Dog Training and Behavior Consulting serving the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago
Happy Hound University Enrichment Adventure Dog Walks
Are you the proud owner of a high energy dog that needs a little more physical exercise and mental enrichment than you can currently give?
Or maybe you work long days and by the time you get home you just CAN’T fathom another task on your plate, even with your dog giving you their best sad eyes?
Do you just need some HELP?!
Happy Hound University is proud to offer our premier service, enrichment adventure walks!
What is an enrichment adventure?
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Unlike other dog walking companies who just focus on quick in and out potty trips, our adventure walk service seeks to offer your dog the best in enrichment by bringing them to local parks and forest preserves and letting them “be a dog” for a full hour. Our enrichment adventures focus on meeting your dog’s needs, so that you can focus on other things at the end of the day and come home to a tired, fulfilled dog!
About our enrichment specialist, Phil!
Phil is co-owner of Happy Hound University, LLC and has a long history of working with animals. Phil has worked at a small zoo as a trainer and care technician, managed the boarding kennel in an animal hospital, worked as a veterinary assistant, and volunteered in the shelter environment. In addition to our enrichment adventures program, Phil assists with our group puppy socials and puppy classes!
Who is eligible?
Past and current clients of Happy Hound University LLC are eligible for our enrichment adventures dog walking program. If this is something you are interested in for your dog but you are not a current client of ours, you will need to either sign up for one of our group manners classes or sign up for an in home foundation lesson as well as a follow up session so that Mary can get to know your dog and assess if this program is the right choice for you.
Please note at this time we cannot take dogs who have a history of reactive or aggressive behavior on enrichment adventures. If you are not sure about your dog’s behavior, please email mary@happyhounduniversity.com
How does it work?
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You will start with a complimentary home visit where you'll show Phil where you keep treats, leashes, poop bags, water bowls, and how you'd like him to enter your home (garage code, key, if you'll be home, etc.).
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Phil will arrive at your house during an agreed upon two hour window of time, load your pup into the car (and belt them in!), take them to that day’s enrichment location (a forest preserve or large park approximately 5-15 minutes away from your home), and give them 45-60 minutes (depending on your dog’s age, activity level and the weather!) of exercise and mental stimulation.
We use 8-15 foot leashes on our adventure walks depending on the location (short lines for busier parks and longer lines in wider open spaces). This gives your dog more room to stretch their legs and sniff to their heart’s content (studies have shown that longer leashes promote more sniffing, which promotes more restfulness and tires dogs out more!)
Please note: we do recommend a harness for dogs on these walks, but if your dog will not tolerate the harness a wide flat martingale style collar will work as well.
While the aim with these walks isn’t exclusively training (we will not be asking your dog for complex behaviors like duration heeling) we will reward and reinforce your dog’s check-ins, polite behavior in the presence of distractions, and ask for simple behaviors you have learned through your work with us!
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At the end of our visit you will receive a text message or email update regarding how the adventure went and picture or video.
What does it cost?
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Our enrichment walks cost $65.00 per session (approximately 60-90 minutes including drive time) OR you can buy a pack of 3 walks for $170.00 (a savings of $25!)
Walks are available weekdays.
Ready to get started? Email info@happyhounduniversity.com for complete information and see if this service is for you!
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