About Our Dog Walking West Vancouver Programs
Release the Hounds is West Vancouverâs most reviewed and recommended dog walking company. Your dog is in the trained hands of professional dog walkers as they explore trails and parks in safe and nurturing care.
Our dog walking services in West Vancouver include walks for every breed and temperament of dog; their adventures spanning the scenic beauty of the Baden Powell trail to the refined beach-side, off-leash playground at Ambleside Park. With safety in every step, it will be their little bit of bliss.
Building strong community ties is important, as is ensuring our four-legged clients are happy, healthy citizens of that community and the right walk makes for a happy dog.
We’re Here When You Can’t Be
At Release the Hounds we recognize that exercise is fundamental to your dogâs well being.
We know that sometimes, you canât find the time, or simply arenât able to get your dog out on a walk or hike. With convenient pick-up and drop-off options from your home or office, our professionally trained team will ensure your dog is walked beyond the block and straight into bliss.
Why Walk With Us
Lux without the Bucks
Okay, so maybe âLuxâ isnât the preferred word to use to describe our outdoor hiking adventures – we just like the way it sounds! We offer an exciting group dog walking program that is designed to create a fun and safe environment. Our hikes offer plenty of trailblazing for your pup in the form of running, swimming, and chasing of sticks and squirrels! This outstanding service of off-leash hikes through the forest comes without a big price tag.
Mind + Body Bliss:
The Benefits of a Walk
Fresh air and exercise are just the beginning. Socialization and good old-fashioned fun during a Release the Hounds walk will contribute to a happier, calmer, more responsive dog at home. In fact, dogs that maintain an ideal body weight have less medical conditions and live nearly two years longer; and who wouldnât want two more years with their pet? Along with guidance from our certified walkers, your dog will also practice leash skills and adopt a more refined walking manner over time.
Leading the Industry,
One Dog at a Time
Release the Hounds is one of the largest and most trusted leaders in the pet industry, safely leading tens of thousands of dog walks since 2005.
It all comes down to our commitment to the fundamental principles of safety, reliability, and being trustworthy. We know that your dog is part of your family, so as part of our commitment to safety first, our team is bonded, licensed, and insured through the Canadian Northern Shield (CNS), and is Walks ‘N’ Wags Pet First Aid certified.
Release the Hounds has also partnered with one of Canadaâs foremost trainers, Annika McDade, to develop DogForceU. This progressive dog walking certification and training program utilizes the worldâs first Employee Knowledge Platform; the award-winning Axonify. By helping our team learn smarter, our clients and their dogs will receive unparalleled service.
Safety in Every Step.
Every one of our dog walkers is selected, trained and experienced to deliver next-level care. They are loving, attentive, and safety conscious walkers. Each member of our team is certified dog safe through Walks âNâ Wags Pet First Aid. Beyond people, we have also developed comprehensive safety processes, protocols and technologies such as: air-conditioned vehicles, GPS monitored vans, GPS monitored walks (private walks), optional GPS collars (for off-leash walks), world class walker training and handling certification.
After the Walk Emails
For dogs on our private walks, youâll receive a summary email detailing the dayâs route. Our smartphone app tracks the walk, start and end times, as well as any stops along the way using GPS so youâll have every detail recorded. Photos are included so you can visually enjoy your pupâs walking adventure.
Before We
Walk, We Talk…
Initial Phone Consultation / Dog Requirements
If this is your dogâs first time with us, please take a few minutes and book a time to talk with Horeb Medina, of our Care Team, who can answer any questions you may have. Horeb will ensure that we have your pup set up with the walk that is just right for them. You can easily book using our online calendar, simply click here.
In order to ensure that all the dogs on our group excursions have a safe and fun time, we ask that every dog must:
- Exhibit positive social behaviours with other dogs and people
- Have had up-to-date vaccinations, titre tests, or release form (See our vaccination policy)
- Have a âclipâ collar, martingale or buckle collar (no choke chains or pinch collars)
- Have a valid license on their collar if required by the City
- Be spayed/neutered to participate
- To ensure the safety of the other dogs, the public, and our team, Release the Hounds cannot take dogs with aggressive tendencies on our group off-leash hikes and walks. Private walks and training walks are available for dogs with behavioural challenges.
West Vancouver Dog Walking Rates
At Release the Hounds we recognize that exercise is fundamental to your dogâs well being and we want to help when you canât find the time, or simply arenât able to get your dog out on that oh-so-important walk. With convenient pick-up and drop-off options from your home or office, our professionally trained staff will ensure your dog is safe and has a ton of good old-fashioned fun while in our care.
Group Off-leash Walk Packages* |
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| Program Type | Recurring Package recurring weekly bookings (i.e. Tues + Thurs) |
Drop-in Package intermittent weekly bookings |
Casual Service Package as needed |
|
Explorer (1.5 hour) West Vancouver
Your dog will embark on adventures through forests, Cypress trails, or play at West Vancouver’s best off-leash dog parks on the 1.5 Hour Explorer. Perfect for high endurance dogs, our professional dog walkers will provide your dog with plenty of trailblazing to burn off all that extra energy in a fun and safe environment. The Explorer dog hikes are available Monday to Friday and, depending on your geographic location, are available in both the morning and afternoon. Morning Adventure hikes: pick-ups begin between 8:30 â 10:30am. Drop-offs are between 11:30am â 1:30pm. *Please note that due to potential traffic, construction, or weather constraints, all pick-up and drop-off times are approximate. |
$33.00 | $34.00 | $35.50 |
West Vancouver Off-Leash Dog Parks
We know you love walking your dog as much as we do, so weâve compiled a list of all the wonderful dog parks in the West Vancouver area for some outdoor bonding sessions. Enjoy!
Address:Â Via the back of Park Royal Shopping Center or the foot of 13th Street, West Vancouver, BC
Description:Â Ambleside Park is a beautiful beach side park looking across to Stanley Park, the Lions Gate Bridge and the inner harbour and English Bay. The eastern section of the park, save for an exercise area for humans, is all off leash. Dogs can swim in the ocean or play on the beach. A sea-wall walk is a nice stroll and there are a couple of fields for chasing balls and what have you. There is some fencing restricting access to the Pitch and Putt golf course, otherwise is it a wide open area and most of the dogs are quite friendly. The forest from the Park Royal side of the area is riddled with many trails.
Address:Â West Vancouver, BC
Description:Â Lighthouse Park is one of Greater Vancouver's most beautiful parks located along the shores of West Vancouver. The park boasts some of the largest Douglas Fir trees in Greater Vancouver as well as breathtaking views of the water.
There are a variety of trails through the park that take you past old growth Western Red Cedar and Douglas Fir trees. The trails are all fairly easy with only a few having a short hill to ascend or descend. Take a look at the park map at the trailhead and plan your route so that you do a circle through the park and end at the lighthouse.
Address:Â West Vancouver, BC V7S 2V6
Description:Â Cypress Falls is the perfect hike to do during the winter months when other trails at higher elevations are buried under snow. Just a short walk takes you through a dense forest full of old Cedar and Douglas Fir trees while following Cypress Creek up past two beautiful waterfalls.
Address:Â West Vancouver, BC
Description:Â There are many trailheads along Cypress Road and many others once you reach Cypress Provincial Park, 9km from the junction of Cypress Road and Highway#1. To reach Cypress Rd, take Highway #1 west to the Cypress Road exit and follow the road up into the mountains.
As you drive up Cypress Road, youâll come to High View Lookout. Park in the parking lot and check out the panoramic view of Vancouver and the rest of the lower mainland. Once youâve seen the view, follow the trail that goes behind the road barriers around the hairpin turn just to where the road straightens out and heads up the hill toward Cypress Provincial Park. Youâll see a trail off to your right.
Actually, there are several trails that go off from here. The gravel trail that leads down to the right goes all the way to the 21st Avenue exit off the Highway in West Vancouver. But the trail you want goes off to the left and through a gate in a black cyclone fence. You can follow that trail as it traverses the mountain and comes out in a posh West Vancouver neighbourhood after about half an hourâs walk. This trail starts out with some steep parts but soon levels off and is flat the rest of the way. Along the way, youâll cross many beautiful creeks.
Please note that all West Vancouver off-leash dog parks require dogs to be well behaved, have a current license, be leashed outside of off-leash areas, and their owners must clean up after them; no exceptions.
Did we miss your favourite West Vancouver dog park? Please email us with the park name, location, and a brief description, and weâll add it to our list.
West Vancouver Dog Care
“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”
-Josh Billings
We believe in being part of our community, and that extends to our dog community of vets, trainers, dog walkers, animal welfare, and of course, dog boarding. At Release the Hounds we like to partner with like-minded affiliates that share the same values of professionalism, trust, and know how to have FUN!
Local Vets:
Meet our list of highly educated, professional veterinarians. These experts in their field ensure your pet is cared for as a member of the family should be: with the most current medical knowledge and techniques in a compassionate manner. We trust them to treat your pet to the best of their ability.
Ambleside Animal Hospital
Ambleside Animal Hospital is a full service veterinary that is incredibly well staffed and excellent reputation. Ambleside has a wide variety of specialists with extensive experience.
BC SPCA: West Vancouver branch
The British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to protecting and enhancing the quality of life for domestic, farm and wild animals in British Columbia.
It is an especially great organization to get involved with to either volunteer, fundraise, or if you are looking at expanding your family, adopt/foster.
The West Vancouver SPCA also oversees all of the Animal Control Services and Animal Welfare for the city.
Visit the West Vancouver SPCA.
