Wild Sage Petcare

08/19/2025

Doesn’t get much better than this-a sunny morning with my little loves and getting to see their big smiles ❤️❤️

08/18/2025

We’ve got our Monday faces on!! 😍😍

Cutest crew hike with Haze, Loki, Hershey, Nell & Goober 🥰

08/17/2025

Saturday evening adventure 🐶🦌🐻

08/16/2025

Worth the read!

Here’s a controversial post that may offend a few people and businesses.
Every week I get emails of new clients that their dog struggles with leash reactivity, barking, lunging on lead. But, not when they’re off lead.

My first question is always: Does your dog go to daycare?
99% of the time the answer is Yes.

Newsflash: Daycare is causing your dog’s leash reactivity.

What? But my dog loves daycare? He loves his friends! He loves being out and about. It’s great.
And I’m sure your dog loves it (most of the time).. but lets have a look at this.

Most daycares (not all of them) are not very structured, for example some No No’s for me:
Dogs get to run around all day long ‘having fun’.
There is no dedicated rest area or ‘forced’ rest time.
It’s a lot of dogs constantly barking all day long.

There are no training moments to learn something new and engage their brain in a different way that full speed ahead all the time.
Puppies are often put with other puppies which seems great but also teaches them nothing because puppies learn manners from older dogs.
Dogs overexcited or hyper behaviour gets rewarded with a lot of play instead of impulse control.

What is actually happening from a training perspective?

Your dog never learns to just be around dogs without needing to interact or ‘go say hi’. Often this is what’s causing the frustration on leash.
Your dog gets overexcited, over aroused and over tired which leads to irritable behaviour.
Your dog learns that seeing other dogs is a free for all to always have ‘fun’ or to feel overwhelmed if your dog is more on the timid side.
Your dog never learns to just ‘Be’. To Relax. To sleep. To be bored. To do nothing.

Where is the connection happening with YOU? After your dog comes home all ‘tired and worn out’, where does the training happening with you to build a connection and a relationship?

Ever since Covid people seem to have the idea that their dogs can’t stay home alone. They CAN. They SHOULD. There is NOTHING wrong with leaving your dog alone for a full work day if it’s not a 6 day a week type of thing.

I am not against daycare for occasional socialisation or a fortnightly fun experience, but going to daycare several times a week is unnecessary and just too much for most dogs.

It’s unhealthy for a dog to constantly be on the go and not learn how to settle. It can create a hyper or neurotic or an anxious dog because he’s lacking sleep and is constantly in overdrive. An adult dog sleeps on average 13.5 hours a day!

An adult dog also DOESN’T NEED FRIENDS. It’s actually quite unnatural for dogs to constantly mingle with dogs outside of their circle/pack. A lot of dogs are actually quite stressed at daycare because there is nowhere to hide, get a break or just chill. So even though you see some fun photo’s of your dog ‘smiling’, that doesn’t mean he’s having fun all day long.

There is nothing wrong, bad or sad about having your dog stay at home whilst you’re at work if they have access to a backyard or some space to walk around.

Even the crate for several hours a day is NOT an issue and not sad or awful IF trained properly.

If you can’t leave your dog alone because he destroys the house then invest in some training and teach him how to be alone (unless its ACTUAL separation anxiety) or invest in a space they can stay in in the house where they can destroy something (like a cardboard box in a bathroom you don’t use).

If you think you can’t leave your dog alone the whole day invest instead in a good dog walker or pack walker so they get structured exercise and some activity and they go to sleep afterwards again.

Honestly, most doggy daycares are marketed as the perfect day out with all your dogs friends and they make you feel bad if you don’t do that to your dog.

You may be surprised but with some dogs you’d do them a favour taking them out.

Sidenote added: If you are looking for a daycare- try look for a homestyle daycare instead of a large commercial daycare.
Try avoid massive daycares that just let the dogs run around all day without structure or rest.

08/09/2025

❤️

This is Finona, she is one of many kittens and cats that we currently have in foster. We are absolutely bursting at the seams at the sanctuary, and have a lot more cats needing our help 😢

We hate to say no!

Can you help? We need urgent fosters that could possibly help us immediately, starting as soon as tomorrow. We have two bonded pairs that need a spot to rest in until we can either a) find them a new furever home, or b) bring them into the sanctuary.

We can supply you with everything you need. What do you need to supply? A quiet space they can call their own with regular visits and movie watching with yourself. Preferably a smallish room, with a door to close off the rest of your home until they are less stressed. Both pairs have been in a home already, just need some loving care as their lives have been turned upside down through no fault of their own.

Please email [email protected] if you can help. We are looking for 3-months or longer foster if possible.

08/07/2025

And one whole year of adventures with Winston!! This little dude immediately stole my heart. Just the cuddliest, sweetest little guy who still makes me carry him out of the car every single time…even though he’s more than capable of jumping out lol. Anything for extra cuddles from my little guy 🥰🥰🥰

To many more walkies, sniffaris, belly rubs and the best cuddles a girl could ask for.

Love you Winston 🩵🩵🩵

08/07/2025

While on holidays and out of service last week, I missed a couple VERY special dates!

Happy Belated 3rd Birthday to Hazey boyyyy!!
It has been so much fun getting to know you and watching you make new friends. There’s no better hug than a Haze hug 🥰🥰🥰

I look forward to many more adventures with you sweet boy!! 💖

07/22/2025

🙌🏼

Would you walk miles every day, in every kind of weather, for less than minimum wage?

Rain or shine. Ice or heatwave. For £25 a walk?
Sounds decent, right?

Let’s break it down:

Fuel. Tax. Insurance. Admin. Travel time. Cleaning. Safety kit.

Suddenly, that £25 turns into £10 or less for 1.5–2 hours of work.
That’s below minimum wage—for a job with serious responsibility.

Sounds crazy?
That’s the everyday reality for many professional dog walkers.

We’re not just “taking your dog for a stroll.”
We’re responsible for their safety, wellbeing, and behaviour—every step of the way.

No matter the weather. No matter how tired we are. No matter what life throws at us.

⸻

Here’s the breakdown:

You pay for a 60-minute walk. Sounds fair, right?
But that hour includes:
• Travel time between clients
• Pre-walk setup (harnessing, behaviour checks, safety gear)
• Post-walk care (cleaning muddy paws, drying coats, sending updates)
• Vehicle cleaning and maintenance
• Admin, scheduling, route planning
• Ongoing training, insurance, licensing, canine first aid, DBS checks

By the time business expenses and prep time are covered, we’re often earning well below minimum wage—especially when legally limited to walking only a few dogs at a time.

⸻

Where does every penny go?
• Legal & Professional Costs: Public liability insurance, DBS checks, vehicle insurance (business use), canine first aid, CPD training
• Daily Operations: Admin software, mileage, fuel, parking, scheduling
• Dog Safety: Secure transport, safety-tested leads, GPS trackers, ID tags, muzzles (when needed), behaviour assessments
• Equipment & Cleanliness: Towels, paw washers, boots, wet-weather gear, disinfectants, poo bags, enrichment toys
• Time & Commitment: Early mornings, late evenings, short-notice calls, and calmly handling unexpected emergencies

⸻

The reality:
• A loose dog in the woods? We stay calm and in control.
• A dog refuses to walk? We adapt and support.
• Sudden aggression? We know how to manage it safely.
• Dog gets injured? We’re off to the vet—no hesitation.

We’re trained to protect, guide, and care for your dog as if they were our own.

⸻

The risk?

One mistake. One slip of a lead. One forgotten note.
Our entire livelihood could be on the line.
No sick pay. No holiday pay. No pension. Just 100% responsibility—year-round.

We do it because we love dogs.
But love doesn’t pay the bills.

⸻

We are insured, trained professionals.
We take on enormous responsibility with minimal recognition—and even less financial security.

⸻

It’s time the professional dog walking industry got the respect it deserves.

Respect the skill. Respect the risk. Support professional dog walkers.

07/21/2025

I wish!! Who doesn’t need a lovable, goofy lab in their life?! 😍

NEPTUNE❤️❤️ ADOPTION pending ❤️❤️
2-year-old male dog

Neptune is a fun-loving, goofy, and energetic Lab/Hound mix who’s ready to be your loyal sidekick. He’s great with people, kids, and other dogs. We’re not sure about cats, but with his gentle nature, he’d likely do well.

Eager to learn and full of love, Neptune just needs a little guidance to become the perfect family companion.

Neptune is neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped.
He is currently in Kelowna. Vet cost recovery to adopt is $300.
For more info or to meet Neptune, please contact Tracy at 250-469-3041.

07/18/2025

We’ve got that Friday feeling 😍😍😍

07/14/2025

Dear weather gods: thank you 🙏🏼

07/13/2025

Stay cool out there! 🥵