Dog Biz:
Ontario's Barkers & Shakers
Profiles of the people behind the logos
Gillian Ridgeway – Who’s Walking Who
Who’s Walking Who Dog Training Centres
www.whoswalkingwho.ca
Toronto: 416.465.3626
Ajax: 905.619.1733
Head Office: 889 Westney Road, Ajax, Ontario L1S 3M4
When listening to Gillian Ridgeway speak about her 40-plus years of working with dogs, one can help but notice how frequently she stresses the importance of being mindful of the needs of not only the furry, four-legged client, but also of the sometimes-exasperated person at the other end of the leash. As owner/director of training at Who’s Walking Who – now boasting 28 staffers spread across five locations in the GTA and Ajax – Gil is quick to empathize with the frustrations expressed by new puppy owners.
“I think what sets us apart from the other schools is the people part,” she says. “The taking care of the people so they can take care of their dogs: I honestly think that we take equal care of the people. If they’re having dog issues then we delve into it with them as a person, as family.”
Gillian is quick to credit the members of her staff – some of whom have been part of the team for close to 20 years – for continuing to foster the sense of empathy for which Who’s Walking Who is known.
“I can honestly say we have the best group of trainers, bar none,” she says with pride. “The staff is really invested in how you do with your dog.”
In this age of impersonal online applications and voicemail, it is often difficult to speak to a real person in a large organization, let alone address a specific problem.
“You might call up the company but you don’t speak to the head person,” says Gil.
Not so with Who’s Walking Who. Gillian says she spends much of her day providing personal responses to phone messages and emails. And if she receives an email in which someone sounds particularly overwhelmed, Gillian will write back and request the person’s phone number.
“Sometimes they just need an over-the-phone reassurance, and email doesn’t always cut it,” she says.
Gillian isn’t just the owner of Who’s Walking Who, she’s also a client. She is currently enrolled in a class with her new puppy, London. And notwithstanding her years of dog-handling experience, she often reminds clients that she can relate to their four-pawed fount of frustration.
“When I’m teaching my classes,” she says, “I tell them I’m in my 41st year of working with dogs in some type of capacity. I started in 1972. And I’ll say, ‘I’m with you right now. I’ve got my own 16-week-old pup.’ And my dogs don’t care what I do for a living. I’ve got good skills, good timing, but my pup is still going to try to be naughty.”
And while Gil may have written and designed the very course in which she’s currently enrolled, she emphasizes the importance of classes for both puppy and owner.
“I want [London] to experience what my other dogs experienced,” she says. “I want my dog to be able to learn to focus and do his lessons amongst the other dogs. And I also want a night out with my own pup, because if you don’t enjoy a night out with your dog, then that is sad.”
www.whoswalkingwho.ca
Toronto: 416.465.3626
Ajax: 905.619.1733
Head Office: 889 Westney Road, Ajax, Ontario L1S 3M4
When listening to Gillian Ridgeway speak about her 40-plus years of working with dogs, one can help but notice how frequently she stresses the importance of being mindful of the needs of not only the furry, four-legged client, but also of the sometimes-exasperated person at the other end of the leash. As owner/director of training at Who’s Walking Who – now boasting 28 staffers spread across five locations in the GTA and Ajax – Gil is quick to empathize with the frustrations expressed by new puppy owners.
“I think what sets us apart from the other schools is the people part,” she says. “The taking care of the people so they can take care of their dogs: I honestly think that we take equal care of the people. If they’re having dog issues then we delve into it with them as a person, as family.”
Gillian is quick to credit the members of her staff – some of whom have been part of the team for close to 20 years – for continuing to foster the sense of empathy for which Who’s Walking Who is known.
“I can honestly say we have the best group of trainers, bar none,” she says with pride. “The staff is really invested in how you do with your dog.”
In this age of impersonal online applications and voicemail, it is often difficult to speak to a real person in a large organization, let alone address a specific problem.
“You might call up the company but you don’t speak to the head person,” says Gil.
Not so with Who’s Walking Who. Gillian says she spends much of her day providing personal responses to phone messages and emails. And if she receives an email in which someone sounds particularly overwhelmed, Gillian will write back and request the person’s phone number.
“Sometimes they just need an over-the-phone reassurance, and email doesn’t always cut it,” she says.
Gillian isn’t just the owner of Who’s Walking Who, she’s also a client. She is currently enrolled in a class with her new puppy, London. And notwithstanding her years of dog-handling experience, she often reminds clients that she can relate to their four-pawed fount of frustration.
“When I’m teaching my classes,” she says, “I tell them I’m in my 41st year of working with dogs in some type of capacity. I started in 1972. And I’ll say, ‘I’m with you right now. I’ve got my own 16-week-old pup.’ And my dogs don’t care what I do for a living. I’ve got good skills, good timing, but my pup is still going to try to be naughty.”
And while Gil may have written and designed the very course in which she’s currently enrolled, she emphasizes the importance of classes for both puppy and owner.
“I want [London] to experience what my other dogs experienced,” she says. “I want my dog to be able to learn to focus and do his lessons amongst the other dogs. And I also want a night out with my own pup, because if you don’t enjoy a night out with your dog, then that is sad.”
Cheryl Orletsky, DogGuru/Holiday Pet Care
Cheryl Orletsky remembers clearly the exact moment she decided to open her own cage- free dog facility. It was 1997, and Cheryl needed to board her dog for a period of time. She brought Minnie, whom she had rescued from the pound, down to the facil- ity to drop her off.
“They allowed me to walk right into where they put her into the cage. They closed the door and I walked away. I swear by the look
on her face she thought I was putting her back in the pound.” As it turned out, this proved to be a pivotal moment in Cheryl’s life, because it set in motion a series of events that would ultimately result in the creation of Holiday Pet Care,
located at 8234 Yonge Street Thornhill. “I wanted to create a place that was completely cage-free for
pets,” says Cheryl, “where you can actually enjoy your vaca- tion without having to have your dog sit in jail.”
One year later, Cheryl’s vision for a more convivial facility, in which the dogs “are spoiled rotten,” became a reality. “At the centre we are staffed 24 hours a day. Our overnight person stays in the room, watches TV or reads a book. We put out all
the beds and blankets, like a doggy slumber party.” Regular readers of DDD’s Canine Calendar of Events are aware that the long-time sponsor of the page is Dog Guru. In actuality, Cheryl Orletsky is Dog Guru. She started it as a
training/workshop offshoot of Holiday Pet Care in 2007. Cheryl’s Dog Guru workshops are primarily held in down- town TO at facilities like PawsWay, but she is often commis-
sioned to appear in different locations. For dog owners and enthusiasts, Dog Guru offers a seminar
called “My Dog Just Won’t Listen to Me.” In coming months be on the lookout for the release of Cheryl’s book of the same name.
The Pet Care 101 course is based on Cheryl’s 15-year career in the pet care industry. It’s a full-day crash course that cov- ers things you need to know to work in the industry, includ- ing pet first aid.
For more information, contact Cheryl Orletsky at:
Holiday Pet Care/Dog Guru
8234 Yonge St,
Thornhill, ON,
Canada L4J 1W6
Phone: 905.764.2954 or 416.561.PETS (7387)
Email: information@holidaypetcare.ca
“They allowed me to walk right into where they put her into the cage. They closed the door and I walked away. I swear by the look
on her face she thought I was putting her back in the pound.” As it turned out, this proved to be a pivotal moment in Cheryl’s life, because it set in motion a series of events that would ultimately result in the creation of Holiday Pet Care,
located at 8234 Yonge Street Thornhill. “I wanted to create a place that was completely cage-free for
pets,” says Cheryl, “where you can actually enjoy your vaca- tion without having to have your dog sit in jail.”
One year later, Cheryl’s vision for a more convivial facility, in which the dogs “are spoiled rotten,” became a reality. “At the centre we are staffed 24 hours a day. Our overnight person stays in the room, watches TV or reads a book. We put out all
the beds and blankets, like a doggy slumber party.” Regular readers of DDD’s Canine Calendar of Events are aware that the long-time sponsor of the page is Dog Guru. In actuality, Cheryl Orletsky is Dog Guru. She started it as a
training/workshop offshoot of Holiday Pet Care in 2007. Cheryl’s Dog Guru workshops are primarily held in down- town TO at facilities like PawsWay, but she is often commis-
sioned to appear in different locations. For dog owners and enthusiasts, Dog Guru offers a seminar
called “My Dog Just Won’t Listen to Me.” In coming months be on the lookout for the release of Cheryl’s book of the same name.
The Pet Care 101 course is based on Cheryl’s 15-year career in the pet care industry. It’s a full-day crash course that cov- ers things you need to know to work in the industry, includ- ing pet first aid.
For more information, contact Cheryl Orletsky at:
Holiday Pet Care/Dog Guru
8234 Yonge St,
Thornhill, ON,
Canada L4J 1W6
Phone: 905.764.2954 or 416.561.PETS (7387)
Email: information@holidaypetcare.ca
Penny Buckner – K9 Montessori
(416) 427-0225
email: info@k9montessori.com
website: www.k9montessori.com
Bark by popular demand!
Penny Buckner had barely returned to Canada from Florida when she – along with husband Marvin Eng and Sandy Nonnewitz, a former client – found themselves virtually pushed into starting a dog training business.
“We actually started [K9 Montessori] because as soon as I came back from Florida we were getting referrals even though we didn’t have a company yet,” says Penny. “People heard we were back, and we had veterinarians calling and other dog trainers referring to us.”
A dog trainer for a decade before she co-founded K9 Montessori, Penny is also a behaviorist. And it was through the deluge of behavioural consult referrals that she met Sandy.
“Sandy was actually one of those referrals,” says Penny. “She had a dog that had a behavioral problem and that’s how we met. We trained her dog and then she took our Instructor Trainer program. She took that program and through working with her extensively, we (Penny and husband Marvin Eng) really liked working with Sandy and decided to partner with her to form K9 Montessori.”
So what exactly is the link between K9 Montessori and the Montessori approach to education, as developed by Italian education theorist Maria Montessori?
“Dog training has come a long way in the past decade,” explains Penny. “The connection is that the whole basis of the Montessori program is to teach children how to control and modify their own behaviour and to have that internal sense of control. And that’s really what we do at K9 Montessori as well. We teach the dogs the behaviours that we want and that we don’t want, and we also teach them that we have a reward system for the behaviours that we want.”
K9 Montessori is currently in the process of negotiating the purchase of a kennel, but in the meantime is conducting all of its services in either the client’s home or a group setting at a temporary facility in the Stouffville area.
“We also offer boarding and training where we’ll take one client’s dog at a time and the dog lives with us for a four-week period, adds Penny. “We train it, and then we deliver the dog back fully trained, and teach the owner how to maintain that training.”
email: info@k9montessori.com
website: www.k9montessori.com
Bark by popular demand!
Penny Buckner had barely returned to Canada from Florida when she – along with husband Marvin Eng and Sandy Nonnewitz, a former client – found themselves virtually pushed into starting a dog training business.
“We actually started [K9 Montessori] because as soon as I came back from Florida we were getting referrals even though we didn’t have a company yet,” says Penny. “People heard we were back, and we had veterinarians calling and other dog trainers referring to us.”
A dog trainer for a decade before she co-founded K9 Montessori, Penny is also a behaviorist. And it was through the deluge of behavioural consult referrals that she met Sandy.
“Sandy was actually one of those referrals,” says Penny. “She had a dog that had a behavioral problem and that’s how we met. We trained her dog and then she took our Instructor Trainer program. She took that program and through working with her extensively, we (Penny and husband Marvin Eng) really liked working with Sandy and decided to partner with her to form K9 Montessori.”
So what exactly is the link between K9 Montessori and the Montessori approach to education, as developed by Italian education theorist Maria Montessori?
“Dog training has come a long way in the past decade,” explains Penny. “The connection is that the whole basis of the Montessori program is to teach children how to control and modify their own behaviour and to have that internal sense of control. And that’s really what we do at K9 Montessori as well. We teach the dogs the behaviours that we want and that we don’t want, and we also teach them that we have a reward system for the behaviours that we want.”
K9 Montessori is currently in the process of negotiating the purchase of a kennel, but in the meantime is conducting all of its services in either the client’s home or a group setting at a temporary facility in the Stouffville area.
“We also offer boarding and training where we’ll take one client’s dog at a time and the dog lives with us for a four-week period, adds Penny. “We train it, and then we deliver the dog back fully trained, and teach the owner how to maintain that training.”
Caley Morris - Metro Dogstop
Metro Dogstop
181 Belsize Dr.
Toronto, Ontario M4S 1L9
(416) 789-4451
info@metrodogstop.com
www.metrodogstop.com
Caley Morris has an easy morning commute to work at Metro Dogstop, a multi-service canine daycare located in the Mount Pleasant and Davisville area of Toronto. While many of us must contend with TTC delays and bumper-to-bumper traffic on the Don Valley Parkinglot, Caley’s commute takes mere seconds.
She simply goes downstairs.
“[181 Belsize Drive] was originally a single-family home that we’ve converted,” Caley explains. “The whole first floor is dedicated to the dogs for daycare. And we have a full grooming salon in the basement.”
The extensive conversion of the premises involved the installation of half-inch rubber horse stall mats in the floor, which is both easy on the paws and a non-slip surface, and Dutch doors, to ensure good airflow and a ramp for easy access.
The renovations were not restricted to the inside of the house. “The yard is fully fenced and doubled-gated for safety,” says Caley. “It’s also interlocking brick, which is for sanitary reasons so it’s really easy to keep clean and maintain.”
In operation since 1997, Metro Dogstop’s company philosophy reflects Caley’s belief that education is paramount for anyone interested in acquiring a dog. And that applies to her staff as well.
“I’m a big believer that the more you know and understand about dogs, the better you are to take care of them. I say that to my staff. All of my staff go through extensive training with myself personally. I developed a dog walker certification for them.”
In addition to this, anyone who works for Caley must first take a Pet First Aid course.
What has made Metro Dogstop a success, says Caley, is her commitment to personalized customer service in a homey atmosphere.
“I consider it an intimate service, because of the space and the quality of service.
We really focus on providing excellent quality of care not only for the dogs, but also for our clients.”
Metro Dogstop offers, group/private walks, daycare, overnight stays and grooming.
www.metrodogstop.com
416-789-4451
181 Belsize Dr.
Toronto, Ontario M4S 1L9
(416) 789-4451
info@metrodogstop.com
www.metrodogstop.com
Caley Morris has an easy morning commute to work at Metro Dogstop, a multi-service canine daycare located in the Mount Pleasant and Davisville area of Toronto. While many of us must contend with TTC delays and bumper-to-bumper traffic on the Don Valley Parkinglot, Caley’s commute takes mere seconds.
She simply goes downstairs.
“[181 Belsize Drive] was originally a single-family home that we’ve converted,” Caley explains. “The whole first floor is dedicated to the dogs for daycare. And we have a full grooming salon in the basement.”
The extensive conversion of the premises involved the installation of half-inch rubber horse stall mats in the floor, which is both easy on the paws and a non-slip surface, and Dutch doors, to ensure good airflow and a ramp for easy access.
The renovations were not restricted to the inside of the house. “The yard is fully fenced and doubled-gated for safety,” says Caley. “It’s also interlocking brick, which is for sanitary reasons so it’s really easy to keep clean and maintain.”
In operation since 1997, Metro Dogstop’s company philosophy reflects Caley’s belief that education is paramount for anyone interested in acquiring a dog. And that applies to her staff as well.
“I’m a big believer that the more you know and understand about dogs, the better you are to take care of them. I say that to my staff. All of my staff go through extensive training with myself personally. I developed a dog walker certification for them.”
In addition to this, anyone who works for Caley must first take a Pet First Aid course.
What has made Metro Dogstop a success, says Caley, is her commitment to personalized customer service in a homey atmosphere.
“I consider it an intimate service, because of the space and the quality of service.
We really focus on providing excellent quality of care not only for the dogs, but also for our clients.”
Metro Dogstop offers, group/private walks, daycare, overnight stays and grooming.
www.metrodogstop.com
416-789-4451
Susan Jarnicki - Dog Sense Daycare
“My background is daycare with kids,” says Susan Jarnicki, top dog at Dog Sense Day Care since its inception in 2005. “I [studied] Early Childhood Education, so caring is really my forte; caring for kids and animals. I was always the one walking dogs in the neighbourhood as I grew up because I couldn’t have my own dog.”
Perhaps not surprisingly, Susan would later acquire dogs of her own, and soon discovered a passion and proficiency for training. Determined to find a career in which she would be surrounded by dogs, Susan considered becoming a groomer, but quickly eschewed the idea because it did not jibe with her active lifestyle. Two year-long apprenticeships with a trainer and a doggy daycare facility, however, changed everything.
“As soon as I saw a doggy daycare I knew I was home,” she says. “I knew it was niche; the right thing for me. So I followed my goal to open a dog daycare where I could do training and help socialize dogs. Really, our specialty is socializing dogs where people think [the dog] is aggressive or fearful.”
Susan struck upon the idea of having once-a-month pup meetups (check out www.meetup.com/lildoggers for details) to give dogs a chance to develop proper socialization skills. The results have been overwhelmingly positive for frustrated owners who thought they had no hope of socializing their overly aggressive dogs.
“Just recently we had a French Bulldog,” she says. “They came to our meetup. I worked with the dog for about an hour, and then she started coming to daycare just a few days. [As a result] she’s great with other dogs.”
Susan says the relieved owners can take her anywhere now.
“I have so many stories like that,” she adds.
www.dogsensedaycare.com
535 Wilson Heights Boulevard
Toronto, ON M3H 2V7
(416) 630-5255
Perhaps not surprisingly, Susan would later acquire dogs of her own, and soon discovered a passion and proficiency for training. Determined to find a career in which she would be surrounded by dogs, Susan considered becoming a groomer, but quickly eschewed the idea because it did not jibe with her active lifestyle. Two year-long apprenticeships with a trainer and a doggy daycare facility, however, changed everything.
“As soon as I saw a doggy daycare I knew I was home,” she says. “I knew it was niche; the right thing for me. So I followed my goal to open a dog daycare where I could do training and help socialize dogs. Really, our specialty is socializing dogs where people think [the dog] is aggressive or fearful.”
Susan struck upon the idea of having once-a-month pup meetups (check out www.meetup.com/lildoggers for details) to give dogs a chance to develop proper socialization skills. The results have been overwhelmingly positive for frustrated owners who thought they had no hope of socializing their overly aggressive dogs.
“Just recently we had a French Bulldog,” she says. “They came to our meetup. I worked with the dog for about an hour, and then she started coming to daycare just a few days. [As a result] she’s great with other dogs.”
Susan says the relieved owners can take her anywhere now.
“I have so many stories like that,” she adds.
www.dogsensedaycare.com
535 Wilson Heights Boulevard
Toronto, ON M3H 2V7
(416) 630-5255
Renee deVilliers from
ALL ABOUT DOGS
Above: Renee (with unidentified friend) shows off her giant facility.
Renee deVilliers may have given up her acting career some time ago, but as the owner of All About Dogs training facility at 48 Ingram Drive in Toronto, lights, action -- and the occasional iPhone camera taking pictures of students – are still very much a part of her life.
“I was an actor because I loved [asking] why do people do what they do,” says Renee, when asked about her gradual career transition. “I also like to be a performer, so when I started doing dog training, I was like, ‘This is everything I love to do: get up in front of people, act silly, entertain them, train their dogs…’”
After abandoning her acting career, Renee went on to star in a different role.
“I have four children, and I really enjoy being a parent. It was right about that time when my youngest was about a year old and I was thinking, ‘Maybe I should have a puppy next.’
Renee got that puppy, and a mere two years later, opened her first training facility in 1996.
As far as training methods go, Renee is a firm believer in the use of positive reinforcement.
“I wouldn’t do dog training if it weren’t positive training. I believe it makes a better person, training people to be positive and assertive and how those things can go in tandem,” she says. “Obviously dogs do need to listen and be trained for their own enjoyment of their lives with us, but how we get there is just as important as anything else.”
Boasting a 14,000-foot facility that is able to accommodate every dog sport imaginable, All About Dogs is, in the words of its owner, “a comprehensive centre that offers a multitude of services, from selecting a dog, raising, training, grooming, education, nutrition…all to do with educating a person.”
Renee says the school offers 20-25 classes per week, of which she teaches approximately 18. She specializes in agility and obedience training, and offers behaviour modification advice on an individual basis.
But Renee is also quick to point out that she also offers “personalized care. People really do get a sense that they are supported…and that’s really what I try to do.”
Web: Allaboutdogs.ca
Telephone: 416-PUP-DOGS / 416-787-3647
Email: info@allaboutdogs.ca
“I was an actor because I loved [asking] why do people do what they do,” says Renee, when asked about her gradual career transition. “I also like to be a performer, so when I started doing dog training, I was like, ‘This is everything I love to do: get up in front of people, act silly, entertain them, train their dogs…’”
After abandoning her acting career, Renee went on to star in a different role.
“I have four children, and I really enjoy being a parent. It was right about that time when my youngest was about a year old and I was thinking, ‘Maybe I should have a puppy next.’
Renee got that puppy, and a mere two years later, opened her first training facility in 1996.
As far as training methods go, Renee is a firm believer in the use of positive reinforcement.
“I wouldn’t do dog training if it weren’t positive training. I believe it makes a better person, training people to be positive and assertive and how those things can go in tandem,” she says. “Obviously dogs do need to listen and be trained for their own enjoyment of their lives with us, but how we get there is just as important as anything else.”
Boasting a 14,000-foot facility that is able to accommodate every dog sport imaginable, All About Dogs is, in the words of its owner, “a comprehensive centre that offers a multitude of services, from selecting a dog, raising, training, grooming, education, nutrition…all to do with educating a person.”
Renee says the school offers 20-25 classes per week, of which she teaches approximately 18. She specializes in agility and obedience training, and offers behaviour modification advice on an individual basis.
But Renee is also quick to point out that she also offers “personalized care. People really do get a sense that they are supported…and that’s really what I try to do.”
Web: Allaboutdogs.ca
Telephone: 416-PUP-DOGS / 416-787-3647
Email: info@allaboutdogs.ca
Meera Brown from
Smoochy Poochy
Above: Meera Brown, holding a picture of her boss, Tucker Jose Brown
The president of Smoochy Poochy, a Toronto-based dog gear manufacturer, is one Tucker Jose Brown. But Tucker’s mom, Meera Brown, whom I met at this year’s All About Pets Show, says that the elusive Mr. Brown never attends trade shows or any other corporate functions on behalf of his company. In his stead, a framed photograph of the (very handsome) dog gear magnate is respectfully placed on display to remind everyone who’s boss.
So why, you may well ask, doesn’t Tucker deign to attend these sort of functions to promote Smoochy Poochy’s line of “Canadian-made, practical pet gear, featuring collars for dogs that swim and multi-functional dog leashes”?
“[Because] he would just be all about the smooch,” says Meera, “and not want to sell anything!”
No, Mr. Brown is not some sort of libidinous kissing bandit, he’s an affectionate 85-pound Lab who helped Meera and her husband, Regan, develop the idea for the company while camping in 2001.
It would seem logical to assume the name of the company was in some way inspired by Tucker’s cheek-pecking proclivities, but this is not necessarily so.
“I would say it was a joint effort between Regan, me, and Tucker. In our family we do a lot of kissing. [One time] we were on the couch and Tucker [was] sitting on the couch with us because he thinks he’s this little dog. So we were kissing, and he’s a dog. So it’s a smooch…and he’s a pooch!”
Meera’s leather-alternative leashes and collars are ideally suited for people whose dogs like the water, insofar as it means the end of that unmistakable wet-leather odour. But even with online orders and distributors throughout Canada, the U.S. and beyond, Meera is not about to curtail her line of innovative dog gear.
“We’re just launching a new product, which is a slip-leash but made out of the leather-alternative material.
So it’s a leash and collar all in one. You can leash up quickly and go. The uniqueness of the slip-leash is that the material we use is a nice alternative to leather. Leather is great, but if you want to get away from [it], you can get into this material. It’s easy to clean and it won’t burn your hand when you’re putting your hand through the handle.”
The next trade show at which Smoochy Poochy will be in attendance is Woofstock. One can be certain that President Tucker Jose Brown’s photo will be on prominent display.
So why, you may well ask, doesn’t Tucker deign to attend these sort of functions to promote Smoochy Poochy’s line of “Canadian-made, practical pet gear, featuring collars for dogs that swim and multi-functional dog leashes”?
“[Because] he would just be all about the smooch,” says Meera, “and not want to sell anything!”
No, Mr. Brown is not some sort of libidinous kissing bandit, he’s an affectionate 85-pound Lab who helped Meera and her husband, Regan, develop the idea for the company while camping in 2001.
It would seem logical to assume the name of the company was in some way inspired by Tucker’s cheek-pecking proclivities, but this is not necessarily so.
“I would say it was a joint effort between Regan, me, and Tucker. In our family we do a lot of kissing. [One time] we were on the couch and Tucker [was] sitting on the couch with us because he thinks he’s this little dog. So we were kissing, and he’s a dog. So it’s a smooch…and he’s a pooch!”
Meera’s leather-alternative leashes and collars are ideally suited for people whose dogs like the water, insofar as it means the end of that unmistakable wet-leather odour. But even with online orders and distributors throughout Canada, the U.S. and beyond, Meera is not about to curtail her line of innovative dog gear.
“We’re just launching a new product, which is a slip-leash but made out of the leather-alternative material.
So it’s a leash and collar all in one. You can leash up quickly and go. The uniqueness of the slip-leash is that the material we use is a nice alternative to leather. Leather is great, but if you want to get away from [it], you can get into this material. It’s easy to clean and it won’t burn your hand when you’re putting your hand through the handle.”
The next trade show at which Smoochy Poochy will be in attendance is Woofstock. One can be certain that President Tucker Jose Brown’s photo will be on prominent display.
Valerie Mohr of Dogs & Daisies
Valerie Mohr & Daisy
A Hard Daisy’s Night
By Tom Sandford
Talk about working like a dog.
Valerie Mohr’s charismatic and inspirational Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Daisy, must be sleeping like a log after helping her entrepreneurial owner launch her fledgling online dog apparel business, Dogs & Daisies.
You see, since April 2011, plucky little Daisy has essentially overseen the gestation, formation and development of her mother’s entire knitting operation. To wit, Daisy inspired the idea for the business, contributed half of the name on the shingle, donned mom’s knitted creations on walks (like a portable billboard), and made a fetching modeling debut on Valerie’s site (dogsanddaisies.ca).
The idea for Dogs & Daisies was also born out of Valerie’s frustration with the dog garment industry.
“I wanted to be able to provide [Daisy] with stylish clothing that would keep her warm and still be functional,” she says. “And I was having a hard time finding that in the stores. I’m also an avid knitter, and decided to take it upon myself to create my own products for her; to create my own sweaters.”
Valerie can knit sweaters from her existing patterns or fulfill custom requests from “somebody who wants an entirely new design, whether it’s putting a company logo on the back of the sweater, or just creating something fun.”
So what’s the most unusual sweater she has had to knit so far?
“The one in Australia,” she says without hesitation. “A very big Greyhound. I joked when I finished the sweater that I could probably put it on!”
But Valerie’s knitting skills aren’t limited to sweaters. Why not top off your canine’s sartorial splendour with hand-knit scarves and hats?
One of Valerie’s special creations has been graciously donated to the impressive list of prizes to be awarded in our Annual Photo Contest (see contest article in this issue or on our website for details). Valerie says the winner may choose from one of her existing patterns or make a special request.
By Tom Sandford
Talk about working like a dog.
Valerie Mohr’s charismatic and inspirational Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Daisy, must be sleeping like a log after helping her entrepreneurial owner launch her fledgling online dog apparel business, Dogs & Daisies.
You see, since April 2011, plucky little Daisy has essentially overseen the gestation, formation and development of her mother’s entire knitting operation. To wit, Daisy inspired the idea for the business, contributed half of the name on the shingle, donned mom’s knitted creations on walks (like a portable billboard), and made a fetching modeling debut on Valerie’s site (dogsanddaisies.ca).
The idea for Dogs & Daisies was also born out of Valerie’s frustration with the dog garment industry.
“I wanted to be able to provide [Daisy] with stylish clothing that would keep her warm and still be functional,” she says. “And I was having a hard time finding that in the stores. I’m also an avid knitter, and decided to take it upon myself to create my own products for her; to create my own sweaters.”
Valerie can knit sweaters from her existing patterns or fulfill custom requests from “somebody who wants an entirely new design, whether it’s putting a company logo on the back of the sweater, or just creating something fun.”
So what’s the most unusual sweater she has had to knit so far?
“The one in Australia,” she says without hesitation. “A very big Greyhound. I joked when I finished the sweater that I could probably put it on!”
But Valerie’s knitting skills aren’t limited to sweaters. Why not top off your canine’s sartorial splendour with hand-knit scarves and hats?
One of Valerie’s special creations has been graciously donated to the impressive list of prizes to be awarded in our Annual Photo Contest (see contest article in this issue or on our website for details). Valerie says the winner may choose from one of her existing patterns or make a special request.
Ready—Set—Hike!
K9 Expeditions provides a day out on the trails for the active dog
By Tom Sandford
As the owner of two German Shorthaired Pointers, Emily MacKinnon knows a thing or two about dynamic dogs.
“They need a job,” she says.
So it only seems fitting that the idea for K9 Expeditions came to Emily during one of her nature hikes.
“A year and a half ago was winding down a business and I had a little bit more time on my hands,” Emily says. “I was spending a lot of time hiking with my dogs and I realized that I‘d really like to take that love of working with my dogs and my love of hiking and form a business.”
The framework for K9 Expeditions really began to take shape after Emily noticed the increasing prevalence of high-energy dogs in Toronto parks. She feels that well-meaning owners of active breeds like Vizslas, Weimaraners and German Shorthaired Pointers aren’t always meeting the needs of their peppier pets.
“I understand the kind of physical and mental stimulation [high-energy dogs] need. A one-hour trip to the local dog park isn’t enough,” she says.
Accordingly, K9 Expeditions was created to provide perpetually adrenalized dogs with precisely this kind of mental and physical stimulation. After being picked up in the morning, dogs are taken on structured hikes to destinations along the Bruce Trail.
But Emily’s excursions are not akin to a wild pack of dogs roaming the Bruce Trail with impunity. Along the route, dogs are given opportunities to work on socialization and obedience. This is no free-for-all.
“In order for a dog to hike with me off leash they have to have a hundred per cent recall,” Emily says. “If they don’t, I work with my clients’ dogs to get them to that point.”
The dogs’ day out usually lasts anywhere from two to four hours, after which all hikers are inspected for cuts and abrasions, groomed and then returned home.
“We have a lot of fun,” Emily says.
K9 Expeditions can be contacted at info@k9expeditions.com, or go to either www.facebook.com/K9Expeditions or www.k9expeditions.com.
“They need a job,” she says.
So it only seems fitting that the idea for K9 Expeditions came to Emily during one of her nature hikes.
“A year and a half ago was winding down a business and I had a little bit more time on my hands,” Emily says. “I was spending a lot of time hiking with my dogs and I realized that I‘d really like to take that love of working with my dogs and my love of hiking and form a business.”
The framework for K9 Expeditions really began to take shape after Emily noticed the increasing prevalence of high-energy dogs in Toronto parks. She feels that well-meaning owners of active breeds like Vizslas, Weimaraners and German Shorthaired Pointers aren’t always meeting the needs of their peppier pets.
“I understand the kind of physical and mental stimulation [high-energy dogs] need. A one-hour trip to the local dog park isn’t enough,” she says.
Accordingly, K9 Expeditions was created to provide perpetually adrenalized dogs with precisely this kind of mental and physical stimulation. After being picked up in the morning, dogs are taken on structured hikes to destinations along the Bruce Trail.
But Emily’s excursions are not akin to a wild pack of dogs roaming the Bruce Trail with impunity. Along the route, dogs are given opportunities to work on socialization and obedience. This is no free-for-all.
“In order for a dog to hike with me off leash they have to have a hundred per cent recall,” Emily says. “If they don’t, I work with my clients’ dogs to get them to that point.”
The dogs’ day out usually lasts anywhere from two to four hours, after which all hikers are inspected for cuts and abrasions, groomed and then returned home.
“We have a lot of fun,” Emily says.
K9 Expeditions can be contacted at info@k9expeditions.com, or go to either www.facebook.com/K9Expeditions or www.k9expeditions.com.
