Frequently Asked Questions

What is your assessment / meet and greet process?

I will not book any walking, training, house sitting or boarding service without first having a meet and greet with you and your pet.  This will allow us to get to know one another better and provide an opportunity for me to assess the needs of your pet and whether or not I am the appropriate person to provide for those needs.  Save for boarding-only bookings, I prefer to meet at your home or on neutral territory as free from distraction as possible, at a pre-arranged time that is mutually agreeable.  For boarding-only bookings, the meet and greet occurs at my home.

Do you work with dogs who have behavioural problems / a history of aggression / a history of reactivity?

I am happy to consult with you and assess your dog’s individual needs on a case-by-case basis.  While I am willing to assist in training dogs who have minor behavioural problems, I would respectfully refer you to a more senior dog trainer to address any concerns with reactivity and aggression.  That said, I do have experience in walking and doing drop-in visits and house sitting with reactive dogs.

Please note that in this instance I am using the terms “reactive” and “reactivity” to refer to dogs who easily become over stimulated and may bark, growl, or lunge at common stimuli, which often occurs in dogs that are fearful.  I am not referring to dogs who may bark or get excited when someone knocks at the door or when another dog walks by them on a leash. 

What is your cancellation policy?

The length of time required in order to receive a full refund for a cancellation varies by service.

For drop-in visits and walks, including structured training walks, 24 hours’ notice is required in order to receive a full refund.  Same day cancelations are subject to a 50% charge.  The remaining 50% will either be refunded or used towards a future service.

For boarding and house-sitting services, 7 days’ notice is required in order to receive a full refund.  A refund of 50% will be offered for cancellations 4-6 days prior to a booking, with no refunds for boarding or house sitting cancelled within 3 days of the service start date.  These services require that I close my calendar to other boarding or house-sitting clients, and cancelations often do not allow me enough time to book any other clients for those dates. 

Board and train packages require a 50% non-refundable deposit at the time of booking.  The remaining 50% is due prior to the commencement of boarding. 

Do you walk dogs in all weather conditions?

I will keep my scheduled walks during most weather, so long as continuing with the walk does not impede my safety or the safety of your pet.  As a general rule, I keep walks short on days when the temperature falls below -10C and is above 25C.  I will still be with your pet for the scheduled duration, but may spend the remainder playing indoors or in a shaded / heated location.  Walk times may also be adjusted (earlier in the summer and later in the winter) in order to have walks at a more comfortable temperature. 

In the event of inclement weather (i.e. heavy snowfall) that prevents me from getting to your residence, I will provide you with as much notice as possible as well as a full refund.