Responsible, Educated & Communicative
Training: our dog walkers receive initial and ongoing training from our in-house trainers about dog behavior, body language, pack management, and the policies and procedures we've developed to keep our client dogs safe. Twice a year we schedule one-on-one training for our walkers with the best local positive-reinforcement dog trainers to work with them on the sidewalks or trails.
Community reputation: for 15+ years, we’ve regularly gotten “Best of” awards and written about in places like Yelp.com, the East Bay Express, San Francisco magazine, Bay Woof, Parents' Press, BARK magazine, and Oakland magazine. See our awards and press.
Professional business practices: of course we have a business license, criminal bond, and liability insurance, and we do criminal background checks as part of hiring honest employees. We use several park systems and we have permits to walk dogs in the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD).
Communication: we’re not just a single owner/operator. We’re a close-knit team and if something goes wrong on the trail, walkers know they can call the office or Molly and get immediate support. We let clients know when there are weather, safety, or pet health issues to consider. Doggy Lama works together as a team to support each other and our clients.
Updates: we use our Instagram and Facebook accounts to post pictures of the pets we care for. Our clients can see their dogs hamming it up at Sibley, their golden retirever soaring, or Abby basking in the sunset. (We also send clients pictures of their pets directly when possible, but it is company policy that our priorities are: #1 safety, #2 exercise and enrichment, and (a distant) #3 sending our clients photos of their pets.) After each walk or visit clients receive a text message walk report.
"I can honestly say, without reservation, that I would hire Molly to walk my own dogs, and never worry a moment knowing they were in her care. Molly runs the kind of business that other dog pros admire, that clients are so very lucky to have, and that employees are glad to work for. She is smart, ethical, and takes top care of everyone--the dogs, her clients, and her staff. Molly's commitment to professional education extends beyond just herself--all of her staff are certified and benefit from her ongoing support and mentoring. Doggy Lama really does present a model for the dog walking industry. "
-Veronica Boutelle, MA Ed., CTC, President, Founder at dogbiz, on LinkedIn
Certifications and Awards
