When are you available for exercise services?

We are currently available for exercise sessions Monday to Friday in both the morning and afternoon.  Typically we schedule our first outings (runs and walks) around 8am and accept clients throughout the day.  Pick-ups for hikes typically start around noon. Treadmill sessions may occur throughout the day. These times will shift based on the weather, for example on particularly hot days during summer we avoid running during the heat of the day.

 

Will my dog be a good fit for your services?

Regarding fitness: this is one of the primary objectives of the meet-and-greet outing.  We want to cater the activity to your pup.  Having owned a dog who started out as a sausage, we understand not all dogs are cut out for a three mile run.  We do specialize in running, but that said, we are happy to take older dogs, brachycephalic breeds or laid-back pups for walks, so even they can enjoy the outdoors.

Regarding temperament: its great if your dog gets along with other dogs and other people since we will, eventually, strive to pair your dog up with another pooch who loves to run as well. That said, we understand some dogs only prefer their own company which is okay too.

 

What weather conditions do you exercise in?

Eugenean’s have web feet, right?  We go out rain or shine, warm or cold.  We do take the following precautions though: if conditions are not conducive to the health of your pooch, then we’ll re-schedule the outing. We also bring plenty of towels with us to ensure your pup doesn’t track mud into the house when he/she returns home, but if you’re worried about after-effects of an outing in the rain, we are happy to reschedule.

 

How do you handle payments for services rendered?

Our business is run through an online application call Time To Pet. The app has the ability for online payment, with invoices billed weekly for completed services. If you prefer, we do accept cash or check, made out to “Oregon Ruff Runners”.  If paying on a per-outing basis, please have your payment ready prior to your dog’s outing or immediately after.  If paying in batches, Oregon Ruff Runners will notify you following the last run of each batch, along with documentation of each outing logged during that “pay period”.  Please have payment ready for your next batch of outings prior to the first outing or immediately following.  Regardless, there is no commitment or contract.  If at any point you’d like to suspend our service, we’ll refund your payment for any un-used runs. You can choose to have us come over once weekly or multiple times per week to take your pup out, it’s up to you!

 

Do I need to be home when you arrive to pick up my pup?

The beauty of Oregon Ruff Runners is that we can stop by either when you’re home or while you are away.  No matter what though, we’d appreciate if you are home for the first outing.

Regardless of if you will be home or not, we try to schedule a specific time for your pup’s run, but occasionally we may be delayed or thrown off our schedule, so we appreciate flexibility: sometimes we’ll show up a bit early, and occasionally we arrive later than planned.

 

What does the run or walk outing look like?

In regards to timing, we begin the session when we show up to your door, and stop the time when we arrive back from the run.  This means a) the more ready your pup is when we arrive, the sooner we can get outside and moving; and b) we don’t charge you for drop off time!  During the outing, we spend about 80-90% of our time moving and about 10-20% of the time sniffing, marking territory, going potty, and cooling down at the end.  Since smelling things is the doggie equivalent of reading the newspaper, we don’t shy away from adding the mental stimulation derived from sniffing.  We also may take a slower pace and/or do more sniffing on warmer days.  At the end of our run, we’ll make sure your pup has water, give Fido a pat on the head, and then be on our way, making sure to lock the door behind us.  Finally, before we leave, we’ll send you a summary of the outing.

 

Do you arrive at a specific time or are you like the cable-repair man (between 8am and 2pm)?

We do schedule dogs for specific times, but we’re working with animals and driving around town.  For some clients, this won’t make a difference since we’ll be visiting your pup while you are away.  For clients who are home during our visit, we request flexibility and understanding.  We try to remain as close to our schedule as possible but occasionally we are delayed.  We will always communicate to the best of our ability if we are significantly delayed or will not be able to show up.

 

What if I need to cancel my scheduled outing?

We understand emergencies happen, but we do request notification of cancelation be be sent by 6pm the night before a scheduled outing to avoid a cancelation fee. It will be much appreciated if you’re able to give us as much notice as possible so we may be able to fill your spot that day.