We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Leah Wolfe. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Leah below.

Alright, Leah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One of the toughest things about entrepreneurship is that there is almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?

Dogs can be unpredictable, so preparedness is important; but even the most diligent of dog walkers can have off days. Sometimes the doggie bags run out, a client’s harness clip breaks, or a blind corner hides a trigger for a reactive dog. The job has other pitfalls too like the fluctuating costs of supplies, or the scarcity of shade. Flexibility is a must. Most importantly: stay calm, act fast.

Water bowl springs a leak? Shape an empty water bottle, wrapper, ballcap into an impromptu receptacle.

Locked out of the house? Try the the doggie door.

Alarm won’t turn off? Get the dogs outside asap, and distract them while the homeowner turns it off.

Fido wants to bite? Toss treats in the opposite direction and text the owner!

Park too busy? Try a corporate business center: quieter, usually has green space, sometimes a water feature.

Nasty sticker in a dog paw? Flick it out with a car key.

No harness? Clip the leash to the dog’s collar, wrap the length around its torso, and feed the leash handle through the clip swivel.

Dog won’t take treats? Try toys or access to the activity they want to do.

No doggie bag? Use plant leaves, food wrappers, tree bark, soda cups, etc. Worst case scenario, go get one, and come back.

No water? Look for outside spigots, sprinklers, bird baths (for cooling, not drinking), rain barrels, or fountains.

No shade? Look for parking structures; strip mall walkways; shadows from buildings, cars, and signs.

Leah , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

After college and years of clock-punching, I wanted a career – one that fused my talents and passions. I took a position as a dog walker for a dog-walking company, and after a while, I was asked to provide services privately to several clients. The business grew through referrals, and it’s still how most people find me.

I have a simple social media presence that consists of a web site where people can find standard information about business operations and services available; an Instagram account that lets me post more dynamic material such as walk pics, enrichment tips, or thoughts on dogs; and I have a Twitter account where I can share clickable links to important science articles, legislation, news, etc.

I prefer to spend less time on marketing and more on my clients’ pets; so. when I’m not walking, I’m studying. I’m currently working toward dog training certification, and furthering my knowledge of canine behavior and enrichment. I learn about other species too: I’ve cared for hamsters, birds, fish, tortoises, chickens, horses, donkeys, pigs, lizards, and cats!

I follow the least intrusive, minimally aversive (LIMA) philosophy; and I use positive reinforcement, fear-free methods. Reinforcement can be food, affection, play, even car rides. I try to find what each dog likes and incorporate that into the visit.

My specialty is enrichment, and working with anxious or low-confidence dogs. Enrichment is a way of meeting a dog’s physical and mental needs through activity that plugs into the dog’s natural behavior. On walks, that includes sniffing, foraging, biting (toys, sticks), climbing, running, jumping, chasing, crawling, chewing, digging, and other behaviors the dog finds satisfying. The goal with each walk is not to exhaust the muscles, but to satiate the needs of the whole being.

Enrichment can improve body awareness, decrease unwanted behaviors, expand a dog’s world, and simply bring joy. Phoenix has a multitude of interesting spaces to explore, so each visit is different in some way. Enrichment can even help dogs with limited movement or inhibited function due to age, illness, geography, and reactivity. As dogs get more comfortable in their skin, they become more comfortable with their environment; and as that comfort increases, so does trust and contentment.

I generally do 30-minute visits, but may do 60-minute visits for households with special needs or more than two dogs.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

My current clients are always the best source for generating new clients. Their relationship with and opinion of me is the best advertising to have. If they are happy with my service, they’ll tell other people.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to unlearn aversive methods of dog handling.

When my last dog, Hank, died, I found solace in the relationships I’d made with other dog people on the internet. Some of those people are the top experts in the industry, and as they do for so many people, they taught me about Positive Reinforcement.

Positive Reinforcement (R+) is a tool for teaching new, and modifying old, behaviors in the most humane way possible. The positive is the method of teaching (or communicating to the animal what is required), and the reinforcement is the reward the dog receives for doing said behavior. It is kind, expansive, highly effective, and I wish I’d known about it many, many dogs ago.

I grew up in the times of abuse-as-training, although at the time, like millions of other people, I didn’t know that’s what it was. There was a belief in previous generations that animals were somehow less sentient, and did not require the type of empowerment and consideration we afford human beings.

I learned about slip leads and dominance, inflicting pain and fear, and I trained based on my emotions rather than the emotions and needs of the dogs. When I learned there was a gentler way to teach, a smarter way, I converted. I am a believer in the kindness of intelligence in all lesson plans.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.caninemigration.com
• Instagram: @caninemigration
• Twitter: @caninemigration
• Youtube: @caninemigration