Annie
“My happy place is with dogs.”
I’ve always loved being outside, working hard, and being physically active, and I’ve always dreamed of taking my dog to work with me. Growing up on a dairy farm in Southern Ontario, dogs were with me throughout the day, from morning chores till I went to sleep at night.
After my husband and I married in 2009, we got our first dog together, Ruba. At first we both worked jobs away from home so we were unable to give Ruba the attention she needed, and her health suffered as a result.
In 2020, I changed my career to accommodate my love of being outside and spending time with dogs. I became a dog walker.
With more attention and exercise, Ruba’s health gradually improved, going from being able to join our walks only every other day to twice a day. I now do pack walks of groups of 6 to 12 dogs and Ruba comes with me twice daily and leads the pack most of the time.
I get to challenge myself daily while helping dogs through exercise and socialization. And, most of all, I love taking my dog to work with me.
Lennie
“A good day for dogs is a good day for me.”
As a child, dogs were always at my side. Whether I was working on my relative’s farm, hiking through the countryside as a Boy Scout and then a Cadet, or exploring the beaches in rural Nova Scotia, I felt that my dogs should be able to enjoy the unique marvels of creation as much as I did. It wasn’t just mine; it was theirs too.
Annie and I were married in 2009. Work – whether landscaping, automotive detailing, or manufacturing – helped me support my family, but I missed the outdoors with my dog.
In 2020, my wife launched her dog walking business. I was happy Annie could spend her days with our dog, giving Ruba the exercise and companionship she needed, along with other dogs whose parents were at work. But I longed to join her.
By late 2020, the business was going so well that I was finally able to get my wish. I joined Annie in running a much-needed dog daycare and boarding center in our home. I enjoy assisting with all of our client’s dog’s daily needs including exercise, feeding, socialization, and development as together we explore everything the outdoors has to offer.
Every day is a good day for the dogs, making every day a good day for me. I love the outdoors. I love dogs. I love my job.
Ruba
“It’s not a good walk if I am clean”
I never went on daily walks in my 12 years of life. In 2020, when the pandemic happened, my mom was forced off work from the factory, so she decided to become an essential worker and began walking dogs. She began taking me with her to her new job. I was old and out of shape, so I could only go and keep up every second day for an hour. After a few months I was walking every day with her. Now, I go twice a day, 2 hours a day, and I’m in the best shape of my life, thanks to daily exercise. I love going to work with my mom.
Vera
“Learning to be a dog”
I’m a puppy and I love to play, play, play and make new friends. Thanks to my pawrents job, I am living the best life a puppy can live! I’ve made many friends; I’m learning to socialize and walk with a pack. Mom is working with me on some basic puppy commands and helping me be a good walker on a leash. I’m a handful right now, but I’ll be a good dog, thanks to daily socializing and pack walking.
Haley
“A little dog with big needs”
I need a lot of exercise and attention. I had both my back knees operated on five years ago because of an accident on slippery ice. After, I had trouble lifting my legs high enough to walk in snow and walking on ice again was almost out of the question. After starting pack walking daily, by the second winter, I now walk-through snow, on ice and have really strong legs. I am super tired every night now and have good sleeps. I was becoming anti-social because I didn’t have many friends. Now, after pack walks, I have lots of friends and make new ones almost every day.