What Walking Services Charge Extra For and Why

From Trails and Tails Dog Walking – Seattle

We believe in being upfront, fair, and transparent with our clients—especially when it comes to pricing. While most of our rates are straightforward, there are a few additional charges that occasionally apply. These are outlined in our privacy policy (which all clients agree to), but we also walk through them in person during your initial meet and greet—because no one likes surprise fees.

We’re breaking down these extra charges here, along with the reasons behind them, so you know exactly what to expect and where your money goes.

🐾 Holiday Walks: +$10

Most people receive holiday pay at their jobs, and we believe our walkers should too. On holidays, our team often has fewer walks scheduled, which can mean taking time away from their families or holiday plans for just one or two dogs. The additional $10 charge for holiday walks goes directly to the walker—it’s our way of ensuring they’re compensated fairly for working on days when most others are off.

🐾 After-Hours & Weekend Walks: +$10

Walks requested outside of our standard weekday hours (typically before 9am or after 5pm), or on weekends, also come with a $10 surcharge. These time slots fall outside our regular routes and schedules, and the added fee helps us fairly compensate our walkers for their flexibility. As with holiday fees, this charge goes directly to the walker.

🐾 Clean-Up Fee

Accidents happen—we totally get that. But in cases where there’s a significant mess that requires extra cleaning, we do charge a clean-up fee. This is rare and only applied when necessary (for example, if a walker has to spend extra time cleaning up a large indoor mess before or after a walk). We’ll always communicate with you directly if a clean-up fee applies, and it’s always done with fairness and respect.

🐾 Meet & Greets: Always Free for Clients

We never charge clients for the initial meet and greet—we see this as an essential step in building trust and ensuring your dog is the right fit for our team. However, it’s worth noting that we do pay our walkers for their time during these visits, because we believe their time and energy are valuable—even before the first walk begins.

🐾 Two-Week Stop Notice Policy

This is a newer policy for us, and we’ll be honest—it’s been a little clunky to roll out, but we’re committed to making it part of our regular process moving forward.

If a client decides to stop services with less than two weeks’ notice (for example, due to a move), we now require payment for two additional weeks of walks. This helps protect our walkers from sudden income loss and allows us time to adjust schedules and fill the space in their routes. We understand that life happens unexpectedly, and we’ll always do our best to be flexible—but we’ve found that this policy is necessary to maintain balance and fairness for our team.

Why We Share This Info About our Walking Services Upfront

We don’t believe in hidden fees or fine print. These services require our walkers to go above and beyond their normal (amazing-ness) and standard walking services. Our goal is to be transparent with you from day one—so that your experience with Trails and Tails feels smooth, respectful, and built on mutual trust. These extra charges aren’t about squeezing more money out of our clients—they’re about supporting our team of dedicated walkers, most of whom are walking dogs rain or shine, seven days a week, all across Seattle.

If you ever have questions about billing or policies, we’re always happy to walk you through them. Just reach out!

Thanks for being part of the Trails and Tails community. We appreciate your trust, your communication, and of course—your amazing pups. 🐶

– The Trails and Tails Team | Serving Capitol Hill and Greater Seattle

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Dogs in Seattle City apartment? Here's how its done!

Living in a Seattle apartment doesn’t mean you can’t have a happy and healthy dog! With the right strategies, city life can be just as fulfilling for dogs as it is for their owners. At Trails and Tails Dog Walking, we’ve seen how Seattle dogs thrive when given proper care, exercise, and socialization. Here are the best ways to keep your dog happy in an apartment.

Choose a Dog-Friendly Apartment Community (Capitol Hill, Madison Park, East Lake, SLU have plenty!)

Seattle is one of the most dog-friendly cities in the U.S., and choosing the right neighborhood can make a huge difference. Look for apartment buildings with pet-friendly amenities like dog parks, washing stations, and pet relief areas. Living in a dog-friendly neighborhood where dogs are welcome at coffee shops, breweries, and patios will also improve your pup’s quality of life.

Take Frequent Dog Walks

Without a backyard, daily walks are essential for your dog’s physical and mental health. Regular walks prevent boredom, reduce anxiety, and help burn off excess energy. If you have a busy schedule, a professional dog walking service like Trails and Tails Dog Walking ensures your pup stays active and engaged.

Visit Seattle’s Dog Parks and Green Spaces

Seattle is home to amazing dog parks and outdoor spaces where your pup can run and play. Popular off-leash parks like Magnuson Park, Westcrest Park, and Denny Park offer excellent spaces for socialization and exercise. Regular trips to these locations will keep your dog active and happy.

Consider Doggy Daycare for Socialization

Doggy daycare is a great option for pet parents who work long hours. Many Seattle dog daycares offer structured playtime, socialization, and even training sessions. If your dog enjoys being around other dogs, daycare is a great way to break up their routine and keep them engaged while you’re away.

Provide Mental Stimulation at Home

Apartment dogs need enrichment to stay happy indoors. Interactive toys, puzzle feeders, and indoor games like hide-and-seek help keep them mentally stimulated. Creating a cozy window spot for your dog to watch outside can also provide entertainment.

Explore Seattle’s Dog-Friendly Spots

Seattle offers countless dog-friendly activities. Take your pup to a coffee shop, visit a brewery with a dog-friendly patio, or enjoy a scenic walk along the waterfront. Including your dog in your city adventures makes urban living more fun for both of you.

Apartment living with a dog comes with challenges, but with the right approach, it can be an enriching experience. At Trails and Tails Dog Walking, we’re here to help make city living easier by providing professional and reliable dog walking services. Need a hand? Contact us today to schedule a walk for your pup!

Boundaries in Your Dog Walking Business

Insights from Trails and Tails Dog Walking – Serving Capitol Hill, Madison Valley & Beyond

Running a dog walking business is incredibly rewarding—but let’s be honest, it can also blur the lines between work and personal life if you’re not careful. As pet care professionals, we often go above and beyond for our clients, but setting clear boundaries is essential to protecting your time, energy, and long-term sustainability.

At Trails and Tails Dog Walking, based in Seattle’s Capitol Hill and extending into neighborhoods like Madison Valley, we’ve found that establishing boundaries early and consistently helps us provide better service, retain great walkers, and avoid burnout.

If you’re growing your own dog walking company, here are a few key boundaries we recommend implementing—and sticking to.

🕐 1. No Late-Night or Early-Morning Messaging

Clients love their dogs—and sometimes that means they think of things at 10pm or 6am. That doesn’t mean you have to respond right away.

Set a communication window (for example, 9am to 6pm on weekdays), and hold to it. Most clients don’t expect late-night replies, and those that do will adjust when you set the tone early. Save your energy for walking dogs, not checking your phone around the clock.

If a client messages outside of business hours, it’s perfectly okay to respond the next morning. And if you're doing a walk or sitting service that weekend, you can clarify that you're available for urgent updates—but otherwise, set the boundary.

📆 2. Establish a Clear Cancellation Policy

One of the best ways to avoid last-minute chaos is to have a clear, written cancellation policy. Ours is laid out in our privacy policy and discussed during the initial meet and greet.

Whether it’s 24 or 48 hours' notice, stick to it. Your walkers are reserving time and turning down other opportunities to honor scheduled walks. Protecting their time protects your business.

Bonus tip: Send out gentle reminders of the policy during holidays or high-travel times (like summer and the holidays) when cancellations tend to spike.

🚫 3. Choose Your Days Off (And Actually Take Them)

We don’t offer recurring weekend walks. Why? Because weekends are our recharge time. We do occasionally accommodate one-off weekend requests (for an additional fee), but we’ve found that setting aside Saturday and Sunday as non-routine walk days has been a game changer for work-life balance.

If you’re just starting out, you might feel pressure to be available all the time—but long-term, it’s not sustainable. Pick one or two days a week where you're completely offline, and let clients know in advance. Most people respect your time, especially if your communication is clear from the beginning.

That said, we’re realistic: You may still need to reply to a few Sunday messages. But by keeping your schedule light, you’ll have the flexibility to do so without sacrificing your day off.

💬 4. Stick to One Communication Platform (we use time time to pet for dog walking)

If you're using a third-party platform for messaging or scheduling, encourage clients to communicate exclusively through that platform. Whether it’s Time To Pet, Scout, or another system, having everything in one place keeps you organized and prevents important info from getting lost in personal texts or DMs.

Consistency also protects your business. If there's ever a miscommunication or policy question, it’s much easier to reference everything when it’s documented in one platform.

In Summary: Boundaries = Better Business

At Trails and Tails Dog Walking, we’ve learned that setting boundaries isn’t about being rigid—it’s about being clear, consistent, and professional. Boundaries help protect your time, support your walkers, and create a better experience for your clients.

So whether you're walking pups through the tree-lined streets of Capitol Hill, the quiet paths of Madison Valley, or anywhere else in Seattle, remember: saying “no” sometimes is what makes your “yes” even better.

🐾 Have thoughts on running a dog walking business? We love connecting with fellow pros. Reach out anytime—we’re stronger together.

– The Trails and Tails Team | Dog Walking in Capitol Hill, Madison Valley, and Seattle’s Central Neighborhoods

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