Welcome to East Van Dogs!

East Van Dogs has helped countless canines as the only community-based dog walking business on the east side. Formerly Momma Jo’s Dogs, East Van Dogs was founded in 2005 by professional dog trainer Jo Dworschak.

Using trust as a motivating principle, East Van Dogs offers safe, playful dog training and hikes. In the woods outside of the city, your canine companions are free to socialise, explore, run and play chase, before returning home relaxed and ready for a rest. Clients typically notice that their dogs become happier and calmer after just a few hikes, not only at home but also when they go to the park with their owners.

East Van Dogs has an excellent safety record. After 8 years of business and over 4000 hikes, no dogs have been seriously injured or lost in our care. Our team of diligent dog walkers take extra precautions with canine charges. You can rest at ease knowing that your pooches are in good hands and safely enjoying their hike.

Our Services

what can we do for you?

We offer off-leash playtime with small groups of compatible canines as well as one-on-one walks and training. We also encourage our clients to voice any concerns regarding their canine’s care and gladly customize our services to cater to their wishes. You can opt to let your dog stays in outdoor dog kennel or to keep him inside the house. Dogs in our care are always supervised by qualified professionals and are treated with patience and respect.

Wondering About Our Hikes or Dog Walking?

Dogs are picked up from your home and taken to Confederation Park in North Burnaby.

Read What Our Clients Say...

"Momma Jo is a natural with animals and has enhanced our dog's enjoyment of life enormously. She is soundly professional in her work ethic and I highly recommend her services. Any dog that is fortunate enough to be in her care is indeed a very lucky dog."

JODI ROMILLY

"My three little dogs enjoy private walks with Jo, and I feel totally confident leaving them in her care. Besides being very knowledgeable about dogs, she is very organized and very responsible. I know I can always count on her. I would highly recommend her services!"

Chris

Interested in scheduling dog hike or walking or training?

Resource Guides on Training & Caring For Your Pups

Keeping Your Pup Warm, Calm & Cozy During Winter

Keeping Your Dog Warm, Calm, & Cozy During Winter

Winter has taken over and it is very important to keep our furry best friends warm. Dogs rely on the external environment to keep them warm. It can become difficult for dogs during winter months with walks in below-freezing temperatures, snowdrifts along fences, and coming home with cold wet paws. With some thought, preparation, and effort you can make sure your dog remains warm, calm, and comfortable even during the worst of weather.

Investing In A Heated Dog House

One of the best investments you can make is purchasing a heated dog house for your furry friend. You may be thinking, “Well my dog has been doing just fine all of these years with no house” or “My backyard provides enough shelter for my pup.” Yes, some dogs are lucky enough to have backyards that are big enough to provide proper shelter from the winter elements but most are not so fortunate.

You should consider purchasing a heated doghouse if your dog is outside for extended periods of time, or if your dog sleeps outside and/or your dog’s living space does not provide enough shelter from wind, snow, or rain.

Insulated and heated dog houses are great ways to help care of your dogs during cold seasons. Dogs can’t sweat as humans do, so they rely on other ways to keep warm, such as panting. While it may not be the same thing as sweating, this method is still pretty efficient. However, there are some breeds that will shiver even if their body temperature doesn’t drop which makes them more susceptible to infections while very young dogs (6 weeks -3 months) aren’t able to regulate their own temperatures at all.

A heated dog house guarantees lovely warmth during winters without risking any health problems for your pets. Warmed by electricity, these types of houses contain an internal heater and an electrical cord for warming the area. It can be nice during those chilling days when it snows really hard and everything outside looks like a winter wonderland! Plus heated dog bed is usually made with insulated walls so they can help keep your home’s heating costs down.

Self-warming or heated dog bed keeps your dog warm and prevents them from feeling too cold while sleeping. These beds help prevent your furry friends from freezing their paws off if they get up during the night and need to go outside for a potty break. Choose from different sizes and styles that are sure to fit any space your home might have.

Keeping pups calm and cozy

If your pup is having a bad day and petting it doesn’t seem to calm him down then a comfy calming dog bed can be just what you need! Its calming effect comes from its dark den-like structure that keeps dogs feeling secure and happy. They are usually made with material that helps to soothe your dogs while they curl up inside of it. It can be a great place for dogs to cuddle together if you have two or more furry friends, but many owners like them for their one pooch as well! If your dog has anxiety, this is probably the best product on the market to keep him calm and find some peace of mind during high-stress times such as fireworks or storms.

In conclusion, dogs can absolutely live through the winter! If your pup loves hanging out in the outdoors, investing in a heated dog house is probably best for them to relax on the deck or front porch while you’re cooking dinner. If they spend a lot of time indoors during the winter months, invest in a dog heating pad. Dogs love to cuddle and always want to be as close as possible to humans.

Interested in dog boarding?

Shock Collar – Is It Effective & Safe For Dogs?

Dog Training Shock Collar - How It Works?

Dog shock collar with remote is a device used for training or controlling a dog not to do certain behaviors. Dog shock collars are also called electronic collars, e-collars, zap collars, or hunting collars. They all mean the same thing and people may use any of these terms interchangeably.

Dog shock collar has an electric receiver that is worn by the dog around its neck and powered by batteries. It works when the device sends electrical pulses through metal probes on the contact points touching the skin of your dog’s neck.

There are two types of dog shock collars: 1) those which give a warning beep before delivering a slight static pulse as a means of deterring misbehavior; 2) those which give no warning but administer a shock directly when activated by their handler. Dog shock collars can be used in conjunction with positive reinforcement methods.

People who use dog training collars state that they are very effective and rarely cause any permanent damage to dogs; while opponents argue that these collars can induce fear and pain in dogs while training them to perform a command which is supposed to make them feel safe instead. The truth is – research shows mixed results on whether or not electric shock training collars result in long-term pain and distress either alone or as a part of a training program for dogs.

The effectiveness of electric shock training collars is not universally accepted, as some researchers are concerned with evidence that electronic training collars can increase the risk of fear and anxiety in some dogs. An electric shock collar should never be used until you consult a professional dog trainer or behaviorist to make sure that your dog really needs it.

Dog shock collar safety is still questionable even if they are made more humane by using only tone or vibration mode instead of the shock mode plus there are many levels of intensity that can be applied by remote control allowing you to use low-intensity shocks on daily basis building up the level gradually so it does not cause any severe pain or discomfort on your pet. Also, modern-day dog shock collars have tone and vibration modes in addition to the shock mode. The vibrational and tone modes can be used on puppies as well even though these collars were initially created for adult dogs.

Dog training with an electric dog shock collar is not always effective since it must be applied every time your pet misbehaves, which means that you will constantly have to use them when your pet creates a certain situation that you don’t like. If you are inconsistent while using this method of training, your puppy will become confused by what’s going on and will never know what’s expected from him or how he should behave. This kind of inconsistency could lead to your puppy becoming more aggressive since it will think that it has to take over the role of leader in your pack.

Remember that electric shock collars for dogs should be used only if you have a very serious reason to train your pet. If you don’t want to use this type of training, look for the best positive reinforcement methods and consult with a professional behaviorist or dog trainer in your area. You may also want to check out a list of pros and cons of dog training collars before making your decision on which one is right for your furry friend.

Don’t forget that when choosing any training method you should always follow basic humane principles when dealing with animals: 1) do not cause pain or suffering; 2) all training sessions must end on a happy note by giving lots of praise and rewards. Ask yourself: “is the stress I’m causing my pup necessary?” Your pet deserves to be treated with respect, so make sure you are not using dog shock collar inhumanely.

Puppies can learn all kinds of cool tricks when you combine training with various rewards like game time or treats. Their tiny minds are like sponges that absorb new knowledge very quickly, and they don’t even realize it might sometimes involve some effort on their part; which is why positive reinforcement works the best when training your puppy. Dog shock collars may be used for more complicated commands but always keep in mind safety issues if you decide to use them instead of conventional methods of dog training.

What to look for when choosing a shock collar for dogs?

When shopping for dog shock collar, bear in mind that there are many different types on the market. First of all you need to decide whether you want a wireless or a wired training collar . A wireless one allows you to regulate the intensity level and use it both inside and outside your home since it is battery powered. On the other hand, wired collars give an unlimited range but are more expensive.

Choose the best dog training shock collar depending on what breed your pet is, as some models are specifically designed for certain breeds with thick coats. Also consider if your puppy has particularly small neck size – consult with your professional trainer or behaviorist before making any purchases so they can recommend certain type of dog shock collar suitable for your pup’s size and breed.

Be aware of what you are buying! Some cheap models do not have a wide variety of intensity levels or useful features. Look for dog shock collar that can be used on dogs, puppies as well as older pets with thick coats. The more advanced products come with LCD display allowing you to set the right level without harming your puppy’s sensitive skin. In order to avoid overtraining, buy a dog training collar that has a warning tone or vibration mode so you can correct your pup without using actual shocks.

Dog collars should last for years even if used daily so choose reliable brands and look at their return policy before making any final purchase decision. Also keep in mind the overall design – is it easy to use? Can you use it with just one hand? What is the warranty period?

What are the pros and cons of using dog training collars?

On the plus side, these devices allow you to control your pet from a distance, which can be very convenient for hunting or herding breeds where you need to keep your pup away from potential harm. It’s also great for owners who don’t have a lot of time to train their pets – dog shock collar will do most of the work for them so they only need to reinforce positive behavior with praise or treats.

One negative aspect of electronic training collars is that some puppies might associate pain with something random like thunderstorm or stranger approaching, not necessarily with bad behavior as it should be. To avoid such issues, use a dog training collar only when you are around to supervise your pet’s behavior and immediately turn it off as soon as they obey.

Another thing to remember is that any training technique whether conventional or modern comes with certain side effects. For example, by using a pup shock collar you will have less time to be patient since the device will do much of the work for you. This method also requires being consistent – if you miss one day of training, it could undo all your previous efforts!

Finally, make sure not to overuse dog vibrations collars – they should only be used in short intervals especially if your pooch gets easily distracted during training sessions. Using this type of dog training equipment too often could lead to confusion, depression or even aggression.

Bottom line is that electronic training devices are not a substitute for responsible pet ownership, but they do offer an alternative to people who have no time to take their dogs out for walks or play with them regularly. Remember to consult professional trainers before purchasing any dog shock collar just to be on the safe side.

Training Shock Collar & Calming Bed For Heated Dog House