Happy Tails Training Baden

Happy Tails Training Baden Dog Walking and Force-Free Dog Training- Teaching through kindness and empathy since 2017đŸŸ

How is it Christmas already?!Wishing all of my past, current and future client’s a wonderful and safe Christmas with the...
12/23/2024

How is it Christmas already?!

Wishing all of my past, current and future client’s a wonderful and safe Christmas with their families! 🎄

The forecast is calling for more snow so if you get the chance to get outside with your pups, do it! ❄

[Photo Description]: A red Labrador retriever is standing in the snow looking up at the camera with snow on his snout

Fritter Friday ❄Such a fun outing with this beautiful girl! Swipe to see us practicing our 1-2-3 pattern game!Fritter’s...
12/20/2024

Fritter Friday ❄

Such a fun outing with this beautiful girl! Swipe to see us practicing our 1-2-3 pattern game!
Fritter’s family has been doing a great job practicing this game that I was confident in giving it a try today on the trail. She rocked it!

[Photo Description]: A miniature Australian shepherd is wearing a yellow lead and sitting in the snow while looking at the camera

Today I introduced the 1-2-3 pattern game by Leslie McDevitt to sweet Fritter and she was definitely picking up what I w...
12/13/2024

Today I introduced the 1-2-3 pattern game by Leslie McDevitt to sweet Fritter and she was definitely picking up what I was putting down 😉
Looking forward to playing this out on future adventures together!

[Photo Description]: A miniature Australian shepherd is wearing a yellow long lead and standing on the snowy leaves while looking up at the camera

FRITTER đŸ©”This sweet girl is Fritter and over the last few weeks I have been working with her family to build a positive ...
12/06/2024

FRITTER đŸ©”

This sweet girl is Fritter and over the last few weeks I have been working with her family to build a positive relationship with my presence so that I can take her out and support them with some adventures! Today we had our first little solo session and we had so much fun in the snow! Her eyes are simply mesmerizing and I look forward to our outings together ❄

[Photo Description]: A miniature Australian shepherd is sitting in the snow looking up at the camera

Sweet sweet BRIE!I am supporting this sweet girl with some home visits until her in-home sitter arrives. Brie is a shy g...
12/05/2024

Sweet sweet BRIE!

I am supporting this sweet girl with some home visits until her in-home sitter arrives. Brie is a shy gal but has warmed up to me very quickly and I’m excited to get to know her more!

Did you know I still offer home visits?? I don’t update my services very often but I’m still here for any and all support I can offer for home visits. When I started Happy Tails in 2017 that was my main service provided before getting into walking and training.
If I have the space in my schedule I am more than happy to offer this service and help support your family.

Inquire today 🙂

[Photo Description]: A brindle cane corso is sitting in the snow and looking up at the camera

COOPER 😇Coop and I go back to 2021 when I worked with his family and every so often I get the chance to help out with ex...
11/16/2024

COOPER 😇

Coop and I go back to 2021 when I worked with his family and every so often I get the chance to help out with extra outings. This morning we enjoyed a nice stroll around town and checked out the construction site.

[Photo Description] A yellow Labrador is standing on the damp sidewalk staring at the camera with his tongue hanging out

10/26/2024
KNOW WHO YOU HIRE Here with not a rant but hopefully an educational post. I witnessed a scenario this morning while out ...
10/25/2024

KNOW WHO YOU HIRE

Here with not a rant but hopefully an educational post. I witnessed a scenario this morning while out with a client’s dog and it led me to make this post.
If you’re hiring a pet service for your beloved furbaby, get to know who you are hiring and I don’t mean just make sure they are friendly and likes dogs, I mean really scratch the surface. What is their background and experience with dogs? Any credentials? How do they handle real life scenarios that they may encounter while taking your dog out in the community? Do they give choice and help meet the dog’s needs? Do they actually engage with your dog?

This isn’t a post meant to slander any fellow dog walker’s but its purpose is to just remind pet guardians to be mindful when making a hire. I saw someone today (may very well not have been a dog walker but I know for fact it wasn’t the dog’s guardian as I’ve seen this dog before and I happened to see them with another dog again later) but they were holding the leash, headphones on and I happened to notice the dog was stopping for a sniff off to the side
this is great, all dogs should be allowed to sniff and put their senses to fun but instead of allowing the dog to do so they yanked the leash hard and pulled the dog back to the sidewalk. Some may see this as no biggie but a reputable and force-free dog walker would never have handled the scenario this way.
Now this industry is not regulated and anyone can start a dog walking business and you know what, that was me, I did. But what makes me proud of my business and my services that I offer is my growth and that I have continuously put in the learning/education. I started from being a dog lover and growing up with dogs to becoming educated on dog behaviour and body language. I’ve also completed my first program in positive reinforcement dog training in 2020 and continue my education by participating in webinars and signing my own dogs up for programs offered by amazing pet professionals who I have tagged.

The takeaway from this, know who you hire, ask ALL the questions, heck even ask if they’d be willing to go on a trial walk with you- I sure would! đŸŸ

*Photo of my sweet pups*

MABEL💕This pretty girl is Mabel! We had our first outing and visit together today and she is as sweet as her name. Welco...
10/22/2024

MABEL💕

This pretty girl is Mabel! We had our first outing and visit together today and she is as sweet as her name. Welcome to Happy Tails little sweetie!

[Photo Description]: A small white and cream Shih Tzu and Bichon mixed breed dog is sitting in the grass looking up at the camera

10/10/2024

Oh my spunky Lola girl, you are a thing of beauty!

The last two weeks Lola and I have been working on her “This Way” cue to help improve our communication and the quality of our walks together.
As mentioned, my clips sometimes are short and sweet so that I can share a bit of our outings but also so that I can keep my attention on our surroundings when out in the community.

Have questions about improving walks with your pup?! I’m always open for messages or e-mails [email protected]

[Video Description]: A golden retriever wearing a black harness is quickly walking along the sidewalk before turning direction when asked “This Way”

Oh my spunky Lola girl, you are a thing of beauty! The last two weeks Lola and I have been working on her “This Way” cue...
10/10/2024

Oh my spunky Lola girl, you are a thing of beauty!

The last two weeks Lola and I have been working on her “This Way” cue to help improve our communication and the quality of our walks together.
As mentioned, my clips sometimes are short and sweet so that I can share a bit of our outings but also so that I can keep my attention on our surroundings when out in the community.

Have questions about improving walks with your pup?! I’m always open for messages or e-mails [email protected]

[Photo Description]: A golden retriever looking up at the camera with her mouth open while sitting on the sidewalk

10/02/2024

Today as we headed out on our walk a pest control worker caught us off guard when we stepped outside. My goal was to keep Maverick feeling as confident as possible and staying under threshold.
What I did to help:
-Created distance as quick as possible, this is KEY
-Heavily rewarded him in the direction away from said worker
-Used natures snuffle mat and scattered some treats for him to sniff out when we were in a safe area
I could have also engaged in the 1-2-3 pattern game by Leslie McDevitt as this is something we have worked on too but Maverick was quick to disengage without it
What I did NOT do:
-Stand there and let him bark
-Scold him or tug on his leash

Every dog has their own comforts/discomforts and their own feelings. It’s up to me to learn the dog that I’m with and make our outings the most fun experiences that I possibly can. It’s about more than just holding a leash and if you’ve been following along on my page or are even new here, you’ll see for yourself. I love what I do đŸŸ

[Video Description:] A small white dog wearing a black and blue harness is being walked along the sidewalk and being offered treats as reinforcement

Today as we headed out on our walk a pest control worker caught us off guard when we stepped outside. My goal was to kee...
10/02/2024

Today as we headed out on our walk a pest control worker caught us off guard when we stepped outside. My goal was to keep Maverick feeling as confident as possible and staying under threshold.
What I did to help:
-Created distance as quick as possible, this is KEY
-Heavily rewarded him in the direction away from said worker
-Used natures snuffle mat and scattered some treats for him to sniff out when we were in a safe area
I could have also engaged in the 1-2-3 pattern game by Leslie McDevitt as this is something we have worked on too but Maverick was quick to disengage without it
What I did NOT do:
-Stand there and let him bark
-Scold him or tug on his leash

Every dog has their own comforts/discomforts and their own feelings. It’s up to me to learn the dog that I’m with and make our outings the most fun experiences that I possibly can. It’s about more than just holding a leash and if you’ve been following along on my page or are even new here, you’ll see for yourself. I love what I do đŸŸ

[Photo Description:] A small white dog wearing a black and blue harness is sniffing out treats in the grass

09/25/2024

Changing the culture of how humans work with dogs starts with language.

The word “command” when referencing dogs is derived from the military.

Dogs are family.
I never command anyone I care about to do anything.

I ask for or cue behaviours.

Do you feel the same?

LEVI đŸ€© Levi is another sweet pup that I met back in 2021 and worked with him and his awesome family! Now I have the plea...
09/13/2024

LEVI đŸ€©

Levi is another sweet pup that I met back in 2021 and worked with him and his awesome family! Now I have the pleasure of taking him out on walks and he’s such a joy to adventure with!

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Baden, ON
N3A4K6

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Our Story

Happy Tails Walking is run by myself (Sarah McKay), offering a wide variety of pet care options including but not limited to: solo or small group walks, play-dates, home visits/potty breaks, wedding/event handling and dog-sitting. See below for a little about me and why you will feel Happy Tails Walking is the place for your furry family member! ABOUT THE OWNER: My name is Sarah Mckay, I grew up in Tavistock Ontario (moved to Baden July 2017) and anyone who knows me, knows that I am a HUGE dog lover. My family has always included a 4 legged canine friend, I currently have a 8yr old anxious jackrussel/Pomeranian ??? x and two italian greyhounds. Dogs have always been my passion (some would say obsession) so I have decided it's time to start turning my passion into a career and that is why I created Happy Tails Walking. I treat all dogs like they're a member of the family and make their wellbeing my number one priority. Happy Tails Walking is a registered and fully insured business. I am Pet First-Aid certified and have 16+ yrs of experience caring for dogs of all sizes/temperaments. I started my career working with dogs at Countryside Boarding in 2017 where I took part in caring for pets staying at the facility and assisting in the daily daycare operation, I then went on to work at Wag Pet Resort as their main kennel attendant. I look forward to meeting you and getting to know your dog(s)! *References available upon request*