Frequently Asked Questions
Low Key, High Quality.
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We work with guardians who are interested in walking exclusively as a Low Key dog!
Contact us to schedule a Meet & Greet at the front of your home. A member of our team will meet to discuss in more detail what you’re looking for, and ensure a compatible fit for both dog(s) and walker(s).
The next step includes setting up your Client Portal, reviewing our policies, and completing your profile in full. A member of our team will review to make sure we are prepared for your dog’s next adventure. Completion of Client and Pet Data is required prior to beginning of service.
Check out our Services page for more information about joining our family.
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It turns out that our team loves talking about your pup as much as you do! We are delighted to offer daily walk reports to keep you informed and up-to-date on your dog’s adventures. This report will include walk notes, photos and occasional video, status of pee/poop, and receipt of food and fresh water.
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Payment accepted via credit card through the Client Portal (preferred), or e-transfer to lowkeydogws@gmail.com (subject to approval). Payment is due on receipt, and 7 days past due results in a 15% late fee.
Clients on Recurring schedules will be billed on our semi-monthly billing cycle (1st and 16th).
Prepayment is required for Book As Needed services, which will be billed in full upon booking, and are non-refundable in the event of cancellation.
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Service requests must be made by 12pm the day before, and are not guaranteed until confirmed. We require 24 hours written notice of cancellation, or full charges apply.
For Recurring services, we request two weeks written notice to cancel or reduce days, or charges may apply.
In the event of extreme weather or personal emergency, the cancellation policy may be waived.
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For reliability of service, staff health, and in the case of emergency, a primary and secondary walker will be trained on your dog’s scheduled service.
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We operate on a time block system: Morning (8am-10am), Midday (10am-2:30pm), and Afternoon (2:30pm-4:30pm).
A walker can arrive at any point during the set time block. Pick-up and drop-off times may vary due to traffic, bad weather, and regular dog shenanigans! Please rest assured that if your dog is booked for a walk, your dog will be picked up and walked! Our aim is to always have walks completed by the end of the set time block.
We will do our best to accommodate specific time requests, however we are unable to respond to pick-up inquiries during walking hours.
In the case of any major delays, we will contact guardians directly.
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We strive to return dogs as clean as we found them, and in the case of rainy days, will do our best to wipe dogs clean before dropping them back home.
Please inform our team of any special requests on particularly wet days. A common request is to return pups to a specifically designated area that is blocked off from the rest of the house (gated room or pen). We also appreciate any extra towels left at the door!
Extreme Weather
We walk in all weather, rain or shine! If safety is a concern (such as extreme weather), you will be contacted by a member of our team for a modified walk schedule or cancellation, and email notification sent by 9am. -
Downtown
Esquimalt
Fairfield
Fernwood
Hillside-Quadra
James Bay
Oaklands
Oak Bay
Central Saanich
South Saanich
Vic West
Are you located outside our service areas? If you are in need of a walker, please feel free to reach out, as we may be expanding into your area soon! -
Upon request, our team is happy to sanitize their hands and wear a face mask when entering the home to collect your dog. Please help our team maintain physical distancing upon pick-up and drop-off.
Walk with us.
GROUP WALKS
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Low Key group walks are just that: walks around your neighbourhood with up to three other compatible dogs! We prioritize walking in a way that meets your dogs needs. This means providing adequate leash length, sniffing time, and responsible participation at local parks and leash-optional areas, when appropriate.
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Benefits of group walks include socialization, increased body awareness, improved leash manners, learning to share and respect other dog’s space, increased self confidence and self esteem, reduced social anxiety and of course, off-leash fun! (when applicable)
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For pups that hope to join a group walk, we require a minimum of two walks per week. As our group walks require a basic level of leash walking and social skills from each pup, we have found that anything less than this doesn’t offer enough consistency for success. We are also keeping in mind the health and safety of our walkers. For clients who wish to book one walk per week, we are happy to offer this in the form of a private walk. This policy is subject to change.
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Absolutely! We are happy to start slow, and progress your dog up to a small group of friends. In fact we prefer it. This way we can guarantee a good time!
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Dogs are selected carefully to ensure an enjoyable, compatible walk for all dogs, and dog walker!
There are several factors that go into building our Low Key groups, such as location, time requests, age, gender, breed, size, energy level, temperament, overall behaviour, and leash walking ability of each dog.
Our priority is to ensure a fun and safe walk for all dogs in our care, so groups are formed very carefully. As we have new clients joining almost every week, we are constantly shifting and adjusting groups to accommodate all these factors. No two days are the same!
LOW KEY WALKS
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We provide chicken-free treats, poop bags and water. We are also happy to use your dog’s own personal treats, if preferred. We do not provide leashes, harnesses or collars. However every walker is supplied with a 15-foot long line, double leash and 6’ flat leash that may be used at our discretion.
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We request 6-foot flat leashes. Retractable (flexi or extendo) leashes and slip leads will not be used for safety reasons. We may use double leashes to help reduce pulling, and long leashes to reinforce recall in open fields or parks.
Our team will work within their scope, and will therefore not use prong, pinch, choke, or e-collars. In alignment with the Fear Free mission, we will also not use any form of leash correction (quick pop on the leash), or any form of physical handling (such as flipping dogs on their back or restraining on their side). Our team uses Fear Free techniques with all of our Low Key dogs.
Cage and soft muzzles may also be used, when fitted properly and appropriate.
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We will always reinforce good manners on our walks (ie. no jumping, pulling, leash biting). For fear-driven reactivity, we practice patience, creating space and calming techniques aligned with the Fear Free mission.
We are happy to offer private walks for dogs that show signs of aggression or reactivity, and recommend seeking advice from a professional force-free trainer. We work closely with our training partners. We are here for you!
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No, we are not trainers! We are professional dog walkers, with the ability to reinforce basic cues, social skills, car manners, etc.
We often consult our training partners, however, as we work to support you and your pup’s goals. When it comes to specific behavioural concerns, we recommend connecting with a force-free trainer directly. Contact us to learn more about our training partners!
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Please always follow the advice of your vet. From our experience, 4-6 months is usually a good time to start! By this time your pup has likely had all their puppy shots, and has reached a physical maturity level to enjoy a 30 or 60-minute walk and play.
Walk with us.
