To Leash or Not to Leash? It Depends ...

If you're reading this (if anyone is reading this!), chances are you're looking for a dog walker. Maybe you recently moved, and you're frantically Googling: Annex Dog Walker, Seaton Village Dog Walker, Bellwoods Dog Walker, new dog parent support group! 

In all likelihood, you've been bombarded with not only 100s of different Toronto dog walking companies, but 100s of different Toronto dog walking companies offering entirely different services.

So how do you choose? 

Importantly,  Toronto dog walkers generally fall into two categories: leashed or unleashed.  The right one is the one best meets YOUR DOG'S NEEDS! 

So let's do this. 

What are the benefits of offleash dog walking and what types of dogs get the most from this type of walk? 

Social dogs love offleash dog walks.  They thrive.  With offleash dog walking, your dog will wrestle and play with a consistent pack of friends.  However, dogs  who are a bit shy or apprehensive can fare very well too, as they are brought out of their shells, continuously building confidence through exposure. 

See Muddy, the pup featured in the picture above.  She was formerly on leashed dog walks.  She also used to be shy and generally uninterested in other dogs.  Since joining K9 Kate's Pet Services,  Muddy's mom, Barbara, and even their neighbours frequently report that Muddy is a changed woman.  Yah Muddy!!!!!!!!!

High energy dogs who like to kick up their paws and run do great with offleash too; a one hour, offleash run provides significantly more exercise than a one hour leashed walk.  

Retrievers, retrievers, retrievers.  There is a reason they've been given this name.  Retrievers want nothing more than to .... retrieve.  Tossing the ball is not only tiring and fun but true to this dog's core nature.

Offleash is also great for older and younger dogs who are more vulnerable to Toronto's extreme climate; with an offleash dog walker, your dog can run in the lake at Cherry Beach when it's hot or return to a warmer environment (ie a heated car) when it's ice cold.

So who's better suited to ye olde leashed leash?

Fundamentally, the dog who loves to laze about in open, outdoor dog parks but really needs the exercise ... well, sorry buddy, you need a leashed walk! 

Extreme resource guarder?   Sorry, buddy, no one wants you to get into an unavoidable brawl at the park.

If your dog is overstimulated when offleash, stick with leashed, at least until that stimulation level is brought down a (thousand) notches or two.

Fearful or anxious dogs absolutely belong on a leashed walk.

Hopefully, this posts helps you and your dog find the right dog walker (and type of dog walk) for you!

Knowing Breed Needs: It's the Bees Knees

This picture was taken during our morning dog walk at Bickford Dog Park,  located right in Seaton Village at Grace and Harbord. 

It features two delicious doggies, Dexter the Golden Retriever and Maggie the Labrador Retriever.  True to their names, these dogs love and need - you guessed it- to RETRIEVE!!!! 

As a dog walker, it is important to familiarize one's self with breed needs.  Still, knowing breed needs is the bees knees for dog owners too!

What kind of dog do you have or are you curious about?  What do you know about his or her breed?  Was your dog bred to guard, pull, herd, hunt? 

Knowing this can help you understand and honour your dog's behaviours in ways that hugely benefit both of you. 

To find out more about the history of your dog, feel free to check out the following link. And remember, deep breaths when your Schnauzer remains frozen at your front door, barking her head off at strangers; this girl was born (and bred) to guard and protect you!

https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/activities/dog-showing/breed-standards/

We're Back with Our Packs (and warm after the deep freeze!!!)

Last week was was not easy.  Safety is always paramount to professional dog walking yet it is truly front and center when coping with extreme temperatures.  The doggies and I were able to get our walks in last week and it was incredibly special to see the dogs reunited with their friends; it makes me happy and proud to see the bond these guys and gals share.  Still, the glory was saved for today when we could muck about comfortably and freely.  No more checking paws constantly and eyes wide in search of hypothermia indicators (always look for the elevation of paws!!). I've said it before and I'll say it again: Ms. Thing, Bean, Mags, Dex, Phoebes, Penny, Bimmer, Calle, Sadie, Oakley, Winston, Homer, Princess, Muddy, and Gert ... I ADORE YOU!!

Heartfelt NYT Article on Pet Rescue and Adoption

Welcoming a dog into your home is forever life changing and enriching, no matter the pup's origin.  Still, there is something so incredibly beautiful about the rescue and adoption process; an animal in need is helped in an inevitably reciprocal way. 

There are so many incredible dogs needing a home (just look at K9 Kate's recent additions Penny, Sadie, and Oakley ... all wonderful, all rescued).  

A recent NYT article, penned by a dog rescuer, conveys the heart and meaning behind this gift (to people and pup).

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/27/opinion/rescue-animals-dogs-adopt.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=opinion-c-col-right-region&region=opinion-c-col-right-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-right-region

Have a happy and healthy! Back in 2018!

Alright doggies, time to retire the keys and grab the dive mask. K9 Kate's is closed for the holidays but will be back in fighting form January 2nd. Everyone have a happy and healthy new year. THANK YOU every single client I'm lucky enough to get to work with ... you and your dogs have made this journey a complete dream (sincerely!!!).

Welcome Oakley and Sadie

Brother and sister duo.  Thank you to dog mama Kim for adopting these two and welcoming them into your family with open arms and open hearts.  The pups are thriving on their walks- independent yet social, exploring exciting new spaces, and stealing hearts.  Oakley from the word go was in heaven when introduced to the ravine, and lakeshore parks.  Sadie needed a bit more time to feel comfortable but has rapidly become Queen of the Dog Park.  She absolutely walks around like she owns the place, while her Retriever brother searches high and low for a ball and  a good belly rub.  Paw-some work Oakley, Sadie, and Kim!

Lakeside Picnic with Penny! A Balmy -12 Degrees

I love this picture of Ms. Penny gazing at the "glazing" on the lake while claiming the picnic table as her resting spot.  Penny has been such a wonderful addition to the K9 Kate's family.  She is exactly the type of pup an adventure walk is made for- she loves to run, sniff, play, and explore. In fact, her nickname is "The Tink" because she has a little tinkle whenever I arrive for her walk ... the ultimate compliment :) 

Staying Cozy For the Paw-lidays

People celebrate in many ways over the holidays; by spending time with family, resting, dancing, reading, drinking "a bit" too much.  One thing we as Canadians share: the need to stay WARM! A second thing we at K9 Kate's share: a love for our dogs! With this in mind, I decided to say thank you and happy paw-lidays to the K9 family with mugs featuring their doggy's photo.  Remember doggy parents: it's cold out, but you don't have to be!

Remember and Thank You from K9 Kate's

Phoebe is sporting her poppy to honour those who have given their lives while serving in the armed forces.  We do remember.

Happy Halloween!!

Happy Halloween from Dexter and the rest of us at K9 Kate's Pet Services!!

Welcome Penny!

Bienvenue Penny.  You and your mama are wonderful additions to the pack.  Any guesses as to Penny's background?  Is she part Beagle?  A wee bit Husky?  What matters is she is 100% wonderful, loved, and lovely.

Feeling Like a Heat Wave!

There are two places to find K9 Kate pups during this heat wave: the lake or the ravine.  We're just more comfortable frolicking offleash, running in and out of the water when it's 40 degrees ... ALL of us!

Homer and Hamish Day 1

For anyone who gets the Monday blues, say hello to Homer and Hamish frolicking on their first day together.  

Welcome Homer!

September is officially puppy month at K9 Kate's Pet Services thanks to 3, totally paw-some recent additions: Hamish, Phoebe and Homer!  Homer had his first day yesterday and was AMAZING in all regards: social, playful at the park and walked like a superstar on leash.   

Given it was Homer's first day apart from him lovely mamas, he suggested we FaceTime with them during the outing.  Everyone was so happy with how things went that Homer is back on today, despite a planned day off.  

Homer, Ella and Emma: welcome!!!!

That's My Boy!

Storm relaxing in our treehouse after a stressful day at the office.

Welcome Pheobe!

In a few short weeks, this cutie patootie will be old enough to join her new home, alongside her human mama, Tara.  Starting with puppy visits and joining group walks once ready, Pheobe is in for a whole lot of love, fun, and excitement- Tara and I as well :)

Welcome Clarence Clemons (the dog) ... what did ya think?

As if we weren't kickass enough, we now have this adorable guy joining us next week.  AND HIS NAME IS CLARENCE CLEMONS!!!

Maybe he's born with it? Maybe it's MIGUEL!

K9 Kate's is so proud to welcome our second shih-Tzu, Miguel.  Miguel is incredibly warm and playful with a puppyish enthusiasm that betrays his 9 years.  It could be the Maybelline but I think it's the Migel.  We are all so excited to have him officially join us this fall.  

Laila/Lampa and Understanding Dewclaws

Last week, poor Ms. Thing split her dewclaw while at the park.  This splitting is quite common and doesn't warrant the freak out that most of us gravitate towards when seeing our dogs in pain.

So what is the dewclaw? The dewclaw is like our big toe.  In some dogs, it helps them to grip and climb.

What do we do if it splits, tears, etc.? In most cases, you should go to your vet who can protect and disinfect the injury.  For dogs like Ms. Thing, a cone may be necessary to prevent them from licking the affected area.

Is Laila still the lightning fast, heart-breaker she's always been? YES AND YES!

Post "Summer Vacation" Reunion: It's a Dog's Life

The doggies and I couldn't be happier to have Maggie "Big Butt" Goldstein, Thor and Tundra (T and T), Hank (The Tank), and Palmer (Just Palmer) back with us after their summer "vacations."   Lookin' fairly happy there too, Mags!