About BowDog Canine Specialists
BowDog is inspired by Calgary's canine community, which is, in our experience, one of the dog friendliest cities in North America. Outside of our city, it’s difficult to find an urban space as dedicated to improving the quality of off-leash areas, canine friendly facilities and legislation that have a direct influence in the lives of both dogs and their owners! We’ve had the privilege of meeting some incredibly dedicated pet owners who believe that there’s always something better out there and it is for them that we are never content with "what works" but are always seeking to learn and to improve our business so that we can, in turn, enhance our clients’ relationship with their dogs.
The core of our business philosophy is to truly fulfill the lives of our best friends, and to do that we have to give them what they really need - EXERCISE! Dogs, as a social and migratory species, are meant to spend their day socializing with each other in packs, while in new and exciting environments - everything that defines a purpose-filled day. This is how a day is spent with BowDog - Calgary Dog Walkers.
BowDog - Calgary Dog Walkers, was created in June of 2007 when owner and operator, Hailey Seidel, found it difficult to find adequate care for her "fur-baby" Bruce as she left for work or when planning extended "no-dog" vacations. Just like you, Hailey searched high and low for a business she could trust wholeheartedly with her pooch. She camped out at the dog parks, observed the walkers she would potentially hired and found that most of them were inexperienced in dog behavior and their ability to handle dogs in pack environments. Realizing she had the natural ability to handle dogs and create balanced pack environments Hailey decided the best thing for her and Bruce would be to create a business of her own for deserving dogs in Calgary.
Bruce’s Story
When we say "we understand", WE UNDERSTAND! Calgary Dog Walkers and BowDog Canine Specialists are companies dedicated to improving the quality of life of both you AND your canine companion. In the spring of 2003 a fresh University grad, I (Hailey) begged my parents for the great dane puppy I'd wanted since childhood. Like most loving parents, after enough foot stomping, chore completing, crying and begging they eventually gave in and a few weeks later I brought home a big, fat 12 month old Bruce! From the beginning Bruce was a shy and timid puppy and the biggest dog in puppy obedience class. Cowering and throwing temper tantrums when he was forced to leave my side, the instructor decided that it would be too traumatic for Bruce to participate in most of the activities, that we wouldn't force him to do it and that he could sit in the corner and "watch" (in dane speak "watch" = "sleep"). At the ripe age of 14 weeks, my puppy Bruce graduated from an obedience class where he'd learned that he was allowed to pitch a fit and refuse to do anything I told him to all for the low price of $300 for a once-a-week, 5 week class...
In the coming year Bruce became more and more unpredictable at the dog parks and in meeting new people. He ruled the furniture, was highly destructive and was terrified of everything from cats to trash bags. Everything was a battle! At the recommendation of a vet I signed him up for agility classes to bolster his confidence. The equipment too small and the energy in the building much to intense for an already high-strung Bruce. We both came to dread our Tuesday night agility class. In and amongst the barking Border Collies and twirling Japanese Chin's Bruce had a fall off of equipment that was much too narrow for his giant size and effectively halted any progress we had made....I failed my dog in allowing him to get hurt in a situation where I was telling him he'd be safe. Agility just wasn't for us...
Luckily for us, we moved to a new house at the same time that we started to evaluate the energy in our home. With a new home came new house rules for Bruce. The transition was quick and the new home began to represent balance and expectations for better behavior instead of instability. Bruce was no longer allowed on the couch, upstairs, in the kitchen or to do much of anything unless he was told to do so. We stopped going off-leash (this was a dedicated change because it was a lot more work than driving over to the off leash park with a coffee and letting him go at the park) and we concentrated on longer, better on-leash walks, allowing us to bond and really get to know Bruce and his body language. We discovered the source of most of Bruce's insecurities and worked with them, not against them. We involved others in our efforts and received an incredible amount of support from family, friends and trainers that we finally believed in, this allowed Bruce to see that the rules and expectations were the same for everyone and everything he came in contact with. With Bruce on a happier, healthier lifestyle, we then made the decision to bring another dog into the home.
We had been researching for over a year and took the time to visit reputable breeders long before litters were planned and began our research on nutrition and vaccines. We found a wonderful breeder; Lisa Dias of Allyndane Great Danes. Her dogs were outliving and outperforming those of any other we'd met before. She had been feeding a raw diet before raw was "in" and had seen the long term benefits with non-vaccinated dogs living to be 12-13 years of age and still leading healthy and active lifestyles. Only to die natural, cancer free deaths, after such long fulfilled lives. Her dogs were conformationally beautiful and did well in the ring, a new endeavor we were interested in pursuing. After a few months of waiting we were blessed with Charlie and we hit the ground running, taking her to behavioral training with Clever Canines, the week after the breeder brought her over at the ripe age of 8 weeks. We immediately saw the difference in her behavior from Bruce's, as a puppy, and allowed her to make a comfortable and happy transition into our home with on-going support from our trainers.
Bruce and Charlie have welcomed sisters Cookie and Cricket in to our home and all four are now constantly challenged to be better dogs.. Nothing feels better than to get a compliment on our dog's behavior while walking off-leash on a busy afternoon on 17th Avenue. This is accentuated by knowing how far Bruce has come. Dogs now pass in and out of our home, cars and hearts without event, Bruce and Charlie now happily help rehabilitate dogs with behavioral problems and set a good example for members new to the pack! Our dogs and their happiness is truly our motivation and we wish to share our knowledge with each and every one of our clients to continue improving the relationship they have with their dogs.
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