of Ritchie and Amber, PHG continues to highlight its core values, ensuring that every interaction is enriched with care and personal attention. Today, it continues to grow because its model works: local owner-operators deliver exceptional care, build long-term relationships, and earn the trust of their community.

More industry news Personal services

  • The Pets, Homes and Gardens Company

    PHG Webinar Showcases Opportunity to Launch a Dog Walking...

    Pets, Homes and Gardens Webinar Showcases Opportunity to Launch a Dog Walking and Pet Sitting Business

    Pets, Homes and Gardens (PHG), the family-run dog walking and pet sitting franchise, recently hosted a live webinar titled Turn Your Love of Pets Into Your Own Local Business, aimed at people interested in launching their own professional pet care business.

    The session was led by PHG franchisor Ritchie Clarke and also featured Danny, the fantastic franchisee behind PHG Haywards Heath. Together, they provided a clear and practical insight into what it takes to build a successful dog walking and pet sitting business under the Pets, Homes and Gardens franchise.

    With just under 50 people registered, the webinar gave attendees an excellent overview of how the PHG franchise works in practice. Ritchie introduced the opportunity, spoke about the values behind the brand, and explained why demand for reliable dog walking and pet sitting services continues to grow across the UK.

    Danny then shared his experience of launching PHG Haywards Heath after joining the franchise towards the end of 2025. He talked through the early stages of building his dog walking and pet sitting business, the onboarding process, and how he has been developing his local client base.

    The webinar concluded with a live Q&A where attendees asked a number of thoughtful questions about starting a dog walking and pet sitting business and what it is like to run a pet care business as part of the PHG network.

    For those who missed the live event, the full webinar recording is now available to watch online 👇
    https://youtu.be/6t4F8UzdeOs?si=zUqaGnp9xztnAeGi

    11 March 2026 Franchise news
  • Launch of the PHG Resources Hub — A True Game Changer

    PHG is excited to share the launch of the brand-new PHG Resources Hub — a practical online toolkit created to make running a PHG business easier and far less time-consuming. The Hub includes ready-to-use templates, simple step-by-step guides...
    03 November 2025 Personal services
  • Visiting All 12 Franchisees — A Fantastic Start to PHG’s...

    One of the very first things Ritchie and Amber did after taking over PHG was pack up the car, grab their leads and notepads, and set off to visit all 12 franchisees. They wanted to meet everyone face-to-face, see their day in action, and spend real...
    12 May 2025 Personal services

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