FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Everything you're wondering about our off-leash Pack Walk Adventures in Victoria, BC.
If your question isn't here, call us at (250) 885-4401 or email team@socialdogsclub.ca and we'll get right back to you.
Getting Started
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It starts with a free Meet & Greet.
You book a time that works for you, tell us a bit about your dog, and we come out to meet you both. From there, we assess your dog’s needs, match them to a pack that suits their personality and energy, and coordinate their first adventure.
Book your free Meet & Greet here.
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A Meet & Greet is a free 15–30 minute visit where
we get to know your dog and they get to know us
you get to ask any questions you may have
we figure out which pack is the right fit.
This helps your dog feel comfortable at their first pick-up, and it gives us the full picture — their personality, quirks, energy level, and anything else we need to know.
If there's something important about your dog, this is the time to tell us. We don't judge, but we do need to know to keep every dog in the pack safe, comfortable and satisfied.
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Nope. Honestly, few dogs have perfect recall.
We ask that dogs respond to their name at least 70% of the time. From there, we build recall practice into every adventure. From the start, new dogs are paired with seasoned pack members who model the routine, and we leash or long leash intermittently as needed while your dog learns the ropes (or should we say trails).
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For the most part, yes!
We run multiple packs matched by energy, size, age, and temperament. A gentle senior and a rocket-fuelled adolescent don't end up in the same group, but your dog does need to be happy going for an active hike for an hour to get the most out of their experience. If it’s a confidence issue, a few months of walks with a solid pack of dogs can work wonders.
Please note that we require puppies to be at least 6 months old and any dog over 1 year of age must be spayed or neutered.
If you have a specific concern, mention it in your Meet & Greet form and we'll assess honestly and offer options. We’re planning to offer 1:1 sessions to ease special cases into a pack experience — stay tuned.
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Yes, no ifs ands or buts. We require all dogs in our care to be up to date on core vaccinations, for the safety of them and every other dog in the pack.
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We'll tell you honestly — that's what the Meet & Greet is for.
Pack walks are not for every dog, and that’s okay. The safety and comfort of the dogs comes first, always.
Depending on the situation, we will offer alternatives (1:1 training with our certified dog trainer, privates to start, etc.) or refer you to a service that better suits their needs.
Our Walks
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A Pack Walk Adventure is a one-hour, off-leash hike through the forests of Victoria, BC, with a small pack of 5–7 carefully matched dogs — led by a professional Pack Leader.
We pick your dog up from home, hit the trails, and drop them back off — happily tired — with a quick wipe-down before they come inside. It's not a walk around the block, and it's not a free-for-all. It's an intentionally social, stimulating, safe adventure.
Learn more here.
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Dog parks can feel like chaos magnets — you don't choose who shows up and neither does your dog.
Our packs are the opposite: 5–7 dogs, deliberately matched by energy, size, age, and temperament, walking with the same group consistently so that real trust, confidence, and social skills develop. Add a trained Pack Leader supervising the whole time, recall training woven into every walk, and varied trail terrain instead of a fenced field, and it's a fundamentally different experience.
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Two things, mainly.
First, our packs are small and thoughtfully matched — 5–7 dogs grouped by energy, size, age, and temperament, kept consistent so your dog builds real confidence and connections with the same pack over time. You’ll never catch us taking out 20+ dogs at once.
Second, every walk is led by a licensed, certified, insured Pack Leader trained in canine first aid — not just someone who likes dogs.
Anyone can take your dog for a walk. Social Dogs Club enriches their lives. Learn more about our walks here.
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At your Meet & Greet, we assess your dog's energy level, personality, age, size, social skills, and anything you tell us about them. Then we place them in a pack of similar dogs — and keep that pack as consistent as possible, so your dog sees familiar faces on every adventure.
Pack matching is the heart of what makes our walks so unique. It's how shy dogs come out of their shells. It’s how high-energy dogs can let loose without putting themselves or any other dogs at risk. It’s how the little dogs get to adventure in the forest without getting bowled over by a big dog.
It’s the difference between getting your dog walked and seeing real, tangible growth in your dog’s vitality and social skills.
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We’re licensed by the CRD to hike several different forest trails throughout the Victoria area, with varied, interesting terrain — hills to climb, things to sniff, logs to leap.
We alternate locations so that every adventure brings new smells and sensations, which is a big part of the mental stimulation that makes our dogs come home so satisfied (and so ready for a nap).
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Yes! Imagine if we didn’t?
Rain or shine, we’re out on the trails. We give every dog a quick wipe-down before drop-off so the mud stays out of your house.
In rare cases of genuinely unsafe weather (extreme wind, snow, storms or heat warnings), we’ll make the call to cancel or reschedule adventures. Safety first, always.
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Mostly, no.
If it’s raining or you know your dog just loves a good roll in the mud, leave a towel by your front door and we’ll give them a good wipe-down.
We do our best to make sure the forest stays in the forest, but we also want to let dogs be dogs.
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Yes, with one exception: our team takes a Holiday Break in late December!
We give all our clients plenty of notice, and packs pick right back up in January.
Safety & Trust
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Yes — fully. We're licensed by the CRD (Capital Regional District), insured through Profur, registered with WorkSafeBC, and every Pack Leader is DogSafe canine first aid certified. Select Pack Leaders have advanced Dog Behaviour & Training certifications, too.
Strict safety protocols apply on every single walk.
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Safety informs all our decisions. That’s why our core tenants are:
Packs are small (5–7 dogs) so the Pack Leader has eyes on everyone, always.
Dogs are matched by temperament and energy so conflicts are rare by design.
We require name response before dogs join, train recall on every walk, and leash intermittently when a dog needs it.
And every Pack Leader is first aid certified with safety protocols for the rare moment something unexpected happens.
While we take every precaution to minimize risks, should an emergency occur, we are ready.
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Our Pack Leaders are trained to read and manage pack dynamics. If two dogs aren't clicking, we adjust the pack composition.
Matching isn't just a one-and-done decision at the Meet & Greet; their pack placement can evolve and shift as we learn your dog and their preferences. We will find the perfect pack for them.
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A member of our small, professional team. Every SDC Pack Leader is licensed, insured, and first aid certified, and your dog will see the same familiar faces consistently. You can get to know the team here!
Just like we aim to keep your dog’s pack consistent, we keep their Pack Leader consistent. That’s why the more consistent your bookings, the better.
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We pick up and drop off in Downtown Victoria, Esquimalt, Vic West, Fernwood, Hillside/Quadra, Oaklands, Fairfield, Oak Bay, James Bay, View Royal, and the Saanich core. We also have very limited availability in Langford & Colwood. Take a look at our service map here.
In a different area? Reach out — we'll do our best to accommodate you.
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No, you don't need to be home. Most of our clients aren't!
We arrange access details with you at the start (key, door code, or however works for your home), pick your dog up, head out on the adventure, and return them home content and tired.
Pick-up and drop-off is included in every walk; there's nothing extra to arrange or pay.
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For a standard Morning or Afternoon Adventure, your dog is out for 2–3 hours total: pick-up, a full hour on the trails, and the ride home.
For a Full-Day Adventure, they're out for 5–6 hours with two hours on the trails. Double the trail time for less than half the regular price!
Learn more here.
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Through our easy-to-use app!
Once you're a client, you can:
book walks
manage your schedule,
message us, and
receive your post-walk photos all in one place.
Clients consistently tell us it's one of their favourite parts of the service.
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Yes!
You will receive photos after every single adventure, sent through our app. Expect a lot of happy, muddy-pawed, tongue-out action shots!
Many of our clients say it's the highlight of their workday.
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Monday to Friday, 8:30am–5:30pm with morning and an afternoon time slot!
Weekend availability is limited to private walks — reach out and we'll see what we can do.
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Life happens! We’re flexible.
We just ask that you let us know through the app as early as you can — ideally at least 24 hours in advance. Late cancellations may be charged in certain cases.
In the case where we arrive to pick up your dog and are not able to get into your home for reasons out of our control, fees may apply.
Pick-Up, Drop-Off & Booking
Pricing
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A Morning or Afternoon Adventure is $40 + tax. That includes the full hour on the trails, pick-up and drop-off, post-walk photos, and the quick clean.
A Full Day Adventure (two hours on the trails, out of the house 5–6 hours) is $55 + tax.
Meet & Greets are always free.
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Yes, of course.
Dogs from the same home get a discount on the second (and third, and fourth...) dog. Ask us at your Meet & Greet and we'll sort out the details for your crew.
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Group dog walks in Victoria typically run $30–$45 per outing, with off-leash adventure-style hikes at the higher end due to the added transportation, trail time, and supervision involved.
Our Pack Walk Adventures are $40 + tax for a full hour on the trails with door-to-door pick-up and drop-off included — so you're getting the adventure-hike experience without paying extra for the logistics. Some walkers take out 10-20 dogs at a time to cover costs, but we prioritize our safe, manageable pack sizes.
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Pack walk adventures are our passion and specialty. Our Full-Day Adventure are a great outdoor-based alternative to doggy daycare. On a case-by-case basis, we offer solo 1:1 walks and overnight boarding.
Still have a question?
We’d love to answer it.
Email team@socialdogsclub.ca, give us a call, or book your Meet & Greet to ask us in person!
Book Your Free Meet & Greet Today.
A 30-minute intro for you, your dog, and our team. We'll see if it's a match — and get your social dog ready for their first adventure with us!