Force-free Dog Walking in Baltimore

Baltimore's Force-free Dog Walker!

Hi, I'm Nikki and I'm a professional dog trainer who also offers dog walking in Baltimore City and select parts of Baltimore County. I specialize in dogs who are challenging to walk for any particular reason:

Leash Reactivity - barking, lunging, etc. at dogs, people, cars or any other trigger
Stranger danger - dogs who are concerned about a stranger entering their home to leash and walk them, or dogs who are concerned about strangers while out and about (or both!)
Redirection - Dogs who may turn and bite/snap at their handler during a moment of intense emotion
Dogs who are nervous/fearful - Dogs who are afraid to walk, nervous while walking, easily startled, etc.

If you've struggled to find a responsible, skilled dog walker who can maintain your dog's training and/or help them through big moments, you've found me!

I offer two types of dog walks:

Training Walks

Training Walks are for dogs who aren't currently working with a dog trainer and need to learn the skills necessary to navigate a walk.

Maintenance Walks

Maintenance Walks are for dogs who are currently working with a dog trainer (or have graduated) and need to maintain what they've already learned.

Eligibility for Dog Walking

Training Walks

Either not currently in training, or needs further skill development for walking-related behavior.
Willing to stick to positive, ethical training only. No corrections or corrective devices of any kind.
Willing to walk on a harness. Rare exceptions can be made—we will discuss it if necessary.
Open to walking with a leash longer than 6'.
Willing to provide food rewards appropriate for your dog in your neighborhood (and willing to adjust as your dog requires).

Maintenance Walks

Either currently in training or graduated from a positive training program.
Not in need of new skill development, just needs to maintain what they've learned.
Positive, ethical training only. No corrections or corrective devices of any kind.
Walks on a harness. Rare exceptions can be made—we will discuss it if necessary.
Open to walking with a leash longer than 6'.
Willing to provide food rewards appropriate for your dog in your neighborhood.

Pricing

Training Walks

30-min visit: $45

50-min visit: $60

Maintenance Walks

30-min visit: $25

50-min visit: $40

Private Lessons to pass on skills and protocols, provide coaching, etc) are $115 each. Please note that dogs signed up for Training Walks will require lessons with their family in order to ensure the continuity of walking protocols.

FAQs

What do you do if the weather is bad?

In the event that the weather is too hot, cold, rainy, etc. and/or your dog doesn't want to walk, then I'll do my very best to get them out for a quick potty, and then we'll head back inside for enrichment activities.

What do you do if my dog doesn't want to walk?

I will not force your dog to walk. If your dog doesn't want to walk for any reason (pain/injury, not feeling well, too nervous/fearful, etc), then I'll do my very best to get them out for a quick potty, and then we'll head back inside for enrichment activities.

What if my dog is afraid of you?

If your dog is nervous/fearful or just uncomfortable with a new person leashing them up, then I'll ask you to leave their harness on, that way I can just clip the leash on and go. Putting on a harness involves a lot of handling and that can feel very invasive, so skipping that step often helps.

If that doesn't help us get out the door, then instead of pressuring your dog to come with me, we'll spend our first few visits building trust and familiarity. If this happens, we'll be talking about it and you'll know how we're progressing.

Do you do group walks / pack walks?

Absolutely not. Group walks / pack walks (one handler with multiple dogs) do more harm than good for most dogs, so I will never walk your dog with dogs outside of their household. Your dog will always get a private walk!

Multiple dogs in the same household might be a different story. If you have multiple dogs and walking together doesn't interfere with each dog's ability to engage with their training protocols, then I'm happy to walk them together. Otherwise, I can split the time between them.

How will I know how the walk went?

When the walk is complete, I'll text you a short summary of any notable happenings (reactions, triggers encountered, etc), skills we learned or practiced, your dog's bathroom happenings, and anything out of the ordinary. I love to photograph dogs, so I'll often include a photo or two as well. :)

Do you provide food rewards?

No, not usually. You will need to provide plenty of food rewards that are appropriate for your dog and for the environment we'll be walking in. This is especially important if your dog has food allergies or a sensitive stomach.

What if my dog doesn't need training?

If your dog has already graduated from a positive training program and there's nothing they need to improve on, then they're a good candidate for Maintenance Walks! If your dog hasn't had formal training and doesn't have any issues on the walks, we may be able to do Maintenance Walks. Please inquire if that's the case and we'll discuss.

My dog uses a prong collar / choke collar / e-collar. Is that okay?

No, I only provide force-free dog walks and it's important to me to engage with dogs in a way that aligns with my values. I won't use any tools that are designed to cause discomfort or pain. If you are interested in leaving those tools and approaches behind and switching to positive training, then I'd be glad to help you on that journey! It's a journey I once took, too.

Do you have an app for scheduling?

I don't have an app right now. I only accept a small number of walking clients, so all scheduling is done through text messages.

Do you offer pet sitting, too?

I don't do pet sitting but I'd be happy to share referrals to trusted local pet sitters!

Get Started!

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