Madison, WI

Harmony in the Home: We believe in balanced, relationship focused training and establishing long term trust with you and your pet right away. Through structured pack hikes, one-on-one sessions, and communication with pet-parents, we work to find the keys to that balance. We know the importance of treating each individual pet with respect and awareness of their own specific nature and needs. Our hope is that through finding better ways to communicate with animals, nature, and humans alike we can diminish the number of those in need.

Our Services

PRIVATE behavior SESSIONs ($99 for a 60-minute session)

Training sessions where we come to you and help with specific behaviors that need addressing. We work with both you and your dog; this way we can get a sense of how you and your dog interact, and we can work together on modeling behaviors that your dog will understand and that will help regulate their behavior.

PACK HIKES ($50)

(NOT CURRENTLY TAKING NEW CLIENTS)

Offered Monday through Friday with pick-up and drop-off at your home (service area limited to Madison)! This is a great way to exercise your dog both physically and mentally. We work on car manners, leash manners, off-leash hiking, and proper play; everything your dog needs to feel balanced and happy! Dogs must be signed up to hike every week on their scheduled day(s) for the sake of pack consistency. Package pricing available when you sign up for a schedule of 3+ hikes per week and if you have more than one dog hiking with us.

In-Our-Home Dog sitting ($100 per 24 hours; extra charge for multiple dogs and holidays)

(ONLY AVAILABLE FOR DOGS CURRENTLY HIKING WITH RUFF TRAILS)

Your dog stays in our home, decked out with all their "creature comforts." We also include a daily hike or at least two structured neighborhood walks per day. When your dog stays with us, they are receiving balanced training throughout their visit, and we are happy to provide daily reports and photos!

iN-YOUR-HOME DOG SITTING ($100 per 24 hours; extra charge for multiple dogs and holidays)

We come to your home to dog sit! Great for dogs with severe separation anxiety or elderly dogs that need special attention. Dogs receive daily training, hikes, and walks!

happy Customers

“Before my path crossed with Ruff Trails, a simple visit to the dog park with Luna was anything but relaxing. Her instinct to guard resources—from tennis balls to any found treasures—often led to tense moments. It was clear that Luna’s reactivity was a hurdle we needed to overcome.
Kim and Jen from Ruff Trails, whose patience and tailored approach have been nothing short of transformative. Their expertise in canine behavior has not only helped Luna become less reactive but has turned our dog park visits into enjoyable, event-free experiences.
The journey with Ruff Trails has been as much an education for me as it has been for Luna. Kim and Jen’s wisdom has equipped me with the skills to understand and interpret Luna’s body language and signals. This has been pivotal in preemptively managing situations that previously would have escalated.
The most significant change, however, has been in our relationship. The communication between Luna and me has deepened, fostering a bond that is stronger than ever. Thanks to Ruff Trails, we now look forward to our time at the dog park with great anticipation, knowing that each visit will be filled with joy rather than apprehension.
I cannot recommend Ruff Trails highly enough. For anyone facing similar challenges, Kim and Jen’s guidance can indeed pave the way to a more harmonious and fulfilling companionship with your canine friend.”

— Kim L.

“My dog loves her hikes, and has developed so much with the training!”

“Ruff Trails is amazing. They train and socialize dogs within a pack. They don’t discriminate based on breed, and above all they don’t advocate violence against animals.”

“My dog Koba has been hiking with Ruff Trails for some months now, and it has been a fantastic experience working with them. Seeing Kim work with Koba one on one has made me really trust that he is in good hands. On top of being trustworthy, I really value the
importance of education that RT has emphasized. Kim has gone above and beyond with answering my questions and giving me suggestions and encouragement when it comes to training. While I’ve noticed Koba’s confidence improve since he started with RT, I’ve also felt it in myself as his owner. The pictures and videos of the weekly hikes is super helpful to see our dogs interacting to better understand their behaviors and feelings. I highly recommend Ruff Trails!”

— Angel H.

“I am so grateful that scout has the opportunity to be a part of ruff trails. She gets exercise, training, and socialization. Nikki (and crew) is amazing! I am so thankful she is a part of my dog’s life. ”