Staff Highlight: Anna

The secret sauce to the success of Dogs Go Hiking is our DHG family. Our staff are simply put – AMAZING! Our very first family member was Anna. Learn more about her love for pups and a typical day at Dogs Go Hiking.

How did you come to join the Dogs Go Hiking family in 2019? 

I used to be a personal trainer, and while I enjoyed aspects like staying active and helping clients improve their health, I dreaded leaving my rescue dog, Scooby, alone for long days working at the gym. I also craved being outdoors instead of being confined to a building all day. Scooby became my inspiration to find a new path where he could join me at work. A friend mentioned that Amity, founder of Dogs Go Hiking, was looking for dog walkers, and once I started, I loved it so much that I left personal training behind. Now, I couldn’t be happier spending my days outside with dogs, no matter the weather—whether it's snow, rain, or sunshine, we embrace it all, except for thunderstorms. Surprisingly, rainy hikes have become a favorite of mine, as the trails feel more peaceful, and my pack and I have the place to ourselves.

Can you describe your typical day at Dogs Go Hiking?

A typical day starts with the pickup of six to eight dogs for a two-hour pack hike. Dogs are usually eligible for the pack hikes once they are one year old and have passed the evaluation walk. The Dogs Go Hiking services include pick up and drop off. I absolutely adore the excitement and happiness of my dog clients when I arrive for pickup. They know the schedule and routine and are beside themselves with joy, tails wagging furiously when they see me pull up for their outing. One long-time dog in my pack stands at the top of the deck and as soon as he sees my car door open, he runs down the stairs to the car and jumps right in. It is precious and makes me smile every time.

I’m based on the South Shore in Marshfield so my clients are nearby and the locations we visit are largely based in the Scituate area. We then proceed on to our structured on-leash pack hike, stopping for water breaks when necessary and an end-of-hike cool-down period. Post-hike, I like to communicate with my human clients by sharing pictures of a funny moment on the trail or buddy pictures as a number of my dogs have a best friend in the pack. My human clients love to see their pups having a great time, building friendships, and enjoying their adventures together.

After a break for lunch, I do a smaller 45-minute pack walk with three to four dogs. For these smaller walks, we can include puppies as young as six months as it is easier to work with them on their commands and leash etiquette. The 45-minute walks may also include some of our senior dogs who also assist us in teaching the puppies the proper etiquette. 

How do you manage a pack of dogs on a hike to ensure everyone's safety and enjoyment? 

Setting the tone is important as is the walker's demeanor.  Before the start of our hike or walk, I ensure all the dogs are focused on me and my instruction. I also ensure that I, and all the dogs, have the same calm energy level. Dogs read a person’s energy level and will mirror it, so it’s important that I am calm. Additionally, they feed off each other’s energy level, so you don’t want one dog exciting the other dogs with a case of the zoomies. I want the pack to have a good time on the hike, so ensuring everyone is under control and is displaying the correct leash etiquette is paramount to that outcome.

All the staff in the Dogs Go Hiking family also reinforce training using different commands to keep the dogs focused. Sitting patiently when faced with distractions – other dogs or people on the trail or the observation of animals – is one we practice all the time. I use a clicking sound to gain my dogs’ attention at which point they know it’s time to sit and patiently wait for my next command. I also focus on leash walking etiquette, ensuring the right pace, and teaching the dogs to walk calmly side by side.

How do you handle situations where dogs in the pack have conflicting personalities or energy levels? 

At Dogs Go Hiking, we don’t leave our pack interactions to chance and complete an in-depth initial assessment of our dogs before they join a hike. In our evaluation walk, we assess their personality, understanding, and response to commands, as well as leash etiquette. We also begin building a relationship with the dog. We observe their reaction to external distractions and situations, such as other people on the trail, animals, and smells and noises on the trail. Interestingly enough, I’ve noticed most dogs who have grown up in a city environment aren’t affected by distractions and tune them out, so it typically isn’t an issue for them. If a dog struggles in the initial evaluation or isn’t strong in their command response, it may warrant some additional one-on-one walks to strengthen their response before we introduce them into a group walk. We also only introduce new dogs to the pack one at a time ensuring everyone acclimates and gets along for some time before another dog is introduced to the group.

What breeds are Scooby and Neptune? And what do they bring to your life that you cherish the most?

Scooby is mostly a German Shepherd/ Doberman mix. He’s a big boy, who feels more human than canine as he displays so much emotion and completely understands me and what I’m thinking and feeling. Neptune was rescued from Aruba and is a Cunucu, which is an Arubian island dog breed. She is 45 pounds, half the size of Scooby, and acts more like a cat than a dog when it comes to playing with her toys and batting them around. She also has a cat’s agility doing flips in the air and always landing on her feet.

My husband and I adore our dogs as they bring so much love to the family. Regardless of my emotions or the type of day I’m having, my dogs always greet me with unwavering love and enthusiasm, bringing a sense of comfort and calm that only they can provide. They make such a huge difference in living a full and happy life bringing unconditional love, joy, and constant smiles to us both.

What are some of your favorite South Shore hiking trails? 

From my home base in Marshfield, I frequent the following locations:

·        Crosbie Family Preserve in Scituate which has trails and a big field called Appleton.

·        Bates Lane Conservation Area in Scituate which is 335 acres and has several miles of woodland trails.

·        Turkey Hill is a Trustees of the Reservation and Cohasset Conversation property with several miles of trails connecting to the Whitney Spur Rail trail, Weir River Farm, and Whitney & Thayer Woods. Lots of areas to explore. It also has a big field that is attached to Wompatuck State Park.

·        Wheelwright Park in Cohasset is a bit smaller but has a 1-mile woodland trail and runs adjacent to other public lands that have a shared trail network.

What's one piece of advice you would give to someone considering adopting a rescue dog? 

Patience is key. Every rescue dog comes with a story, often involving some form of trauma. It's crucial to take things slowly, helping the dog feel safe and comfortable, not only with their new adoptive family but also with people outside of that circle. Patience is also essential when working through the behavioral challenges that often come with rescue dogs. 

If you could take Scooby and Neptune on any outdoor adventure, where would you go? 

Somewhere near the water, Scooby and Neptune are the happiest. They love swimming together, playing, and looking after each other. I never have to worry about them wandering off—they keep themselves entertained while having an amazing time in the water.

I’ve always had a deep love for the water and enjoy activities like paddle boarding. Scooby has been with me on these adventures since he was a pup—he practically grew up on my paddle board. He instinctively hops right on, sitting patiently, ready for the ride as if it's second nature to him. It’s one of the many things we’ve shared over the years, and I love how it brings us even closer.

Any last thoughts to share? I adore my job so much, building relationships with human and canine clients. I can’t imagine doing anything else.