top of page

Frequently Asked Questions

How will you access my property?

Whatever works best for you. You can leave a key in a lockbox, provide us with a spare key, give us an access code, or simply let us know to knock or ring the doorbell. Any keys given to us are stored securely in our homes, and access codes and other property information are kept private and confidential. We’ll never interact with your home beyond what’s necessary to safely pick up and drop off your dog, unless you’ve specifically asked us to do otherwise.

 
What if it rains?

A bit of rain won’t stop the fun and walks will go ahead as normal. If your dog comes home wet, we’ll give them a towel dry before leaving. And if you have a particularly enthusiastic mud-lover, let us know if there’s somewhere at your property where we can give them a quick rinse before drying them off. Our walks also continue on hot days where we ensure to visit a park with plenty of shade and likely a dog friendly swim or splash spot! This will be the case unless we believe the conditions present a risk to the dogs or our team. In the event of extreme weather, we’ll give you as much notice as possible and do our best to arrange a suitable alternative, such as providing your dog with a shortened walk or toilet break. Every dog is different, so you’re also welcome to let us know your preferences around weather. If your dog would rather stay home in certain conditions, you can let us know ahead of time and cancel their walk free of charge.

 
How does the Wagside pack get around?

Dogs are transported securely in a spacious, air-conditioned SUV, with separate areas and doggy seat belts to help keep everyone safe and comfortable. Air conditioning is used at all times when dogs are in the vehicle. All of our group-walk clients are local to the Inner West, and our pickup and drop-off routes are carefully planned to minimise the amount of time your dog spends in transit.

 
What areas do you service?

For walks, we currently service St Peters, Newtown, Enmore, Erskineville, Alexandria, Marrickville, Sydenham, Tempe, Stanmore, Petersham, Lewisham, Dulwich Hill, Leichhardt, Annandale and Summer Hill. If you’re in a nearby suburb and don’t see it listed, feel free to get in touch and see if we can help.

 
What times can you walk my dog?

Our regular walking hours are Monday to Friday, 9am–4:30pm. For group walks, we generally have two pickup windows:

  • Morning: 9am–11am

  • Midday: 11am–2:30pm

You’re welcome to let us know your preferred pickup time within these windows, and we can usually get pretty close.

If your dog needs a walk outside our regular hours (including on weekends) please get in touch. We’ll always do our best to accommodate where possible.

 
Do you have any accreditations?

Our founder and pack leader, Kerry, is currently studying:

  • ACMGEN309 – Provide Basic Animal First Aid

  • Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour and Training

 
How many dogs are on a group walk?

We have a maximum of four dogs per walker, in line with NSW regulations and, just as importantly, to make sure every dog receives the attention, supervision and care they need.

 
Is Wagside insured?

Yes. Wagside is insured for public and products liability.

 
Are there any requirements for group walks?

Safety, comfort and enjoyment are at the heart of our group walks. To help create a relaxed and well-balanced pack, we look for dogs to demonstrate the following behaviours — or, for puppies, to be progressively working towards them:

  • Friendly greetings and interactions with other dogs.

  • Calm behaviour in the car, without excessive barking and while respecting the space of other dogs.

  • Car exit manners, including responding to “stay” and waiting for their name to be called before jumping out.

  • Steady, calm leash walking, so the pack can be safely escorted to and from parks.

  • Reliable recall for dogs walking off-leash.

If your dog isn’t ready to walk off-leash, please contact us to find out whether we can accommodate them on-leash as part of a group walk. We also offer puppy training packages and training add-ons for puppies who need a little extra support to build these skills and work towards joining the pack.

bottom of page