Artem was great with my dogs! He took them for a nice long walk and they came back happy and relaxed! He was able to handle my big dog really well and kept them both calm on the leash which can sometimes make them reactive. Very happy and will definitely book again. Thanks Artem!

08 May, 2026 To whom it may concern, This is a letter of recommendation for Artem Derkach, for a dog-walking position. My relationship with Artem is of a personal nature rather than a professional one, however, his relationship with my dog is of importance. I have known Artem since 2021, when we became neighbours while working in Tofino. I have a coyote/australian shepherd/border collie mix dog named Rhu. As I can imagine the same is for you, Rhu is my best friend, and I am extremely critical regarding his care and who I trust to look after him. I do not leave him with dog-sitters or place him in kennels. I am of the ‘if my dog can’t come, I’m not going’ mindset, as I do not trust others to look after him as I will. Artem, however, was the exception to this rule. Rhu came to work with me everyday while in Tofino, unless Artem was home, as he was very enthusiastic about wanting to go next door and stay with him. While working, I never had to worry about the content of Rhu’s day or his safety. It was always filled with walks through town, trips to the beach and countless games of fetch. Rhu is a very high-energy dog and always returned to me tired out and exceptionally happy each and every time. Keep in mind this was not a paid position, this was simply Artem wanting to hang out with Rhu so that he wasn’t bored while I was working. When Artem would go camping, he always asked to bring Rhu along, to which I agreed. Artem is the only person, family included, that Rhu has been in the care of overnight, let alone away with for the weekend. This reflects just how safe I felt having my dog be left in his care. Artem’s love for dogs is undeniable, however, it is the level of care that he brings that always made me feel safe to leave Rhu with him. Rhu has a tendency to be anxious with external stimuli such as loud noises or simply too much going on around him. I would often observe Artem ‘checking in on him’ when his discomfort was visible, and working to change his environment to make Rhu feel better. When it came to his physical well-being, the level of care surpassed my expectations. Rhu was hanging outside of my work one day as he often did while I was on shift, greeting each person who came inside. He excitedly shows each person his ball and occasionally someone will throw it for him. I could hear a voice carrying one day so I went outside and found that Artem was sitting out front of his house (next to our work), calling out to each person who greeted Rhu asking them politely not to throw the ball. When I inquired, he explained that the cement was hot from the sun and he didn’t want Rhu running on it so that he didn’t chafe/injure the pads on his feet. Even when not in his care, Artem was still ensuring Rhu’s safety and well-being. I hope that you consider Artem to take your dog on adventures around town, I promise that you will not find someone better suited and exceedingly qualified for the position.