ADVENTURE HIKES

Adventure Hikes

Leave the city behind and allow your dog regular decompression time in nature. See your dogs confidence grow as they exercise, make friends, and learn to be a proper adventure dog. Hikes are run by me, Sabina Repetto, a certified dog trainer with over a decade of professional experience caring for dogs. Read more about me here.

My hikes are one hour of active time, and take place on off leash wooded trails, fields, and beaches around eastern Massachusetts. I practice "hiking skills" on my adventure hikes to shape your dog into becoming a good hiking companion. Hiking skills include, recall, waiting up for the human, checking in, sharing the trail, and more.

I limit group size for the safety of the dogs, myself, and the public. I hike groups of 2-5 dogs, keeping the groups small and safe. My hikes are reoccurring weekly, giving the dogs a sense of predictability and the opportunity to form solid relationships. Walks are on leash until I am able to form a secure relationship with your individual dog and see competence in their hiking skills.

All dogs are outfitted with GPS only tracking collars (Garmin Astro, Garmin Astro mini) on every hike for an extra level of safety. There is no shock/stim/beeper function on the tracking collars. Dogs are also outfitted with high visibility protector hiking vests from nonstop dog wear, weather permitting. This vest makes them easier to spot, while also protecting them from sticks or sharp vegetation we may encounter.

My adventure dogs ride in ruffland kennels and the pup saver. I never put more than one dog in a crate or pup saver at a time. Dogs are transported in my temperature controlled mini van with access to water. Their rufflands are outfitted with primo pads and a muddy mat on top for comfort.

Pick up and drop off is included in price. Dogs will be out of the house for 2-3 hours depending on where we go and traffic conditions. I use my own treats (boiled chicken is one of the dogs favorites), provide poop bags, and use my own leashes.

I also send a service report via Time to Pet after the hike with pictures, a personalized written report, and GPS and time tracking. This report will show up in your email and on your Time to Pet app.

$50.00/adventure walk on a recurring weekly schedule, minimum one day a week

Note: Zoomies does not and will not use shock/stim, choke, prong, or chain collars. I only use the most effective and up to date training methods in order to provide a high quality of care.

Want to get a feel for my hikes? I post daily M-F video instagram stories, transparent care is important for me.

Check out @zoomiesdogcare on Instagram

Benefits of Decompression Walks in Dogs:

AKA

Why I Created my Adventure Hiking Program:

Decompression walks are defined as "a walk where dogs have freedom of movement in nature" The term "decompression walk" was coined by dog trainer Sarah Stremming. Check out Sarah's website here.

Dogs have a natural need to regularly move freely in nature. They experience the world differently than humans, mostly relying on their sense of smell, and naturally having a faster walking pace than us. Hiking in nature allows dogs the chance to stop and sniff the roses and also freely move their body as fast or slow as they desire. Regular opportunities to smell combined with choice of movement can improve a dogs mental health. A regulated dog with their needs met will be a happier and healthier home companion.

Our dogs are expected to live in a world that wasn't made for them. Think about it, how many times do you tell your dog "no?" Don't chew on that, don't pee there, don't bark now. Adventure walks give your dog time to experience "yes" Yes climb that rock, yes swim in that water, yes run with your friends. When you can give your dog "Yes" regularly, then saying "no" suddenly becomes more bearable for them. Adventure hikes give your dog time just for them, to be themselves, fully.

I have seen this point proven time and time again with the dogs I hike and train. Dogs faces will light up in the woods, their body's relax, their senses are stimulated, they're simply doing what they love to do. They know the routine of getting picked up and going for a hike, some clients tell me their dogs wait eagerly by the door when its pickup time. The longer I have a dog on weekly hikes the more relaxed and confident I see them become in general. My own dog, Kermit, thrives off of 3-4 hikes a week. He is a more pleasant home companion and member of the community when his needs are regularly met.

Need more information? Check out these resources:

Happy Natural Dog: Decompression Walks, A Behavioral Game Changer

Dog Minded: Life Changing Power of Decompression Walks

Sarah Stremmings Cog-Dog Radio, A Decompression Walk Chat

Would Your Dog Be A Good Fit?

Does your dog...

-enjoy the presence of other dogs?

-enjoy walking on uneven terrain for 60-90 minutes?

-able to ride in a car crate?

-willing to eat treats in nature?

-able to come when called, or actively working towards that goal?

-have no history of aggression with dogs or humans?