Cost of living and changes in traffic patterns were the major driving factors that necessitated the changes.

In order to find, and retain, qualified staff, we had to make a significant increase to our staff salaries. We looked at the going rate for a room in a shared apartment within about a 30 minute commute from our office and then based our starting salary on what someone would need to make to be qualified by a realtor to rent that room. Once we made that adjustment and reposted our hiring ad, we were able to find the right people to join our team in time to avoid any service disruption.

With recent additions of bike and bus lanes, loss of parking options, and significant increases in traffic, we were struggling to get to everyone on schedule. This was making for long stressful days for our staff, leading to burnout. To adjust for this, instead of scheduling 4-6 dogs per group, we are now scheduling a maximum of 4 dogs per group. We will take up to 5 dogs per group, with that 5th spot only being used for a personal staff dog or overnight pup. This will ensure our hikers have time to get to all our clients on time, plus be able to fill out the report cards and clean up and towel off as needed at drop off.

In determining pricing, we calculated the amount of money we need to take in monthly to cover salaries and expenses to stay operational, and divided that by the number of hike spots available

There is no common standard when it comes to hiking services so it is hard to make a direct comparison. For example, one of the hiking companies we see advertises off leash hikes but in practice their dogs spend 80% of their time on leash and they are only at the woods for 30 min a hike and are charging $60. The handful of other services we found hikes to dogs in the city ranged from $60-75. We found our level of experience, professionalism, handling skills, knowledge and team training is what stands us apart.

With few exceptions, a single group hike provides enough exercise, enrichment, and socialization to tire and satisfy a pup. In fact, for most dogs, down time with a nap (and maybe a good stuffed frozen toppl) is the perfect balance to the hike.

With our spaces also more limited, and to keep our prices competitive, we cannot afford to continue offering a discounted full day option.

We shifted how overnights are calculated. Previously, we charged $120 per 24 hour period, with partial days charged as a single or full day group hike.

Now, we are shifting to $120 per calendar day, but with additional discounts for longer stays, and $150 pricing for major holidays.

So overnights are actually becoming a better deal and still include our even higher valued group hikes, and our staff are better compensated for putting in extra work over the holiday breaks.

I (Kelly) founded a dogs life in 2006 after a year of professional dog walking experience, determined to create the ideal life for my then recently adopted pup Penzi. Supported by a few friends at first, they recommended their neighbors and friends and we grew from there. In fact, we've grown our hikes exclusively by word of mouth, and had a running wait list for the past 5+ years.

From the beginning, I became fascinated with dogs and their behavior and began studying it through books and online resources.

As we grew and started hiring and training hikers, it was essential to me to ensure those hikers were knowledgeable, skilled, and able to safely handle our dogs in the variety of situations we find ourselves in. I first hired a trainer as a consultant, then hired a part time staff trainer who then connected us with Morgan, a CDPT-KA certified trainer with an amazing ability to think outside the box and apply training concepts to real life situations.

Morgan and I then set out to create a unique and comprehensive staff training plan, essentially a crash course in dog behavior and how to apply that to our hikes. Morgan was also able to provide direct 1-1 training support for our entire team.

The result? We saw our groups transform, with more attentive pups, faster more reliable recall, better dog to dog play and social skills, and a more enjoyable experience for our staff and dogs alike.

Come 2020, Morgan pushed me to pursue training certification, providing additional materials and mentorship. Two years and over 300 hours of training experience later, I took and passed my CPDT-KA certification.

As I continued to grow as a trainer, I became particularly interested in applied ethology, better understanding the biology, needs, instincts and drives of dogs and how that impacts behavior. I then enrolled in Kim Brophy's Family Dog Mediation program and earned that certification in 2024.

As we have become more knowledgeable as a team, we have attracted more CPDT-KA certified trainers joining our hiking team. This has meant an unparalleled level of knowledge and support for all the hikers on our team.

As we continue to grow, we are excited to both share more of this knowledge and almost 20 years experience with our clients, and continue setting the standards for excellence in our indstry.

Cancellations have always been a hard balance. When we didn't have cancellation policy, a number of clients took advantage of that and we lost tens of thousands of dollars a year due to those cancellations.

When we have had limiting cancellation policies, it was beneficial in stabilizing the business, but was a repeated sticking point for our clients who travel frequently or have second homes.

So now we decided to try a dual model, to allow the client to choose which option works best for them while still providing more stability for the business. For the average client, if you travel more than 6 weeks a year, the flexible pricing is the better deal. For those who travel less than 6 weeks a year, loyalty pricing is for you!