Are you licensed and insured?
We carry licenses for each county we walk in and are insured through Kennel Pro.
Are you trained in First Aid and CPR?
We are trained in both through Dog Safe Canine First Aid.
What do you do in case of an emergency?
Part of our initial interview is to collect an extensive medical history of your pet and your emergency contact information. We also collect the phone numbers of your primary veterinarian. We introduce ourselves to your vet so they know us and know when your dog will be in our care. We also work with several emergency hospitals depending which area we are walking in. We carry a small first aid kit and cell phones and have a bigger more equipped first aid kit in the car. In the event of an emergency the client will be called immediately, your vet will be called and your dog will be taken to your vet or the nearest emergency clinic whichever is closest.
What is your experience?
Dogs have always been an important part of Karen’s life. In South Africa she trained dogs in obedience, protection and agility. She has worked as a veterinary technician for over 18 years where she handled many dogs. She has been hiking with her own dogs for many years. She is certified through dog*biz as a professional dog walker. She also recently completed the Karen Pryor Dog Trainer Foundation Course.
What locations do you frequent on your hikes?
Our group hikes are out on the on the gently rounded hills and canyons of Cheeseboro and Palo Comado in Agoura and in Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa Park between Hidden Hills and Dos Vientos. We also hike in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreational Area on the north and east and Rancho Simi Open Space on the south of Oak Park and on hot days visit the beaches and trails in Malibu.
What is the duration of your hikes?
We usually hike for 45 minutes to one hour and 15 minutes. Including pick-up and drop-off times, you can expect your dog to be with us anywhere from an hour to 3 hours depending on where we are hiking. However, we might shorten our hikes due to conditions we deem unsafe for your dog such as extreme heat to prevent your dog from overheating.
What do you do on extremely hot days?
We take extra care on hot days and usually will shorten our hikes and keep a slower pace. We seek out shady trails so your dog is not exposed to full sun. We take frequent water and rest breaks. On extreme days we frequently will visit the trails in Malibu and the Ventura County Beaches where the temperatures are lower. We transport your dog in our van with ventilation along the sides for proper circulation of cooling air even when your dogs are in the back of the van. We will also hike in park areas where we can hose the dogs with water, with the owners’ prior consent, to refresh them halfway through the hike and keep them cool for the remainder of the hike
What do you do on rainy days?
We do hike in all weather conditions rainy days included. We will towel and dry the dogs off at the end of the hike and return them to you as clean and dry as possible.
Will my dog be dropped off dirty? What about fleas & ticks?
Hiking with dogs means your dog is exposed to burs, ticks & fleas and dirt on the trail. At the end of every hike we check your dog for ticks and burs. We recommend owners check their dogs thoroughly especially in between toes for foxtails and burs. We carry towels and will do our best remove dirt and sand and towel your dog dry to return your dog home as clean as possible. We recommend talking with your veterinarian to see which flea and tick prevention program is best suited for your dog.
Do you provide daily reports and updates on my dog?
We take pictures and videos of your dog, which are posted on Instagram and Facebook, on a daily basis. We also leave a report card with a record of your dog's adventures for the day. That way you can be assured your dog went on his daily adventure with us.
What is the maximum number of dogs you walk at one time?
We keep our group hikes at a maximum of 6 dogs to ensure your dog gets the most individual attention as possible.
What activities do you plan on your hikes?
We incorporate fun games, such as playing with a toy or ball, as well as obedience exercises on all our hikes, so your dog is physically and mentally challenged. But most of all we want the dogs to have fun and allow plenty of time to run, sniff and play together.
Do you hike on-leash or off-leash?
We start all our dogs on-leash until we have built a solid relationship with your dog, and we get a sense of your dog’s personality. All dogs will be on-leash until they show a reliable recall which is practiced on a long line. At first your dog can drag the long line but will eventually be weaned off it. Only when your dog has a reliable recall do we allow those dogs, with the owners’ prior consent, off-leash in quiet and safe areas. This is however at our discretion and some dogs may never be deemed solid enough to go off-leash.
How do you introduce dogs to group hikes?
All adventures begin with an initial meeting. This is where we have a chance to meet you and your dog. Next, we take your dog on a one-on-one trail hike. This is where we begin to build a relationship with your dog and have a chance to practice basic commands with positive reinforcement rewards. We determine which of our dog groups and daily schedule will be the best fit to maximize your dog’s adventure experience.
After our one-on-one hike, we will introduce him to one other dog of that group and take them both for a walk. This way your dog will be able to make friends and bond together. We will practice the same exercises he learned in the one-on-one walk with both dogs and he will have lots of time to play with his new friend. Through the exercises we continue to establish a bond with your dog. We then introduce your dog to the rest of the group. Your dog will ride in the front seat to give him some space from the other dogs. We will pick your dog and his new buddy up last, to minimize exposure to other dogs in a confined space. We will let all the other dogs out of the car first so that we are ready to start walking immediately when we let your dog out.
How do I know if my dog likes to go on group hikes and how do you choose which group my dogs fits into?
Not all dogs are suited for or enjoy group hikes. We look for signs of fear or any signs of medical issues. Even though we do a very in-depth screening process, some medical issues might not be apparent until going for a hike. Karen’s background as a veterinary technician allows her to recognize possible potential medical conditions. If she finds anything worrisome she will communicate her concerns to you immediately, so you are able to have your pet seen by your vet before continuing on a hiking schedule.
We only accept dogs that are dog and people friendly. We group our dogs based on compatible temperaments and energy levels. Our group hikes are best suited for energetic, enthusiastic dogs that interact well with any other dogs small or large. However, we try to group smaller dogs together and keep bigger dogs in a group, so the dogs have playmates of equal size and energy level to avoid bigger dogs accidentally injuring smaller dogs when romping around. All our dogs are accepted on a trial basis. If we feel we do not have a group that accommodates your dog we do our best to refer you to another walker. If you feel your pet could benefit from some more one-on-one training, or to resolve fear, anxiety issues we can refer you to a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP), we work closely with, in your area.