In today's Client Spotlight, we're thrilled to introduce you to Wolf In Winter, a unique pet care service and pet product company based in Sidney, British Columbia. Founded by passionate animal lovers, Wolf In Winter is dedicated to providing exceptional care for pets of all kinds. Owner Curt Rayner believes in creating a safe and nurturing environment where pets can thrive, explore in nature, and connect with a pack in the best ways.
Wolf In Winter stands out with its unique approach to pet care. It provides daily dog adventures on an exclusive, private, fenced farm in the heart of the Saanich Peninsula. It also offers expert dog training services and has created a patented "Quick Draw" dog treat bag! To learn more about Curt and the team at Wolf In Winter, be sure to check out its website. Remember to follow them on Facebook and Instagram as well!
What caused you to get into pet sitting or dog walking?
In 2020, we started Wolf In Winter as a pet products brand when we created what we feel is the best dog treat pouch ever invented. I had worked with gun dogs my whole life, and I hadn't been able to find a really great treat pouch, so I created one. It features an overlapping split neoprene top. Its rugged, durable design makes dispensing treats fast and easy, which is crucial for training yet prevents them from falling out. It comes with a belt and doggy waste dispenser and is favored by trainers and dog walkers all over for its quality and functionality. We just received a patent for its unique design.
Our products' popularity and desire to work with dogs as much as possible allowed us to grow into dog walking. We offer "off-leash" group adventure walks on our private, fenced acreage in Southern Vancouver Island, Canada. Our minivans pick up and drop off client dogs from homes and offices.
What is the most fulfilling part of owning a pet sitting/dog walking business?
The most fulfilling aspect of our business is, of course, working with the dogs and clients who care about their pets' well-being and happiness. Many of our clients are elderly and could never offer their pups the kind of activity and exercise we can at our huge off-leash fenced acreage. We take many pictures and videos of each pup at the acreage and provide a "Bark Report" to each client so they can view and share their pups' adventures, which are posted directly to their account in Time To Pet. It's super satisfying to share this with the client in real-time. We love enhancing the lives of our pups and their owners by ensuring the dogs return home well-exercised and happy at the end of the day.
What is the most challenging part of owning this business?
The most challenging aspect has been managing our rapid growth, alongside staffing challenges and the logistics involved in picking up and dropping off client dogs, as well as scheduling. We take pride in being very involved in knowing each pup well, which takes time to train team members. Balancing these factors requires constant attention and adaptation, but it's also fun!
Where do you see your business in five years?
In five years, we aim to continue growing both our adventure dog walking services and our pet products line. Our product line, designed here on Vancouver Island, will continue to be important to our growth. We also Custom brand our "Quick Draw" Dog Treat Pouches with company logos on the front for Dog Trainers and Pet Care businesses.
What has Time To Pet changed the most about how you run your business?
We were recommended to use the Time To Pet App right from the start of our dog walking services, and it's been instrumental in our growth. This well-designed App has streamlined our scheduling and logistics, allowing us to manage client appointments, staffing, and internal operations efficiently. Time To Pet has been crucial in scaling our business while maintaining high service standards. We depend on Time To Pet all day, every day.
