**Currently only being offered for boarding dogs and Friday daycare dogs
Four times a week (T-F) dogs throughout Yellowknife are treated to a unique experience that stimulates them socially, mentally, and psychologically as well as providing much needed exercise. Happy Pooch Pack Walks are the adventures your pet craves. We pick up your dog, take them for an hour or longer off-leash, and drop them off to you relaxed and fully satisfied after their hike.
Dogs get to move in a pack through new territory doing all the things that dogs love to do – run, sniff, explore, play, and build fitness and agility maneuvering over a variety of terrains at their own pace. Your dog will learn good manners rather than develop bad habits that can happen when they do not receive individual attention to correct and direct behaviour. Dog’s develop good social skills with the dozen of other friends on the hikes which can vary each week. I keep order to avoid conflicts but do allow dogs to communicate with one another and develop their own balance and understandings.
For dogs that have never been off leash, we have tools to support them as they integrate into the pack, including a GPS tracking collar and harnesses with 50ft line and bells. And of course, lots of treats! Be sure to let us know if your pet has any allergies or food sensitivities.
My dog has never gone off-leash before. Can they come on pack walks?
Yes! We ask that you ensure your dog is wearing a well fitted harness and we will supply a long drag line and GPS collar for the walk. And of course, lots of treats! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Is there an intake process for pack walks?
Yes! We will have a phone call first to find out if there are any behavioural issues we need to be aware of. Please note, off leash pack walks are not appropriate for human or dog reactive dogs and they are required to have some basic manners such as four paws on the ground for greeting strangers. Next, your pooch will come in for a day of daycare so we may assess their confidence and social skills with other dogs and make a connection with them. And finally you may book their first walk through our online site and sign the contract which you will be prompted to sign upon submitting the request. On the first walk, your dog will wear a harness with a drag line. To manage risk, we generally only add one new dog at a time to the group.
What if my dog has a medical issue or injury while on a pack walk?
Our staff take diligent care and attentive to pets, however accidents do happen. For non-emergencies, we will contact you as soon as possible to discuss options. In the case of injury or an emergency, we will perform pet first aid as needed and transport your dog immediately to GSAH and notify you as soon as possible. You are responsible for any vet bills incurred while your dog is in Happy Pooch’s care.
Does my dog need a jacket or boots for pack walks?
We ask that owners provide proper fitting coat and boots as appropriate – ask us for advice on this if you’re not sure. Dogs will warm up as they run around but we do find that sometimes even the furriest breeds need coats on the coldest days. We also sell boots if you need them. We supply only the best – tried and tested by our very own Happy Pooch pups!
My dog would love this! How do I sign them up?
As with all of our services, you can book online. We will contact you to learn about your dog, send you the contract and finalize any other details.