Nice kicks, Linus!!!
This sweet Ladradoodle joined K9 Kate’s adventure dog walks last week and, boy, do we love him already. Linus’ parents reached out after a recent move to Seaton Village left them without a dog walker. I am thrilled that they did; Linus is sweet, social, and unspeakably adorable!
Welcome to K9 Kate’s, Linus! Meghan and Brian, thank for letting me be your new Toronto dog walker.
Unless you’ve been directly referred to a dog walker via a friend or a dog professional, chances are you’re left with Google. While this can be helpful, it can also - like all Google searches- lead to a rabbit hole. Dog walker X doesn’t service your area, dog walker Y is booked, dog walker Z doesn’t provide force free options, and dog walker double ZZ was outright rude when you spoke.
Toronto dog owners, you deserve better. Let me help you.
Let’s start with the big G. Google likes websites with activity and will place them top of its search list. The issue: these companies may be irrelevant in your quest for a Toronto dog walker. Solution: get specific.
Use key words like your neighbourhood (dog walkers work in specific neighbourhoods only). For instance, K9 Kate’s operates in Seaton Village, The Annex, Little Italy, Trinity Bellwoods, Rosedale and Deer Park. Reaching out to a dog walker who services High Park when you lives in The Danforth isn’t efficient.
Next up, know what service you’re looking for and enter it as a keyword. For instance, if you are looking for offleash dog walks, include this in your Google Search. Different dog walking companies offer different types of walks. K9 Kate’s is among a handful of companies that offer both on foot and adventure.
And then there’s force Free! K9 Kate’s is a fear free dog walking company. I believe that a skilled walker does not need aversive training methods like prong or shock collars. We can get dogs to do what we want and so you can you. Why use fear when you can use love?
With this in mind, please note that I will not knowingly refer dogs to a company that is not fear free. I think it’s antiquated and your dog deserves better.
If you are not in K9 Kate’s service area , please feel free to reach out and I’d be happy to connect you with companies including:
Toronto Tails
LLDT
Mutt Love
Citizen Canine
Sarah Rix
Unleashed in the City
Toronto Humane Society
Adventure Club
City Dogs
She said Walk
Benevolent Beasts
Sparky’s Comrade
Oh my Dog
In the Lead Dog Walking
Woofs Upon a Walk
Woof, Waggle Walk
PetsGo!
Dog’s World Walking
Pup Tent
Liberty Pooch
Pooped Pooches
Philippa Curtain
They Walk Dogs
Diamond Dogs
Wag and Bone
A Couple of Mutts Dog Walking
St. Clair West Dog Walking
(to name a few).
I hope this was helpful in your quest to find a Toronto dog walker. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.
Thanks and have a great long weekend.
Happy almost Thanksgiving, Toronto dog lovers. I hope that you have your loosest fitting pants out and ready!
We have begun to accept dogs for group and private dog walks in Rosedale. If you or someone you know is looking for a dog walker, please let them know that K9 Kate’s is in the area, and we’re ready to walk your dog!
Thanks and happy holidays once again!
Marc reached out last weekend; he had recently moved to Forest Hill with his two AMAZING pups and was in need of a new dog walker. I knew in advance that I would be meeting two Mastiffs, a personal favourite- I love the giant breeds, their leaning, generally sweet temperaments, and cuddling capacities. These boys are so loving and kind; I can’t wait to get them out next week. Marc, thanks for letting K9 Kate’s be your new Toronto dog walker.
Julia reached out a few weeks back about dog walking for her adorable pup, Finn. Despite being outside of our former, east boundary, Yonge St., we went for it … and I decided to expand our service area (we are now offering dog walks in Rosedale and Yorkville)! So, if you live near Ramsden Dog Park, buy you groceries at Whole Foods on Avenue Rd., AND you need a dog walker, well, we should speak :)
Finn will have his first official K9 Kate’s dog walk next week. We can’t wait to get to know him!
Otis’s mom reached out a few weeks ago saying she had a new rescue dog and needed a new Toronto dog walker. She let me know that she had already begun force-free training with Jon Fowles and I was immediately impressed; as most people know I am vehemently opposed to aversives and subscribe to force-free philosophies on dog handling. Otis had his first dog walk on Thursday, and was AMAZING! He and fellow Bulldog (British) Baymax, were alllllll over each other in the best of ways! I love watching Bulldogs play, and apparently I am not alone in this; everyone at Bickford Dog Park that day was watching them with smiles on their faces. Otis, welcome to K9 Kate’s, we love you so much!
Our beloved Ridgeback had a temporary break last year but recently rejoined her friends and I in the dog park. We’ve been frequenting another favourite Toronto dog park, Ramsden, near Yorkville. It has brought me so much joy to see Shaia’s own elation as she plays with her former pack mates. Shaia, we love you big girl!
This little nugget started dog walks last week and, oh dog do we love her! Lucy, another Seaton Village pup, had been off of dog walks for the past year while her mom was spending time with her and her human baby.
Lucy’s parents were concerned that the time off may have jeopardized her sociability. With this in mind, we started dog walking with one other dog, in a very controlled environment. It was quickly apparent that Lucy is not just comfortable with other dogs, she’s a 10! Lucy quickly graduated to group dog walks. Lucy, I am so happy to be your new dog walker and I love you already!
Burrito started adventure dog walks last week. He is the third Kensington Market dog to join K9 Kate’s in recent months. Here he is with dog best friends Koda, the puppy Golden Retriever, and Milton, the puppy Labrador Retriever. Together, the Three Amidogs have wrestled and cuddled at Grange Dog Park, next to the AGO, Seaton Village’s local Bickford Dog Park, and downtown’s (and my favourite!) Coronation Dog Park. Burrito, we love you so much already, dude!
Scrabble joined dog walks last week and has been an incredible to addition to our pack. He is so sweet and playful, and we adore him already. Scrabble is another reminder of the value of rescuing; there are so many amazing dogs who don’t have homes. Why not consider rescuing one? Princess, Laila, Scrabble, Blue, Gert are just a handful of the rescue dogs K9 Kate’s has walked and loved so much. If you’re thinking about getting a dog, please consider adoption. I posted recently a list of suggested organizations including Toronto Humane Society and K9 Adovcates Manitoba. Thanks and enjoy your day and your dogs!!
In August, Ink’s mom Alexandra reached out when seeking an Annex dog walker for when she vacationed. Soon after that, Ink joined dog walks and we LOVED her right away. She is so much fun in the dog park, listens like a pro, and clearly takes a lot of pleasure in running around with her new dog friends.
Together, we walked dowtnown’s Coronation and Stanley Dog Parks, Seaton Village’s Bickford Dog Park, and the Annex’s Ramsden Dog Park. Each and every walk, Ink was a joy. I was hoping Alexandra would continue dog walks once they returned and was thrilled when she reached out to say just that. Ink, we love you so much already and can’t wait to keep adventuring with you!
These two lovelies had their first, adventure dog walk with K9 Kate’s this week. It was immediately clear that Willow and Violet not only fit with our group; they added to it! Both are super social with other dogs, making them ideal candidates for park play. Plus, their recall is already KILLER, making my life a whole lot easier … especially during Toronto’s puppy season! I want to thank Amanda Factor at Benevolent Beasts for referring these two pups, and Kelly and Scott for letting me be your Toronto dog walker! I’m looking forward to working together, and seeing your two amazing dogs soon!
Cuing Eminem: Guess who’s back. Back again. Our friend Spruce. To the end. Nananana.
Welcome back, Spruce, who spent the last year adventuring in New Mexico with his pawsome dad. He had his first, official post-trip dog walk today. We went to Coronation Dog Park (my favourite Toronto dog park) where it was like nothing had changed; Spruce was so happy to be pack with his pack and, boy, was the feeling mutual!! We ran. We played. We went home tired.
Sprucey, welcome back buddy!
I love this picture of Zipper at Coronation Dog Park. It just so happened that the day he was caught with his tongue out was the same day multiple people tried to enter the dog park as we were unleashing, leading me to ask if he too was frustrated by this dog park faux pas.
The problem with entering the dog park in this manner is that gated dogs aren’t necessarily on leashes; if someone opens the gate the dogs could bolt. Additionally, the dog entering may trigger the dogs in the gate and vice versa, leading to a fight; the space is small and the dogs, especially those starting their dog walk, are likely to be super amped up. Hello, trigger stacking!
Here are some other tips:
Bring dogs that are suited to the dog park ie social, healthy and not in heat
Clean up after your dog.
Close the gate each and every time!
Don’t feed someone else’s dogs; that dog may be on a special diet or have allergies. A big nuh-uh on this one.
Eat before or after … if you bring your lunch to the dog park, it’s fair game!
Pick up your poop, not your dog! Picking up and carrying a small dog because you want to protect him/her is human nature but the act of small dogs being lifted up triggers a treeing instinct in many dogs, moving them right into prey drive and exciting them into jumping on you to get at the small dog. In a dog park, where all dogs are extra stimulated and excited, picking up a small, panicked dog could be enough to get you knocked over or possibly even bitten.
Watch your dog. It’s not someone else’s job. Get off your phone and make sure your dog is safe.
Be mindful of the toys you bring. For example, those super small Chuck-It balls may be perfect for a chihuahua but a Labrador could easily choke on one.
Headphones are ok so long as you can hear what’s going on in the dog park.
Not that your dog should be wearing a prong collar, but if s/he is, remove it prior to entering the dog park.
Most importantly, have fun!!! This is your special time with your pup so savour it!
Have a great, safe weekend!
With the thunder and lighting looming, I thought of my dear friend Dexter, a former Little Italy pup with crippling thunder anxiety. It was horrible seeing him so afraid but both his mom and I did whatever we could to ease his fears; small spaces, a thunder jacket and moderating our emotions at this stressful time.
Here are some tips if you and your 4-legged friend are struggling as well:
This unique dog anxiety wrap is designed to provide gentle, constant pressure to your dog's body, producing a calming effect. Bonus: it can help with other loud noises, like Fireworks!
Make the effort to be with your dog if the forecast is showing thunder
Give your dog the comfort and attention she needs to calm her anxiety. An anxious dog is unable to learn due to being overly stimulated and emotional, which means comforting is not rewarding the fear. .
If a dog is punished or ignored during a frightening event, it’s likely to worsen the anxiety. Instead, offer a positive stimulus, such as gentle petting, to distract and calm your dog. If your dog will still engage, try a game of indoor fetch, tug, or offer a high-value chew.
Place your dog’s crate and/or bed in the most sound-proof room of your home. A crate is a natural, psychological defense for dogs and can have an incredible influence on their comfort level. It’s also helpful to close the blinds to shelter your dog from the visual stimulation of a storm.
When a completely sound-proof room doesn’t exist, compete with the noise by usinga radio or white noise machine.
Try to desensitize your dog to the sound of storms by using thunderstorm CD.Start by playing the CD at a very low volume while offering your dog plenty of high-value treats and positive interaction. By slowly increasing the volume over several weeks, desensitization will lessen or completely eliminate anxiety during storms.
She or he can help show you the way, one and one, and see if there is a more general anxiety to work with as well.
Stay safe, calm, and enjoy the weekend with your dogs!
Rudy, like Beaumont, joined K9 Kate’s Pet Services a few weeks ago. And he’s a fellow Seaton Village resident. And he frequents Vermont Square Dog Park. AND he also likes cuddling and running around with his friends Basically, we’re more than twinning- the three of us are tripletting :) We love this little dood already. Together, we’ve played at Coronation Dog Park (Lakefront), Stanley Park (King West), and Ramsden Dog Park (The Annex). Who knows where we’ll go to next but if the weather stays like this, I suspect we’ll be heading back to the lake very soon! Welcome Rudy and thank you for letting me be your new dog walker!
Beaumont, a (super delicious) chocolate, Lab-mix rescue dog joined K9 Kate’s Pet Services two weeks ago. Initially, he walked privately but transitioned quickly to group dog walks. Beaument went to Ramsden Dog Park, in Toronto’s Annex neighbourhood, yesterday with his new friends and was FANTASTIC in the park; it was incredibly moving to see his joy as he ran with his new friends.
Beau is one of several, amazing rescue dogs who walk with us. If you are thinking about adding a 4- legged friend to your home and are considering adopting, I highly recommend the following organizations. Even if you’re not thinking of adopting, check them out … you may change your mind :)
The Toronto Humane Society: https://www.torontohumanesociety.com/
Fetch and Releash: https://www.facebook.com/fetchandreleashrescue/?hc_location=ufi
Redemption Paws: https://redemptionpaws.org/
Speaking of Dogs https://www.speakingofdogs.com/
Team Dog Rescue: http://teamdogrescue.ca/
Welcome Sadie the Shih Tzu!!! Sadie’s been on adventure dog walks for two weeks now, joining fellow senior Shih-Tzu, Muddy. I have such a soft spot for this cuddly breed!
Bred to be companion dogs, they typically have perky, happy temperaments, and get along well with people of all ages, as well as with other dogs. Plus, they LOVE the lap which, let’s face it, I don’t mind one bit :) So, if you’re thinking of getting a pup, don’t discount the Shih tzu and if you have one and need a Toronto dog walker … holler please!
I connected with Sadie’s mom, a fellow Seaton Village resident, after a community member recommended K9 Kate’s to her. Sadie had walked with a dog walker years ago but was ready to get back to it. I’m so happy she has. Together, we’ve strutted our paws at Bickford and Coronation Dog Parks. What’s next, Sadie? You’re probably easy about it … as long as you’ve got the lap ;)
Sadie, welcome to dog walks! We definitely LOVE you already, girly!
Penelope reached out a few months ago- she was moving to The Annex, Toronto all the way from Germany and needed a dog walker for her adorable pup, Diggity. Thankfully, The Annex IS part of our service area and I was more than happy to help. Diggity had his first on-foot dog walk with us last week. and was a perfect, doggy angel!!! Penelope, thanks for letting us be your new Toronto dog walkers :)
Monkey … we are ape for you!!! Many thanks to the uniquely amazing In the Lead Dog Walking for connecting us. Monkey, I’m looking forward to going bananas (too much?) with you at the Ramsden Park shortly.