FAQs
WHERE DO YOU WALK THE DOGS?
Group dog adventure/walks are done at off-leash dog parks or on leash on local trails. Private walks are done in your local neighbourhood on leash.
HOW MANY DOGS DO YOU WALK AT ONE TIME?
Group walks can vary from 2 - 5 dogs at a time depending on the dogs and the day.
HOW ARE DOGS SCREENED FOR GROUP WALKS?
For any dog to join our group walks they must first have a Meet and Greet. The dog is assessed to ensure they are a good fit for our group walks. Part of this assessment is going for a trial walk with another dog to make sure there is no unwanted behaviour. Dogs are gradually introduced into the group of dogs they will be walking with.
In the event your dog shows signs of aggression or unwanted behaviours they will be pulled from the group walks. We can work with your dog to try and get them comfortable in the group walks however this is done on a case by case situation.
In the event your dog shows signs of aggression or unwanted behaviours they will be pulled from the group walks. We can work with your dog to try and get them comfortable in the group walks however this is done on a case by case situation.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR GROUP WALKS?
- All dogs must first have a free meet and greet consultation
- All dogs must complete a trial walk to ensure they are a good fit for the group
- All dogs must be good with other dogs
- All dogs must be up to date on vaccinations including bordetella or titre tested
- All dogs must be spayed/neutered once over 6 months of age
- All dogs must have some form of identification (ie: tattoo, microchip, tag with name and owner's phone number)
- All dogs who are given off-leash walks must have excellent recall
WHAT DAYS ARE WALKS AVAILABLE?
Walks are available Monday through Friday, however some weekend walks can be arranged. A weekend surcharge may apply
WILL YOU CANCEL WALKS IF THE WEATHER IS POOR?
Walks are done rain, snow or shine unless it is unsafe to do so. In extreme weather conditions your dog's walk may need to be slightly altered in it's time or length. If a walk needs to be cancelled a Potty break will always be done as long as the roads are safe to do so.
WILL IT BE THE SAME PERSON WALKING MY DOG EACH TIME?
It is extremely important to us that your dog develops a strong bond with their walker. The only way for this to happen is to have the same walker each time. Your dog will get to know their walker and vice versa. If your walker is on vacation or is sick, I will let you know and give you the option to cancel or to use a different walker.
CAN YOU WALK REACTIVE DOGS?
Yes, we work with dog reactive dogs on a regular basis. We are trained in the best practices for handling dogs of all types. We can even continue your training program if you are working with a trainer.
CAN YOU WALK DOGS WHO HAVE HEALTH PROBLEMS OR MEDICAL CONDITIONS?
Of course, we are happy to help! We have great people that are great with all types of dogs. We are very careful not to push dogs that have health concerns, and we go at their pace. We are always on the lookout for changes in a pet’s health and we will let you know right away if we see anything concerning.
DO YOU HAVE A CURRENT FIRST AID CERTIFICATE?
I am Pet First Aid certified and carry a first aid kit
WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY?
All emergencies are unique and may require split second decisions. If there is a medical emergency we would use our first aid training to help your pet. We will always use our best judgement and we will do what it takes to help your pet when each second counts. If a pet is in need of emergency care they will be taken to the nearest veterinarian, your veterinarian (if available), or emergency pet hospital facility. Depending on the situation we will contact you immediately or as soon as it's safe to do so.
WHAT KIND OF EQUIPMENT DO YOU USE?
We do our best to continue using whatever equipment you are using to walk your dog however, if your dog is a strong puller we recommend a front connection harness or a gentle leader/halti instead of just a collar to make it easier on the walker.
As positive reinforcement dog walkers, we do not use prong, choke, or shock collars. We do not use any equipment that uses pain or force to work with an animal, regardless of its behavior. We have plenty of years experience working with many behavioral issues with dogs without using inhumane equipment. We can work with you to help guide you towards more humane walking equipment if prong or choke equipment is something you are currently using. Together we believe we can create a safer, and more positive relationship with animals without the use of pain or force.
As positive reinforcement dog walkers, we do not use prong, choke, or shock collars. We do not use any equipment that uses pain or force to work with an animal, regardless of its behavior. We have plenty of years experience working with many behavioral issues with dogs without using inhumane equipment. We can work with you to help guide you towards more humane walking equipment if prong or choke equipment is something you are currently using. Together we believe we can create a safer, and more positive relationship with animals without the use of pain or force.
WILL MY DOG BE KEPT ON LEASH?
This all depends on what you want. If you are more comfortable with your dog being walked on leash we are happy to accommodate.
if you would like your dog to be walked off leash we will do so in off leash permitted areas. However, each and every dog will be assessed for off-leash readiness by using a step by step approach.
STEP 1: ON-LEASH
Regardless of your dog's previous off-leash experience and sociability, the first walk with Adventure Hounds is always on leash. Dogs stay on leash until they are focused, responding consistently to their name, and are at ease with their new surroundings. This could be just one walk, or it could be more, it differs for each dog.
STEP 2: DRAGGING LEASH
When dogs have successfully passed step 1, they will be switched to a 20 foot training lead, which we will drop and let them drag behind them. This gives them more freedom to play and explore, but we still have quick access to their leash if we need to grab it for any reason. During this stage we will look for dogs to come when called, watch us for which direction or path we am going, and follow along with us and the other dogs.
STEP 3: OFF-LEASH
When dogs have successfully completed the first two stages, the leash comes off and they are free to run and play to their hearts content! From this point on, your dog will just need to wear their usual collar with their ID tags on it. We will continue to maintain recall and good behaviour on each walk, and place them back on leash if at any point we feel their recall is slipping.
if you would like your dog to be walked off leash we will do so in off leash permitted areas. However, each and every dog will be assessed for off-leash readiness by using a step by step approach.
STEP 1: ON-LEASH
Regardless of your dog's previous off-leash experience and sociability, the first walk with Adventure Hounds is always on leash. Dogs stay on leash until they are focused, responding consistently to their name, and are at ease with their new surroundings. This could be just one walk, or it could be more, it differs for each dog.
STEP 2: DRAGGING LEASH
When dogs have successfully passed step 1, they will be switched to a 20 foot training lead, which we will drop and let them drag behind them. This gives them more freedom to play and explore, but we still have quick access to their leash if we need to grab it for any reason. During this stage we will look for dogs to come when called, watch us for which direction or path we am going, and follow along with us and the other dogs.
STEP 3: OFF-LEASH
When dogs have successfully completed the first two stages, the leash comes off and they are free to run and play to their hearts content! From this point on, your dog will just need to wear their usual collar with their ID tags on it. We will continue to maintain recall and good behaviour on each walk, and place them back on leash if at any point we feel their recall is slipping.
WHAT HAPPENS AT THE MEET AND GREET?
Our “Meet and Greets” are designed to help us get to know each other better and to see if our services are right for you and your pet. During our visit we will go over the completed registration forms (emailed to you prior to our Meet and Greet), get the key from you, door lock code, key fob, and the alarm code if you have one. We take a look at everything we will be responsible for: food and water dish location, food location, meal prep instructions, medical concerns and medication instructions, favorite toys, where to put scooped litter/poop bags, plant watering instructions, mailbox instructions, going over your pet’s usual routine, go over the care or walking needs you would like for your pet, and answer any questions you may have. Together we can design a Pet Care Plan to meet your pets needs.
We also like to do what we call “Setting up The Door” For Dogs. This is what we do to simulate how your dog will react when we come to your house while you’re away. It’s really easy, we’ll all go outside for a couple of minutes while your dog is in the house, then your walker/sitter will go inside to meet the dog by themselves. As long as your dog reacts well and lets us get near them/pet them/put a leash on, we know we are all good for your visits.
We also like to do what we call “Setting up The Door” For Dogs. This is what we do to simulate how your dog will react when we come to your house while you’re away. It’s really easy, we’ll all go outside for a couple of minutes while your dog is in the house, then your walker/sitter will go inside to meet the dog by themselves. As long as your dog reacts well and lets us get near them/pet them/put a leash on, we know we are all good for your visits.
HOW DO YOU ACCESS MY HOME IF I'M NOT THERE?
You can provide us with a copy of your key or you may choose to leave a copy of your key in a secret predetermined location for us to access.
HOW CAN I GET UPDATES FROM MY PET SITTER OR DOG WALKER?
You can call or text anytime. We offer as much phone support as you like while your pets are in our care. Your sitter/walker will send you a message every day if you would like. We try to send pictures whenever possible
CAN YOU ADMINISTER MEDICATIONS?
Yes, we can administer most medications.
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Four Paw Adventures - Langley/Surrey and surrounding areas
604-308-4890
©2022 Four Paw Adventures
604-308-4890
©2022 Four Paw Adventures
