Meet Chantal

Hi, I’m Chantal, founder of Run The Dog, lifelong animal lover and fitness enthusiast.


Movement has always been a part of my story. I grew up training and riding horses, playing soccer and was raised by marathon-running parents who inspired my own love for long distance running.

Over the years, I’ve embraced everything from yoga to strength training, but a few years ago I started running dogs for fun and now I have my very own business! That’s when Run The Dog came to life.

I wanted to offer a unique experience for dog owners. Not only is my mission to offer the best and right exercise for each individual dog but to include playtime, socialization with other dogs, obedience training. This service is so much more rewarding knowing it’s helping dogs with current bad behaviours and I want to improve their mental health. It's a step up from doggie daycare!

Today, I treat every dog in my care like they’re my own. I’ve trained my brother’s Aussie Jax to swim and love water, I part-board a horse named Eliott that I broke to ride and I’m a proud cat mom to two cats luna and Daisy that we adopted!

My days are surrounded by animals and that's the pure freedom I've found in living in the truth of who I really am.

WHY RUN THE DOG EXISTS

Dogs are meant to move — but life gets busy, and many don’t get the exercise or stimulation they need for their specific breed.

Run The Dog helps busy owners give their dogs structure, routine and real purpose, all through running with other dogs.

Why a Run and not a walk?

Physical Health

  • Active dogs age better and stay more mobile as they get older

  • Even for Older dogs, regular movement helps to keep joints healthy and prevent restlessness

    Behavior

  • Dogs who don’t get regular exercise are more likely to become destructive (chewing, barking, digging), especially high-energy breeds.

Mental Health

  • Dogs are intelligent, social animals. Without stimulation, they can get bored, anxious, or even depressed.

  • A walk or run isn’t just about burning energy—it’s their daily adventure: new smells, sights, and interactions help keep their brain sharp.

How Much Exercise Does My Dog Need?

Breed, age, and temperament can help determine the right distance and movement

  • High-energy breeds (like Border Collies, Labs, Huskies) need at least 1-2 hours of activity daily.

  • Older dogs or medium-energy breeds will still benefit greatly from a shorter distance run or a hike might be a better fit.

SAFETY OF DOGS 

Your dog’s well-being is at the heart of everything we do.

Before any dog joins our pack, we assess their fitness, behaviour, and social compatibility. We do not accept aggressive dogs, and group dynamics are carefully managed to ensure a positive experience for everyone. All dogs must be spayed or neutered, and we do not run puppies or dogs under 15 months of age.
This ensures your dog is fully developed and ready for the physical demands of structured group runs.

Brachycephalic Breeds (Short-Nosed Dogs)
Dogs with shortened muzzles — like Bulldogs, Pugs, and Boxers — aren’t well-suited for running. Their ability to regulate body temperature is limited, which can lead to overheating or respiratory distress. If your pup falls into this category, one of our local hike days might be a safer (and more enjoyable!) option.

We’re fully insured, run in safe locations, and adjust for weather and conditions as needed. Injuries and emergencies are rare, but should anything happen, we’re trained, prepared, and will always act in your dog’s best interest — including working with your vet for support.

You can feel confident knowing your dog is in experienced, caring hands.

Who’s a good fit?

DOGS WE WORK WITH

We’re here for the pups who need more than a walk around the block and the humans who love them. If your dog falls into any of these categories, they’ll fit right in with our pack:

  • Busy Humans, Bored Dogs
    Your schedule’s packed, but your dog’s full of energy and waiting by the door. We’ll get them moving while you handle life.

  • High-energy Breeds
    Some dogs need more than a game of fetch or a walk to burn it off. We’re here to give one big workout so they can come home feeling fulfilled and hit the bed for the rest of the day.

  • Nervous Pups
    Shy dogs, leash pullers, or pups who need a confidence boost. We create safe, structured runs that help them improve their quirks. This is something I can't ignore and love to help my dogs be a more confidant in their life.

  • Loving Owners Who Can’t Always Keep Up
    Whether you’re recovering from an injury, managing mobility, run but not at your dog level or running isn't in the cards, we're here to give you exactly what your pup needs.

WHAT MAKES US Different?

We offer short and long distance running and Local Hikes.

This isn’t a walk in the park — it’s a structured run with a specific distance in mind. We focus on 3 main distances

  • 4-6 k 30 min run with warm up and cool down included (1 hour) 

  • 6-8k 45 min run with warm up and cool down included (1 hour 15 mins)

  • 8-10k 1 hour run with warm up and cool down included (1 hour 30 mins)

We include pick up and drop off, you can expect your dog to be in our hands for minimum 2-3 hours. After our run, depending on weather conditions, we make sure dogs are at the right body temperature. We give them water and some time to shut off and wind down before taking them back to you. We also will gradually work your dog up to the distance he or she requires slowly and safely. 

We keep our pack small (6 max) so every pup gets the attention they deserve. Runs are structured, safe and focused on reinforcing good behaviours such as leash manners, recall, listening skills, ignoring distractions such as other people, dogs or squirrels !!!

Desensitization to big trucks, loud noises or other things we may encounter. At Run the Dog we don't try to avoid these things we want to add more value to your dog's experience with us helping them become well rounded, calm and confident dogs!

FAQs

  • Prices vary depending on a few factors.

    Visit our Services page for full pricing details and package options.

  • If an injury occurs during a run, your dog’s safety is my immediate priority. I will:

    1. Stop the run immediately and assess the injury.

    2. Contact you right away to inform you of what happened and discuss the next steps.

    3. Administer basic first aid if appropriate and safe to do so (e.g. rinsing a minor cut, stabilizing a limp).

    4. If the injury appears serious, transport your dog to the nearest veterinary clinic (or your preferred vet, if reachable).

    Chantal is experienced, calm under pressure, and committed to treating your dog like one of her own — especially when it matters most.

  • 6 is our comfortable number as long as we feel the dynamic is strong.

  • At Run The Dog, our focus is on building a strong, well-matched pack. We take the time to get to know each dog before introducing them to the group, and we carefully manage how dogs are introduced to make sure everyone feels confident and safe. Most dogs actually prefer being with other dogs—it gives the run more structure, socialization, and fun.

    Right now, I’m only able to run about 3 times a week, so I’ve chosen to focus on group runs where dogs get the most benefit.

    As we grow, I’d love to expand and potentially offer solo runs in the future.

  • Runs range from 4–10K depending on your dog’s fitness level. Sessions typically last between 30 minutes to over an hour.

  • We start by asking about your dog’s current exercise routine, energy levels, and any relevant health info.

    We also consider their breed, age, and temperament.

    From there, we begin one-on-one sessions to assess their motivation, stamina, and readiness—building up at a pace that’s right for them.

  • Run The Dog has been in service a little over 2 years. We are new to the game but we've worked with dogs of all ages, breeds, and personalities. We continue to learn from each individual dog and we hope to help more pups in need.

  • We run in all safe weather conditions like rain, snow or sunshine. If extreme weather makes it unsafe, we’ll reschedule your run.

  • Most of our routes are in the Midhurst area, but we’re expanding to other parts of Barrie and surrounding areas.

  • No. We do not accept dogs with aggression toward people or other dogs. but we know fantastic dog trainers we can refer you to for professional help.

    However, we do work with leash reactivity, Anxiety, fearfulness, lack of confidence or some other bad behaviours.

  • We assess all dogs before adding them to a group. If two dogs aren’t a good match, we’ll adjust run schedules to separate them.

  • When you book a run with Run The Dog, you're reserving a dedicated time slot just for your pup. To keep things fair for everyone, we ask for at least 24 hours notice for cancellations.

    Last-minute changes make it tough to fill the spot, so runs canceled with less than 24 hours' notice may still be charged. That said, if the weather is extreme or conditions are unsafe, we’re always happy to reschedule your session.

  • Every home is unique so we will coordinate access with you directly — whether through a key, code, or another method that works best for you.

  • Yes! Chantal runs all dogs personally and will be your main point of contact from start to finish.