Adventure Days
More Than a Walk. An Adventure With a Purpose.
Your dog does not always need another walk around the neighborhood.
Adventure Days give your dog the opportunity to get outside, explore, experience new environments, and spend time doing something meaningful.
I call them Adventure Days because the outing does not have to fit into one specific category. Most Adventure Days are hiking or nature trail outings, but depending on your dog and the day, we may also focus on sniffing and exploration, structured decompression, environmental exposure, recall, engagement, appropriate social exposure, or swimming when it is appropriate and safe.
The activity is chosen based on your dog, their training, the environment, the weather, and what will benefit them that day.
It is not about checking a walk off your to do list. It is about giving your dog a purposeful experience.
The Benefits of Being in Nature
Dogs benefit from getting out of the same familiar environment and experiencing the sights, sounds, smells, and textures of nature.
Time in nature provides opportunities for exploration and natural sensory engagement that a quick walk around the neighborhood often cannot provide.
Sniffing, navigating different terrain, investigating new surroundings, and moving at a natural pace give dogs opportunities to use their senses and decompress.
There is also a reason people seek out nature when they want to slow down and clear their heads. Dogs benefit from having that opportunity too.
Adventure Days incorporate elements of nature therapy by giving dogs time to explore natural environments, engage their senses, and step away from the constant stimulation of everyday life.
The goal is not simply physical exercise.
It is giving your dog an environment where they can move, explore, think, and decompress.
Hiking With a Purpose
Hiking is a great way to give dogs physical exercise and mental stimulation while allowing them to experience the world outside of their normal routine.
But Adventure Days are about more than simply covering miles.
Your dog will have opportunities to sniff, explore, navigate different terrain, experience new environments, and practice their training around real world distractions.
We may work on recall when appropriate, engagement, leash manners, obedience, or simply allow your dog to decompress and explore in a structured way.
The goal is not to exhaust your dog.
The goal is to give them a fulfilling experience while continuing to reinforce good behavior.
Small Groups. More Individual Attention.
Adventure Days are intentionally kept to small groups.
This is not a high volume dog walking service where large numbers of dogs are moved together from one location to another.
Smaller groups allow for a more controlled and intimate experience.
I can pay closer attention to each dog, manage interactions appropriately, reinforce training, and make decisions based on the individual dogs in the group.
Not every dog needs the same amount of freedom, stimulation, or interaction.
Keeping groups small allows me to maintain structure while still giving the dogs room to explore and enjoy themselves.
Fewer dogs means more attention for your dog.
Dogs Need More Than Physical Exercise
Physical exercise is important, but simply tiring a dog out is not the entire picture.
Dogs need opportunities to use their brains, explore their environment, experience new things, and learn how to handle distractions.
Sniffing and exploration allow dogs to take in their surroundings and process their environment. New locations provide environmental exposure. Recall and engagement work reinforce communication between dog and handler.
An Adventure Day can provide all of these things.
The result is not simply a tired dog. It is a dog that has had an opportunity to experience, learn, explore, and decompress.
Structure Still Matters
Adventure does not mean your dog gets to do whatever they want.
Even when we are hiking, exploring, or spending time outdoors, your dog’s training still matters.
Your dog will be expected to listen, engage with me, respect boundaries, and make appropriate choices.
We may work on recall around distractions, engagement when something interesting catches your dog’s attention, walking appropriately on leash, or simply being able to settle and move through an environment without becoming overwhelmed.
The goal is for your dog to enjoy their adventure while still being a well behaved dog.
Every Dog Is Evaluated
Safety and suitability are extremely important to me.
Every client I work with starts with an in home evaluation, whether they are coming to me for private lessons, Board and Train, Day Training, or Adventure Days.
The in home evaluation allows me to meet your dog in their normal environment and get a clear picture of their behavior, temperament, household, and the issues we need to address.
But when it comes to Adventure Days, the in home evaluation is only part of the process.
Dogs can behave very differently depending on where they are and who they are with.
A dog who listens beautifully at home with their owner may behave completely differently when they are away from home and away from their owner.
That is why new Adventure Day clients complete an Adventure Readiness Assessment.
Adventure Readiness Assessment
Your dog will be dropped off with me for the assessment so I can see how they actually behave and respond without you present.
During the assessment, I will evaluate how your dog handles being dropped off, a new environment, new expectations, other dogs, people, distractions, boundaries, direction, and being handled by me.
This gives me the information I need to determine whether your dog is ready for Adventure Days and what type of outing is appropriate.
The assessment is not simply about whether your dog can walk on a leash.
I need to know that they can safely and appropriately participate in an Adventure Day setting.
For some private lesson clients, I may also recommend an Adventure Readiness Assessment if I need more information about how their dog behaves outside of the home or with someone other than their owner.
Not every dog will pass the assessment.
A dog with significant aggression, poor recall, or serious behavior concerns may need additional training before they are ready for Adventure Days.
If your dog needs more preparation, the Hiking Readiness Package gives us a path toward getting them ready.
Hiking Readiness Package
Some dogs are not ready for Adventure Days right away.
That does not mean they cannot get there.
The Hiking Readiness Package is designed for dogs who need additional training before they are ready to participate in Adventure Days.
This is an outcome based package because the goal is not simply to complete a certain number of sessions and automatically move on to hiking.
Your dog needs to demonstrate that they have the skills and behavior necessary to safely participate.
Every dog learns at a different pace. Some dogs may be ready at the end of the package. Others may need additional training before they are ready to pass their Adventure Readiness Assessment.
Depending on your dog, we may work on:
- Reliable recall
- Engagement with their handler
- Leash manners
- Impulse control
- Appropriate responses to distractions
- Neutrality around other dogs
- Environmental confidence
- Obedience around real world distractions
- Following direction in unfamiliar environments
- Appropriate off leash skills when applicable
The goal is simple: get your dog ready for Adventure Days.
If your dog is not ready at the end of the package, they are not automatically approved. We will determine what additional training is needed and continue working toward the skills required for them to safely and successfully participate.
I would rather take the extra time to properly prepare a dog than put them into an environment they are not ready for.
Every Adventure Is Based on the Dog
There is no set route or activity that every dog needs.
One dog may thrive on a long hike. Another may benefit more from a quiet nature trail with plenty of time to sniff and explore.
A young dog may need environmental exposure and confidence building. Another dog may need to practice recall or engagement around distractions.
Weather, trail conditions, the dog’s physical ability, temperament, and training level all matter.
The activity is selected accordingly.
If swimming is appropriate and safe, it may be part of the day. If a particular environment would be too overwhelming for a dog, we choose something more appropriate.
The point is not the activity itself. The point is what the activity provides for your dog.
Appropriate Social and Environmental Exposure
Not every dog needs to play with every dog they meet.
Socialization is not about forcing dogs into constant interaction. Dogs need to learn how to appropriately exist around other people, dogs, animals, sounds, sights, and environments without becoming overly excited or stressed.
Adventure Days provide opportunities for appropriate exposure in real world environments.
That may mean calmly passing another dog on a trail, walking through a new environment, experiencing different surfaces and sounds, or learning to stay engaged with their handler despite distractions.
These experiences help dogs become more confident and adaptable.
Because groups are kept small, I can be intentional about which dogs participate together and how interactions are managed.
Adventure Day Packages
Adventure Days are available through hiking packages for owners who want to give their dogs regular outdoor experiences.
Regular outings provide consistency and give your dog ongoing opportunities for exercise, exploration, environmental exposure, and training outside of the home.
Packages are a great option for dogs who thrive on getting out regularly and for owners who want to make sure their dog is getting more than a quick walk during the week.
An Add On to Day Training
Adventure Days can also be added to Day Training.
This is a great option for dogs who are already spending the day with me and would benefit from getting out of the training environment for an additional adventure.
Your dog can spend part of their day working on obedience and behavior at my facility and then head out for a hike or other appropriate outing.
This gives them the opportunity to take the skills they are learning and practice them in a completely different environment.
Recall is different on a trail than it is in a training facility.
Engagement is different when there are wildlife, smells, people, and other dogs around.
Obedience becomes much more meaningful when your dog can perform it despite real world distractions.
That is where training becomes useful outside of the training environment.
A Great Option for Busy Owners
Adventure Days are ideal for owners who want their dogs to get more out of their day than a quick walk around the block.
They are especially useful for dogs who need more physical and mental stimulation, dogs who enjoy exploring new environments, and owners who simply do not have the time to give their dog this type of outing themselves.
You do not have to spend your entire Saturday finding a new trail, packing the water, and trying to tire your dog out.
I can take care of the adventure while also reinforcing your dog’s training along the way.
Who Are Adventure Days For?
Adventure Days are a good fit for dogs who:
- Have completed the Adventure Readiness Assessment
- Are comfortable being handled by me
- Can follow direction in an unfamiliar environment
- Have the training necessary for the type of outing planned
- Enjoy getting out and exploring
- Need additional physical and mental stimulation
- Benefit from new environments
- Need opportunities to practice recall and engagement
- Enjoy hiking, trails, swimming, or exploring
- Need structured outlets for their energy
Adventure Days are not a substitute for significant behavior modification. If your dog needs additional training before they are ready, the Hiking Readiness Package can provide that foundation.
Your Dog’s Day, Their Way
Some days call for a hike.
Some days call for a quiet trail and plenty of sniffing.
Some dogs need to work on recall. Others need to practice calmly experiencing new environments. Sometimes the best thing for a dog is simply getting outside and having the opportunity to explore.
There is no requirement that an Adventure Day look like a traditional hike.
The goal is to give your dog an experience that is appropriate, engaging, enriching, and purposeful.
Ready for an Adventure?
New Adventure Day clients begin with an in home evaluation and Adventure Readiness Assessment.
The Adventure Readiness Assessment is a drop off assessment that allows me to see how your dog behaves and responds in my care and in an environment outside of their home.
If your dog needs additional preparation before they are ready, the Hiking Readiness Package is designed to get them there based on their individual needs and goals.
Adventure Days are available through hiking packages and can also be added to Day Training.
Adventure Days are intentionally kept to small groups so your dog gets a more personal, structured experience.
