Dog Behaviour / Training
Dogs should be mostly leash-trained—perfection isn’t required. We can work with some pulling or reactivity and will always do our best to support your dog within our abilities; however, please note that we are not certified dog trainers.
Post-Walk Care
- If your dog gets wet during their walk, we’ll give them a quick towel-dry—just leave a towel by the door.
- Your dog may still be a little damp or dirty, but that usually means they had a great time!
- After each walk, we’ll send a brief text recap so you know when your dog has returned home safely.
Walk Frequency
We require a minimum of two walks per week to best support your dog’s well-being and success. Regular walks help by:
- Creating a consistent routine
- Building trust and familiarity with their walker
- Reinforcing training and encouraging better behaviour
If you don’t require two walks per week or can’t commit to a regular schedule, we’ll do our best to accommodate you when possible; however, availability may be limited, and priority is given to regular clients.
Booking
When you book a walk, you are reserving a dedicated time slot that becomes unavailable to other clients.
To be fair to our team and other clients, please provide notice as soon as possible if your dog will not be attending. Early notice allows us to adjust our schedule and potentially accommodate other dogs in need of a walk.
Payment
- Prepayment is required for all services.
- For dog sitting services, a 25% non-refundable deposit is required to secure your booking, with the remaining balance due prior to the start of service.
- We’re happy to customize a payment schedule that works for you (weekly, biweekly, or monthly). Payment reminders will be sent based on the schedule we agree to and are emailed on the Thursday prior.
- We kindly ask that repeated payment reminders are not necessary.
- If payment is not received prior to your scheduled service, the service may be postponed or cancelled at our discretion.
Client-Initiated Cancellations
- Cancellations made more than 48 hours before the scheduled walk are eligible for a full refund.
- Cancellations made within 48 hours are non-refundable.
- Exceptions may be made for emergencies, at our discretion.
Service Provider Cancellations
If Christy’s Dog Walking needs to cancel a scheduled service, you will be notified as soon as possible and issued a full refund.
Inclement Weather
We walk in all weather conditions and adjust as needed to keep your dog safe and comfortable.
- If weather conditions require a shortened walk (for example, a 1-hour walk becomes 30 minutes), no refund will be issued.
- If your dog refuses to walk due to weather, we’ll do our best to encourage them. If the walk cannot be completed, no refund will be issued.
- If you choose to cancel due to weather, the standard cancellation policy applies.
Safety & Right to Terminate Services
At Christy’s Dog Walking, the safety and well-being of both your dog and our team are top priorities. If at any time your dog displays threatening or aggressive behaviour toward us, the activity will be discontinued immediately for everyone’s safety.
We reserve the right to cancel or terminate services at any time if:
- Your dog poses an ongoing safety concern to our walkers or others
- There is evidence or concern that your dog’s well-being is at risk
- There are consistent late payments or repeated disregard for our policies
Communication
We value open and ongoing communication to provide the best possible care. Please keep us informed of any changes to your dog’s behaviour, care or routine. Our primary form of communication is email, as it allows us to track details and respond thoughtfully. Text messages or phone calls are welcome for last minute updates or emergencies. We are always available if you have questions, need to make schedule changes, or just want to check in, we’re always happy to hear from you 🙂