ABOUT US
Bark Life Dog Walking is a canine services business located in Beaver Bank, NS, that caters to wilderness-loving dogs and their busy humans. We strive to provide safe, structured outdoor adventures that meet your dog's mental, physical and emotional needs through play, exploration, social interaction and exercise. We prioritize the individual needs of each dog within small group settings, and value long-term relationships with our clients based in transparency and trust.
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Bark Life is owned and operated by Kailyn James. Originally from Dartmouth, NS, Kailyn received her Bachelor's Degree in Public Relations from Mount Saint Vincent University in 2010, and started her career working in a variety of non-profit and government communications roles. However, she realized quickly that an office job was not the right career path for her, and in 2014 Kailyn started working with dogs as a volunteer with the NS SPCA and Greyhound Pets of Atlantic Canada (GPAC). She realized she had a tremendous passion for this work - ranging from animal care and administration to marketing and advocacy - and she decided to learn as much as possible about canine behaviour and small business management before launching Bark Life Dog Walking in 2016. Kailyn grew Bark Life over the next several years to become one of Halifax's premier dog walking businesses, employing multiple staff members and maintaining a 5-star rating on Google. She loved spending so much time outside, encouraging dogs to live their very best lives, and forming close relationships with clients who shared her passion - their dogs.
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Bark Life was closed for a period of time between 2020-2023, during which Kailyn received a diploma in Acupuncture and TCM and then worked as an acupuncturist at a local health clinic; raised her young child (who is now five); and moved into her first home in Beaver Bank, NS. This break allowed time for personal growth and professional development - and with that, the realization that no career would ever be as good a fit as guiding dogs through woodland trails... And so, in September 2023, Bark Life re-opened to once again offer off-leash wilderness hiking and in-home boarding services.
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Currently, Kailyn runs Bark Life with her 9-year-old whippet mix Frye and dog-savvy, usually-helpful son in a quiet neighbourhood in Beaver Bank. When she's not on the trail or snuggled up with a pile of puppies, Kailyn enjoys taking Pilates classes, frequenting coffee shops, spending time with family and gardening. She is an animal rescue advocate, a proud aunt of three, and someone who loves chatting with new people about their dogs.
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Our Mission
Redefining the Way We Care for Dogs
At Bark Life Dog Walking, we believe that every dog deserves to live their best life. That's why our mission is to provide top-notch care for your furry friends while you're away - on vacation, or just at the office for the day. We are trained in canine behaviour, wilderness preparedness and hiking safety (including Emergency First Aid) so you can rest assured that your pup is in knowledgeable, capable hands.
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We choose quiet, less-frequented trails for our outings to decrease the number of unknown dogs and people your dog will interact with while out on an adventure. We ensure no dog is in the vehicle travelling to or from our hiking destination for longer than one hour, and hiking groups are capped at six dogs max per hike.
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We also offer private hike-and-train sessions for dogs whose skills need a bit of work before they are ready to join a hiking group. This service is offered on a limited basis. For more information, please contact us to book an initial consultation meeting.
