I love dogs of all breeds, ages, sizes, and personalities. I would like to know in advance what your dog is like on walks to help me plan the best route for them, and a general idea of their temperment with people and other animals. Any training or behavioral rules or practices you would like me to use/include in their routines are also good to know (hand/voice commands, walking etiquette you are trying to teach, rules when meeting new people, etc.) to help make sure that your dog is receiving consistent messaging. The most important aspect of dog training is consistency, so any information that will help me make sure that I never undermine or contradict your training efforts is hugely helpful. Health and nutritional/dietary requirements are also very important to know. If your dog requires medication, is on a specialized diet, or is only allowed to eat specific foods/treats please let me know. I will ensure they get their meds on time and only ever eat things that are good for them and owner-approved. If your dog has specific fears/phobias that may scare them while on a walk please let me know (i.e. bikes, skateboards, traffic, etc.) as it will help me plan a route that allows us to best avoid them. If your dog is afraid of, or agressive toward, other dogs it is also important to know so that I can avoid off-leash areas and popular dog-walking paths.

For confident dogs who are not bothered by bycicles, other people, etc. my favourite area to walk dogs is through kensington, then along the river path on memorial, crossing into Prince's Island Park. I find that dogs who are confident walkers enjoy this a lot as it keeps them stimulated and entertained while also offering periods of calm once we reach the quiet of the Island park. There are lots of birds and ducks for them to watch, shade to help them keep cool, and public doggy fountains to help them stay hydrated (though i also carry a bowl and water bottle). For more timid dogs who dislike cars, bikes, other dogs, etc. I try to avoid crowded areas. Parks are great locations for more nervous dogs, as they are usually very open and allow me to keep a distance between myself and anything that might spook the dog. Calgary has a ton of lovely walking parks and quiet residential streets that are perfect for this. Some of my favourites are Fish Creek, Bowness Park, McHugh Bluff/Crescent Heights Park, Confederation Park, and Prince's Island Park. For dogs that are fine off-leash and love to run and play with other dogs I love to take them to Roxboro & Erlton Park, Varsity Park, McHigh Bluff/Rotary Park. They are always beautiful, not too busy, and have plenty of space for dogs to run and explore. I always bring toys snd water to make sure they stay entertained and hydrated, and always wrap up with a stroll back home to help them wind back down.