necessary notes.
Complete information for each service is available in the Client Portal.
Contact Hours
Administrative support and general communication are typically available Monday–Friday between 8am–4pm.
As our team spends much of the day working directly with dogs, responses may not always be immediate. For current clients, urgent same-day updates such as cancellations, illness, injuries, or pickup changes may still be sent by text message where appropriate.
Client Portal & Onboarding
New clients are onboarded through our client portal - Time to Pet - where you’ll receive service agreements, waivers, policies, scheduling information, and communication updates. This helps us keep everything organized, streamlined, and easy to access for both clients and staff.
You can find the portal here or by clicking Client Portal at the top of this page.
Service Areas
Pack hikes
Our north route services Nanaimo from 10th Street to Aulds Rd/Hammond Bay Rd. Our south route services Yellowpoint, Cedar, Cassidy and Extension.
Private training
Melody primarily services Ladysmith to Central Nanaimo and Michael primarily services Central Nanaimo to Lantzville. We can offer some flexibility depending on scheduling and availability. Some services may be offered from our Cedar-based training space or at carefully selected public locations.
Finding Us
Some services are offered from our Cedar-based training space. Detailed location instructions and arrival information will be provided prior to your appointment or boarding stay.
Hikes & Adventure Services
Pack Sizes
Take to the Trails hikes are limited to a maximum of eight client dogs, while Train for the Trails sessions are limited to four client dogs for a more focused training environment.
Transport
Dogs travel in secure RuffLand kennels aboard our temperature-controlled Mercedes E-Sprinter or custom-crated GMC Canyon setups designed with safety and comfort in mind.
Pack Hike Requirements
Dogs joining our structured pack hikes are generally required to complete two or more Train for the Trails sessions prior to joining Take to the Trails. Dogs with extensive off leash pack experience may have this requirement waived at our discretion.
Minimum once-weekly attendance is required for ongoing pack participation.
Muzzle Friendly
We welcome appropriately fitted basket muzzle dogs and understand that muzzles may be used for a variety of behavioural or management reasons.
Suitability for group services is assessed on a case-by-case basis to help ensure safe and successful pack dynamics.
Muddy Dogs
Adventure dogs occasionally come home muddy, dusty, or slightly less glamorous than when they left. Towels and designated “dirty dog” areas are always appreciated after particularly adventurous days.
Boarding
dog Requirements
All boarding dogs must be crate trained and suitable for their selected boarding environment.
Social Stay boarding is best suited to dogs comfortable participating in structured group settings, while Structured Stay boarding offers a quieter, lower-volume environment with more individualized support.
Additional intake requirements and expectations are reviewed during the onboarding process.
stay requirements
Please send with your dog:
Enough food for the duration of the stay, plus an extra two meals
Medication and detailed instructions
Any specialised equipment such as a custom muzzle
Policies & Payments
Cancellation Information
Because many of our services operate with limited group sizes and reserved spaces, advance notice is required for cancellations and scheduling changes. For pack hikes and recurring services, cancellation windows are based on contact hours of 7am–7pm. Late cancellations may be subject to fees depending on timing and service type.
In general, private training and boarding services require a minimum of 24 hours’ notice for cancellations, while pack hike services require 48 hours’ notice. An overview of cancellation timelines and fees is provided during onboarding, with full policy details available through the client portal.
Deposits for boarding services are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Payment Information
Pack hike invoices are typically issued twice monthly through our client portal, due on the 1st and 16th of each month. Invoices for other services are generally issued at the time of booking — please note the due date on your invoice.
We accept e-transfer, credit card, cash, and cheque payments, with automatic payments available for recurring services paid by credit card.