Pawsentials

Our Story

Riley founded Pawsentials with his incredible pup Smudge, who shared a love for exploring the outdoors together - especially long hikes at our local regional parks. We wanted to make these adventures available for other dogs and began our journey to give great dogs even better walks. Our vision is to provide family-focused services with authenticity, dedication, and honesty.

Our pack has grown since Riley and Smudge trekked the trail, and we now have an awesome team of local, passionate, dog-loving people with very high standards. With a couple of leashes and a positive attitude, we strive to provide a simple solution to adjust socialized pet activity into your busy schedule. We are committed to enhancing dog-friendly communities, encouraging successful interactions, inspiring good behaviours, and positively impacting your dog’s life in any way possible. At Pawsentials, we ask the important questions and take the time to build trust and learn about each dog’s unique personality and needs. We work our tails off to provide the very best care and adventure experience for your pet pal and continue to grow with you and your pup’s needs in mind.

Our focus is on our clients and our team and we work tirelessly to provide you with the best experience: full transparency, peace of mind, and reliability. We have a zero-tolerance policy on aggressive behaviours to allow you to focus on your day.

Want to get to know us more? Meet Riley or one of our dog walkers today.

Meet Riley

Owner, Passionate Dog Enthusiast, and Entrepreneur

Hi, I'm Riley! I'm a Victoria local with a big heart. It simply overflows when I'm around animals. I'm the loud, enthusiastic friend who spends most of his time keeping physically active - running, hiking, or playing hockey. I have an extensive background in neuroscience and a passion for learning. With an admiration of animals and a scientific mind, I thought creating a pet service business would keep me entertained and driven.

Meet Jasmine, Operations Manager

Hi, Jasmine here!
My love of animals has taken me all over the industry! Pack walking, working with reactive dogs or horses, and all kinds of animals as a veterinary assistant - just to name a few positions of my past! Originally from Nanaimo, I moved to Victoria 8 years ago to continue my study of violin. It simply goes without saying that I am a music lover! In my spare time, I can be found hiking with my dog Felix, riding horses at the barn, or hanging out at home with my cat.

Meet Sophie, Pack Hike Leader

Hey! I'm Sophie!
I was born into a family of animal lovers, and my childhood was filled with the joy of having dogs around. Growing up around family farms, I learned to care for horses, fowl, cats, and of course, our beloved dogs. Those early experiences instilled in me a deep passion for nature and the outdoors.

As I got older, my fascination with the ocean grew stronger, and I made the decision to pursue my post-secondary education on the stunning west coast, focusing on biology and earth and ocean science. The beauty of the coast and the mysteries of marine life captivated me.

Throughout it all, my love for dogs remained constant. I adore dogs of all shapes and sizes, and I bring heaps of enthusiasm and love to my job as a pack hiker. Being able to combine my passion for animals with my love for the outdoors is a dream come true for me.

Meet Emma, Pack Hike Leader

Hello, I am Emma!
I am student at the University of Victoria and am almost finished my degree in Math and Computer Science. I’m an avid lover of the outdoors. In my free time, you will find me mountain biking, skiing, running, or playing soccer! If I am not out being active, there’s a great chance I am working on a jigsaw puzzle or hanging out with friends. I am always looking for new adventures or to explore new areas, and nothing is better than getting the chance to do so with animal friends!

Meet Sofia, Pack Hike Leader

Hello!
I'm Sofia, a Portugal emigrant with a love for the outdoors and all our sweet animal pals.

I have a diverse background from shoe-making to web development, but I have the best time when I am outside in the fresh air on any kind of adventure!

I am all about exploring, whether that is wandering through forests, cruising on my bike or climbing some mountains, and to get to be out there with our pups is the greatest treat of all!

Meet Smudge, Manager of Little Sticks

Smudge is our office Pomeranian who enjoys long walks on the beach and writing poetry. She packs a punch weighing in at 5lbs 2oz. Though small in size, she has many responsibilities here at Pawsentials. Smudge regularly tests treats, ensures quality control of all sticks/toys, and marks the calendar of all the pups’ birthdays. It can be tough work, so you can find her sometimes taking a nap on the job - but we wouldn't want any other pup as our Chief Dog Officer.

Meet Kennedy, Visionary Consultant

Kennedy was born in Edmonton, Alberta. She has a strong passion for global sustainability, being climate-smart, and better business practices. While she's a Marine Biologist who saves baby seals by day, she envisions Pawsentials Pet Services as a leader in the animal care industry. Kennedy has been in aquaculture for over 6 years and loves to care for animals - from octopuses to eels and even jellyfish. She loves her two family Aussies (Julep and Jasper) and is ready to tackle some of Pawsentials' biggest projects.