Paws On A Path

DOG HIKING

Are Dogs Tested Before Joining Groups? 

Before any new hiker may join a group, our highly experienced professional pet care team asks questions about the dog’s behavior to learn how the dog does in various settings. These questions help us determine if the dog is a good candidate for hikes or if they would benefit from solo sessions to prepare.

If we determine that a dog is not a good candidate, we either hike solo permanently or do “solo hikes” for the first few weeks or months. We use desensitization and conditioning to prepare the dog to safely interact with other dogs on hikes. We’ve had many dogs successfully join group hikes after this approach and they’re doing great!

Depending on how the test walk goes, we match the dog with a group based on the other dogs’ temperaments, spot availability, and walker ability/bandwidth. We like for the dogs to establish a hiking routine by participating in hikes on a set schedule. They are usually walked at the same time and day each week. That way, the same dogs are transported together and become accustomed to their hiking group.

As a safety measure, a new dog gets their own handler. That way, if there are any mishaps, the handler can take the new participant a separate way. Initially, they are also picked up in a different vehicle until it is deemed safe enough to integrate them with their hiking pack.

How Long Are Hikes?

We hike together for about an hour, ranging from 1-3 miles.

How Many Dogs Adventure Together? 

At Paws on a Path, our adventure hike groups are comprised of 3 to 6 dogs to every one pack leader. If we have a larger group of dogs, we have more than one of our Expert Staff Members work together.

Do You Bring Water On Hikes?

Our staff members bring water on the hike and give the dogs a chance to drink water during our hike and after our hikes.

I’m Worried About Heat. How Do You Care For Our Dogs In Hot Weather?

Many of our clients live near Topanga Canyon and worry about their dogs overheating during hikes. Our staff is prepared and trained for how to handle the heat in SoCal.

We bring plenty of water and make sure we hike in cool areas with plenty of shade. We take it easy, and our dog hikers are trained in signs of dog overheating.

Do You Hike In The Rain?

In our experience most of the dogs actually LOVE the rain.  There are a few who step out into it with trepidation, but once they start to run around, they enjoy it a lot. We appreciate that there are a few who genuinely hate it. We also understand that some of our clients don’t feel enthusiastic about muddy dogs coming home. We will also towel them off for you, and it’s helpful if you leave towels by the door/ entryway.

Please know that ticks seem to love the wet weather – so please keep up to date with medication. Using a natural repellent spray which includes clove oil or eucalyptus really helps to keep them from jumping on and biting. If you leave some of this by your door with the towels we will spray your dog before taking them out.

Do You Hike On Holidays?

We do not offer walks or hikes on the following holidays: Labor Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving Thursday, Christmas Day, or New Year’s Day. We offer our other services on holidays! Please keep in mind that holiday traffic patterns may affect our scheduling, so a little flexibility will ensure your furry friends receive the best care.

DOG BOARDING

What Style Care Is Dog Boarding At The Ranch?

We like to think of our Ranch Boarding like a vacation for your dog! Wild Horizon Farm is an animal rescue and sanctuary stretching across 20 beautiful acres in the Sierra Pelona Mountains.

Your pup will stay in the Ranch House with a big fenced in yard. Our expert staff rotation ensures that your pup will safely be able to play and enjoy the ranch with other dogs with complete supervision around the clock.

What Are The Sleeping Arrangements? Who Provides Crates?

At Wild Horizon Farm, we provide crates for dogs to sleep in if they are more comfortable in a crate. For dogs that are well behaved and house trained, we allow free range within the house. There are several beds for dogs to cozy into.

Is There A Fenced In Yard?

At the ranch, we have a massive fenced in area where dogs can play ball, wrestle, and release. The fence is tall, so dogs do not jump over, however there is always someone supervising dogs during playtime.

Are Dogs Ever Left Alone?

The ranch is staffed so that there is always someone watching our dog guests on the property.

How Many Dogs Board At One Time?

Wild Horizon Farm is 20 acres, with a full house where dogs sleep, eat, and play. We typically do not board more than 6 dogs at a time. For busier holiday seasons, we bulk up our staffing to accommodate for the higher number of guests.

When Are Pick-Ups And Drop-Offs? What If I Can’t Make The Pick-Up Time?

You are welcome to drop-off and pick-up your dog, but most of our clients enjoy our dog transport! Dogs returning home are dropped off in the morning. Dogs coming to the ranch are picked up in the afternoon.

We do not do dog transport on Thursdays or Sundays. If you need your pet to be picked up on one of these days of the week, we will accommodate by dropping off the day after at no extra charge.

PET POCKETBOOK

We use Pet PocketBook, a scheduling and billing software. Many of our clients are new to this software, but all clients must create a Pet Pocketbook account to work with us. Don’t fret, it is very user friendly!

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:

1. After the initial intake process, you will receive an email invitation from Paws on a Path that will allow you to set up a Pet Pocketbook account with us. Please note, this email may be in your spam. Connect your account to your email.
   
2. Once your account is created with us, you can make your pet’s profile! This includes breed, age, sex, and any behavioral notes.
   
   Also be sure you include pertinent information for pick-up and drop-off, such as full address, any house entry notes, and emergency contacts.
   
3. Once your profile is set up, you can request weekly services! Here you can also request/cancel certain days and/or schedule boarding for an upcoming trip.
   
4. Billing is on a weekly basis through Pet Pocketbook. Clients must add a credit card to their Pet Pocketbook account so that billing goes smoothly. We assure you, Pet Pocketbook is a completely secure website, and will not sell or tamper with any of your personal information.