Vancouver Dog Walking
Trainer-Designed Adventures for Mind & Body
A paw-friendly, enrichment playground
What Exactly is a "Trainer-Designed" Walk?
At Raintown Dog Walking, we offer more than a bathroom break. We provide enriching, trainer-designed walks serving Vancouver’s dog-loving community. Whether you have a high-energy "teenage" pup in Mount Pleasant or a thoughtful senior in Kitsilano, our team is dedicated to tailoring every outing to your dog’s specific developmental needs.
Most people hire a dog walker to "tire out" their dog. We believe in enrichment over exhaustion. A trainer-designed walk means every minute outside is used to reinforce good habits rather than accidentally practicing bad ones.
On every Raintown walk, we actively focus on:
Leash Manners & Loose-Leash Walking: We don't just let your dog pull us to the park; we reinforce the "walk with me" focus you’ve worked hard to build.
Recall Reinforcement: We use every outing to practice name recognition and check-ins, ensuring your dog stays engaged with their handler.
Impulse Control: We work on "wait" at curbs and reinforce calm behaviour when encountering Vancouver’s many distractions (cyclists, squirrels, other dogs, you know the spiel).
Strategic Scent Work: We encourage "decompression sniffing": mental exercise that tires a dog out more effectively than a 5km run.
Confidence Building: For shy or nervous dogs, we use trainer-approved positive reinforcement to help them navigate the city with ease.
Reactive Dog Management: We specialize in walking dogs that find the world a bit "too much." We don't just "hope for the best"; we are experts in reading body language and spotting triggers—whether it’s another dog, a cyclist, or city noise—long before your dog does. We use professional management techniques to keep your dog "under threshold" and safe.
The Professional Difference
Why a Trainer-Led Walk Matters
It can be tempting to use a neighbourhood teenager or an "on-demand" walking app because the price point is lower. However, dog walking is an unregulated industry, and who you choose to hold the leash matters.
The Amateur Walker:
May accidentally reward pulling or lunging.
Often lacks the "canine body language" training to spot a stressful situation before it escalates.
Typically treats the walk as a "utility" (A to B).
The Raintown Trainer-Walker:
Consistency: We use the same cues and language your dog learns in professional training.
Safety: Our team is coached by certified professionals (CTC, CPDT-KA) who understand dog behaviour at a biological level.
Education: You aren't just paying for a walk; you're paying for a professional who can spot subtle gait changes, stress signals, or health issues that an amateur might miss.
Our Philosophy: A cheap walk can often create "bad habits" that cost you hundreds in corrective training later. A Raintown walk is an investment in your dog’s long-term behaviour.
A Team Built by Dog Trainers, Driven by Care
Kris Hampton CTC, CPDT-KA
Founder & Head Trainer
Kris is the founder of Raintown Dog Training and began Raintown Dog Walking with the same mission in mind: to create experiences that are enriching, engaging, and tailored to each dog. She began her journey as a dog walker long before becoming a multi-certified trainer, and has built a team of caring, knowledgeable professionals who share her love for dogs - and their humans. Kris and her team of experts have meticulously designed our walks. This ensures every pup enjoys a thoughtful, rewarding experience that sets the Raintown standard apart.
Lauren Hutchinson
Head Walker & Training Associate
With over four years of professional experience and a lifetime of dedication, Lauren brings a trainer’s eye to every Vancouver sidewalk. Having worked closely with certified trainers to deepen her knowledge of canine behavior, Lauren specializes in helping dogs feel comfortable and engaged. Whether it’s a playful puppy, a reactive dog who needs to feel safe, or a senior needing a steady pace, Lauren ensures the walk is the highlight of your dog's day.
Matt Freeman
Professional Walker & Training Associate
Matt is a walker and dog-trainer-in-training obsessed with the rich complexity of human-nonhuman interactions, and dedicated to fostering the wellbeing of dogs and their human companions. As a student of the Academy for Dog Trainers, he is a deep believer in honouring the subjectivity of each animal he works with, empowering them to experience the same joy, compassion, care, and agency as the rest of us.
During his apprenticeship as a trainer, Matt spends a ridiculous amount of time with dogs honing his skills and pinpointing the best ways to make every walk a fun, engaged experience that deepens each dog’s connection to the world around them. He takes the trust that his clients place in him seriously, and works tirelessly to ensure every dog he works with has a great time during their time together.
Our Service Areas & Availability
Zone 1: Vancouver (Kitsilano, Fairview, Mount Pleasant, and East Van) Our weekday trainer-led walks are available on select weekdays. Please note: we do not currently service the Downtown core.
Zone 2: Burnaby We offer specialized Saturday morning adventures and training walks throughout Burnaby.
Don’t see your neighborhood? Get in touch to join our waitlist. We’ll reach out the moment a spot opens up in your neighborhood.
Get Started
Looking for a dog walk? Please take a moment to review our Good-to-Know Guidelines before filling out the information below.
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