Why should I choose Canine Adventure instead of another service? Our customers love us and their dogs adore us. Canine Adventure values the relationships we develop with dogs and owners, and treat our client dogs as we do our own. The results will speak for themselves.
Canine Adventure is fully licensed, bonded, and insured. This is not some fly-by-night pet sitter or dog walker you're dealing with. We may not be the cheapest option, but you don't go to a discount doctor, you don't have your car serviced at the cheapest place in town, and you don't shop babysitters because of price.
Canine Adventure is a member of Pet Sitters International and the manager has completed their accreditation coursework. The accreditation program covers pet care in general (everything from hamsters to horses) with emphasis put on pet safety. Much of the material focuses on dogs specifically. Be assured that where our copious experience falls short, we do have the educational resources to guide us appropriately. The vast majority of pet care providers do not take the time to earn this or any comparable endorsement.
Along with the Pet Sitters International Accreditation, we spend personal time furthering knowledge through independent study and collaboration with each other and other pet care professionals. We do this not only do we enjoy this, but also because the pets we care for deserve to have a knowledgeable handler.
Each dog handler is happy to provide personal and professional references who will gladly share their experiences.
At a minimum, each member of Canine Adventure is certified in dog and cat first aid and CPR by the American Red Cross (except for Christa, who is so far above this level of knowledge that it would be a waste of time for her to do the course). Your dog's safety is our top priority.
You are in good hands with Canine Adventure. Each of our dog handlers brings their own skill set to the table and is very carefully selected. We keep the lines of communication open with you and with each other to ensure that we do the best job possible. If your dog has issues that we are working to resolve, we often discuss the issues within our organization to develop a well rounded and well founded strategy.
We meet with you and your pet before any service is scheduled. There is no charge for this. If it's not a good fit, there is no obligation.
What is your service area? We normally service the Fan, Museum District, Northside, Downtown, Near West End, Forest Hill, and Church Hill. Outside of this service area we may need to apply a small travel charge to the cost of service. If you are outside of these areas, please feel free to contact us anyway! We are likely already working on finding the right person to service your area.
My dog is (insert small, large, old, young, unruly etc...). Can they handle the adventure walk? The short answer is yes! Small dogs usually have more pluck and determination than large dogs. The walk won't leave them in the dust. We are very adept at handling a wide variety of dogs, so large, strong, difficult, young, and unruly dogs are welcome. We are not "dog trainers" but we do take great pride in working with difficult dogs and getting them mental and physical exercise. Old dogs are very welcome also. Our oldest regular adventurer is 13 years old and she loves her adventure walks!
The adventure walk is geared toward the dog walking it. Every dog gets the pace, terrain, and obstacles that suit them best.
Do I need to drop off/pick up my dog? No. We pick your dog up at home and drop them off after the adventure. If you prefer, we can make other arrangements.
Do you walk in bad weather? You bet! Dogs love rain, snow, and cold! The only times we suggest rescheduling a walk is when health or safety is a concern. We won't go out if there are tornadoes, hurricanes, there is lots of ice falling from the sky, or during temperature extremes.
If your dog doesn't like going out in the cold or rain and you'd like to reschedule the walk, we simply require a phone call the morning of service.
Trails after the rain can get really bad, and are easily damaged by foot traffic. In the interest of preserving our awesome trail systems, we tend to avoid areas that are prone to erosion during and after a good rain.
Leash Lessons? Really? Yep. I look around when I'm driving through town at the multitudes of dogs being walked improperly. This is really owner-based training. It's not magic and it does take work. Why not work toward getting your dog to understand what you want as opposed to just being pulled down the street? Knowledge and consistency will get you noticeable results.
Tell me more about the dog pack walks. In order for a dog to be eligible for pack walks, they must undergo an evaluation period. This generally consists of two or more adventure walks during which we will work on recall, off leash walking, encounters with other dogs, people, and wildlife, and general trail manners.
If your dog walks well off leash, responds to simple commands, and gets along well with others, they may already be able to handle the pack walk. We will establish a bond with your dog, test his or her abilities, and we can match your dog up with a suitable pack! If your dog isn't quite ready yet, we can help you focus on those training issues which will get them ready for pack walks.
During pack walks, we will focus on getting the pack into areas where they will have the most fun (rock hopping and swimming tend to be favorite activities while on the pack walks).
This is perfect for owners with more than one dog and dogs that enjoy regular off-leash time with their owner. It is not suitable for every dog. Those dogs that can handle the freedom (and responsibility) of being in a pack will love it. The dogs will get more exercise and will have a chance to become good friends with the dogs in their pack.
Off leash walking? I don't know about this... Don't worry! We do not take a dog off leash unless the owner gives permission. Even then, we will need to work with your dog on leash quite a bit to develop a bond and evaluate their triggers and responsiveness. We will discuss behavior issues, we will share with you our experiences with your dog, and will then have some trial runs in very safe areas (away from cars, other dogs, people etc...) to ensure that there will not be any issues.
This is not for every dog, and Canine Adventure understands this well. We can work together to get your dog there, but it does require the owner to go through the exercises as well, and every dog will respond differently.
Rest assured that any off leash dogs will be handled responsibly. This is not a ticket for them to run wild with no supervision. We actually work very hard to control dogs who are off leash. They need to not only be kept out of danger, but also need to be well mannered so that they don't pose a danger to people and pets we encounter. It is a rewarding experience for dogs, but it's a reward that is given only if they recognize and respond to the rules, boundaries, and limitations required of them.
If you never want your dog taken off of the leash, we understand completely.
What feedback will I receive from you about my dog? After every service, we will communicate with you regarding our activities and your dog's progress. If we don't speak with you in person, you will be contacted via email or telephone. Usually we will include a couple of photos taken of your dog that day. You will be given a brief summary of our activities that day as well as a report on any issues we've encountered, behavioral or otherwise. If there are any concerns that we have, you will be made aware of these and, as always, we encourage open communication between us so that we can work together to better meet your dog's needs.
Will my dog appear on your website? With your permission, your dog can appear on the website!
I heard about you from a rescue organization. What's the deal with the Affinity Program? We are excited to be partnered with some of the local rescues! If you are referred by one of these rescues, please let us know. Most of the rescues "earn" free adventure walks for their foster dogs by helping us find clients. Others receive regular monetary donations.
If you are with a local rescue organization and would like to send your dogs out for some free adventure walks, please let us know and we'll try to help out.
I have a (insert exotic pet here). Can you care for them? Each of our dog handlers has owned other pets during their lives as well. Just ask!
Can you board my dog? For a number of reasons, Canine Adventure cannot offer boarding at this point. Your dog will do better at home when you're away. As nice as some kennels seem, the combined stress of being away from home and separated from their owner can be overwhelming for a dog.
I want to work for Canine Adventure! Keep in mind that this can be one of the most challenging, frustrating, and physically demanding jobs you can choose. It is also one of the most rewarding if you have a real passion for working with dogs! If you really love working with dogs and thrive on developing personal relationships with each dog you meet, this may be a great fit for you. Of course, mud, blood, slobber, and sweat are all part of the job! If you think you're up to the challenge, feel free to send us an email.
I have questions that you didn't answer here! Please call Josh at (804) 334-8811 or email me. I'll happily answer any other questions you may have!