What happens at a dog walking meet and greet?

Footpath & Co. starts with a free, 20-minute meet and greet with Tanya. You can explain what your dog is like on a walk, ask about collection and talk through the days you need help.

You don’t have to book anything at the end. Tanya checks whether the service suits your dog and whether there’s a place available. You get time to decide whether you’re comfortable with the arrangements, too.

Start with your dog’s ordinary day

You don’t need to prepare a polished account of your dog’s behaviour. The everyday details are more useful: what a normal walk looks like, how they respond when another dog approaches, and whether they tend to pull, hang back or stop for every smell.

Tell Tanya about things you already know can make a walk difficult. That might be a busy footpath, an unfamiliar handler, another dog getting too close or a recent change in your dog’s health. These details help her discuss what kind of outing could work. You can share detailed health information directly rather than putting it in the website enquiry form.

Talk through the walk you have in mind

Some owners want a regular place on the same days each week. Others need occasional help. You can explain your preferred days, how long you’d like the walk to be and any timing constraints around collection.

Footpath & Co. offers 60-minute small-group walks, with a maximum of four dogs, and private walks of 30 or 60 minutes. Group walks are on lead. Tanya considers each dog’s pace, health and behaviour around other dogs before confirming whether a suitable group place is available.

A dog who enjoys seeing other dogs on a walk may still have different needs in a group. The introduction gives you space to discuss that. If a group isn’t a suitable fit, you can ask about private walks and whether Tanya can accommodate the handling your dog needs.

Ask about collection and return

Collection and return are included for accepted addresses in Brunswick East, Brunswick, Carlton North, Fitzroy North and Thornbury. Tanya checks your suburb, route and preferred days before confirming availability.

Walking time excludes travel. For a group outing, allow up to two hours between collection and return, including the 60-minute walk. The collection window is agreed before booking, so you’ll know what to expect rather than having to guess when your dog will leave.

Discuss the practical details of your dog’s collar or harness and how collection would work. Keep keys, alarm codes and other access instructions out of the public form. Those arrangements should be agreed directly during onboarding.

Bring the questions that matter to you

The meet and greet is also your chance to ask how payment works, what happens in bad weather and how changes to a regular booking are handled. If you want to discuss police checks, dog first aid and CPR training or public liability insurance, ask Tanya to confirm their current status and details before booking.

It’s fine to leave the conversation with something to think about. A free introduction doesn’t reserve a place or require payment. If the service is suitable and a place is available, Tanya will explain the next steps, including onboarding, service terms and confirmation of your dog’s collection arrangements.

You can check the current walk options and prices before getting in touch. To arrange an introduction, send your suburb, preferred days and a little about your dog through the email enquiry form.