Nikki – Owner (she/her)
Nikki is a Child and Youth Care Counsellor by trade — and works with high-risk youth throughout the city of Edmonton. It’s important to Nikki to look beyond the statistics and assumptions people make about at-risk youth. She takes a flexible, responsive approach to meeting the needs of her youth clients because no two young people are having the exact same experience.
So she tailors her approach to their unique needs and empowers them with the coping skills they need to be resilient when confronting tough situations. Similarly, Nikki ensures that Dog Jogs tailors its services to the unique needs of her four-legged clients and their families.
“I thought I just wanted to run. Then I thought I just wanted to run with dogs, but deep down there was much more to it!”
Nikki’s dog, Koda, was suffering from pretty severe separation anxiety and developing a routine based on exercise was the most impactful tool she found. Running and walking Koda beyond the typical vet recommendations changed Koda’s life — and Nikki’s life as well. Coming and going, and being away from the house used to cause great stress for Koda and Nikki, but after they started running together, that stress went away.
After seeing what a difference this made to her life, Nikki knew that other people could benefit as well!
Nikki enjoys running races, from 5-KMs to half-marathons, but she loves running with her furry friends best of all. She’s also a ball hockey player, hiker, camper, and enjoys cooking (and eating) and travelling.
Steph – Owner (she/her)
Steph didn’t grow up with pets (because her parents said no), but she has always been a friend to many dogs! She’s a dedicated athlete who plays soccer and ball hockey, and while she always ran hard while playing those sports, she didn’t consider herself to be a runner.
And then she started running with Nikki and Koda! Running became a de-stress tool for Steph and also inspired her to stop smoking. Plus she loves the sweet running apparel and shoes she gets to wear all the time now! She’s also very calm and is great with nervous dogs because her relaxed energy helps comfort and settle them.
Steph likes to travel — whether she’s backpacking around Europe or relaxing in Mexico, she’s always eager to sample the local food and then try to replicate the recipes back home.
Reina- Office Manager & Certified Dog Trainer Dip.CBST (she/her)
Reina is a passionate animal lover, with a particular fondness for cats. As a self-proclaimed crazy cat lady, she adores her two feline companions and cherishes the unique personalities they bring into her life. But her love for animals extends beyond just cats. Reina also has a pitty X Great Dane mix who constantly surprises her with his intelligence and a spirited Chestnut Mare that keeps her on her toes.
When she’s not immersed in the world of animals, Reina enjoys indulging in her hobbies. Crafting, especially crochet, allows her to express her creativity, while reading takes her on captivating adventures through the pages of a book. She also takes on the challenge of nurturing house plants, although she humorously admits that her success rate is around 60%.
Reina has a solid educational background to support her passion for animals. She holds a diploma in Hospitality Management from NAIT, which gives her a unique perspective on managing the office affairs of Dog Jogs, where she serves as the Office Manager. Additionally, her Diploma of Canine Behavior Science and Technology from CASI equips her with the knowledge and expertise to train dogs effectively.
One of Reina’s most cherished memories is witnessing those “click” moments when a concept or behavior falls into place for an animal she’s working with. These moments of understanding and connection reaffirm her dedication to her work. However, if she had to choose a specific favorite memory, it would be the time she took her dog, Ryder, to a lake for the first time. Witnessing Ryder’s uncontainable excitement and joy as he splashed in the water created a lasting memory of pure happiness.
To stay motivated, Reina relies on copious amounts of coffee and meticulously organized to-do lists. These tools help her stay focused and accomplish her tasks efficiently, ensuring that she keeps Dog Jogs running smoothly.
If Reina could choose any city in the world to go for a run, she would love to explore the trails of the United Kingdom, Ireland, and New Zealand. These scenic landscapes offer a perfect backdrop for her passion for running, allowing her to combine her love for travel and physical activity.
If you want to brighten Reina’s day, a simple gesture like surprising her with her favorite chocolate bar, Caramilk, would bring a smile to her face. It’s the little things that show her you care and appreciate her dedication to her work and her love for animals.
Reina has done many Dog Jogs Instagram takeover- check them out
Brittney (aka Fish) – Head Dog Jogger (she/her)
Brittney has spent most of her life alternating between living in Alberta and Saskatchewan. While she was in Saskatchewan Brittney attended the University of Regina and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Kinesiology. Since graduating Brittney has been working in Edmonton and her hobbies include reading, playing soccer, longboarding, and spending time with all the animals she can!
One of Brittney’s favourite animal memories was the time she was taking a video of her sister’s Golden Retriever puppy. He was running around not paying attention and with a teddy bear in his mouth… he ran straight into a tree! Luckily no trees or puppies were harmed in the making of the now hilarious video.
It’s no doubt that Brittney lives a busy life, so keeping to-do lists helps her stay on track. She finds a lot of joy in crossing off items on a to-do list, and seeing something that needs to be crossed off motivates Brittney to complete the task. When Brittney is heading out for a jog she gears up in her Asics runners, Adidas shorts, and a Nike shirt! If she could run anywhere in the world Brittney would have to choose Hana, Hawaii because of the stunning views.
Whether she’s heading out for a warm drink, lunch, or ice cream, Brittney likes to shop local! Her favourite local spots are Remedy Cafe for a chai, Made by Marcus for a sweet treat, and Farrow for delicious sandwiches and cronuts.
Watch Fish during her days as a dog jogger.
Ashley – Head Dog Jogger (she/her)
Ashley has an Arts Degree from the UofA as well as her Residential Interiors Diploma. She is currently working as an Interior Decorator and is absolutely loving it! Ashley spends as much time as she can outside, especially with her two dogs. Some of her other interests include traveling, hiking, hitting different coffee shops, and watching cheesy horror movies.
Picking up her first dog Winston is one of Ashley’s fondest animal memories. Winston was being fostered with his mom and littermates, and when Ashley are her partner drove out 90 minutes to meet them, they were not planning on taking one home right away! Of course, as soon as Ashley picked up Winston there was no way they were leaving without him. They had to pick up every single thing you need for a new puppy because they were definitely not prepared!
Ashley stays motivated by leading by example. She hates to disappoint people so Ashley is driven to always put her best foot forward. Having multiple pockets is something that is essential to any garment in Ashley’s running wardrobe, she needs lots of easy access spaces to store her phone, poop bags, and treats! Her favourite animal movies are the Lion King and Homeward bound, and her favourite coffee spot is Roasti. Ashley and her party of pockets would be happy running anywhere in the world that is near the beach or the mountains.
Ashley’s worked for Dog Jogs for a long time- check out all her stories here
Willow – Head Dog Jogger & Virtual Assistant (she/her)
Willow grew up in Edmonton and is currently studying Paleontology at the University of Alberta. She loves the outdoors and running on the trails. When she’s not in school or jogging with your pups you would find Willow crocheting, hanging out with her pals, and watching nature documentaries, preferably narrated by David Attenborough.
One of her favourite animal memories is of her childhood chihuahua, Sparky. Despite his small stature, he had the most epic zoomies and Willow remembers fondly all the times they ran around together. He was the cutest little ball of energy. Willow is not too picky when it comes to her running gear. When she is out with your pups she likes to have her hands-free leash and her little running backpack filled with lots of treats, poop bags, and water. If she could run anywhere in the world she would go to Anchorage, Alaska. Chilly-weather running is (in Willow’s humble opinion), the best!
Willow’s favourite animal-related movie is Fantastic Mr. Fox and her favourite yeg restaurant is Otto!
Willow makes a lot of reels for Dog Jogs- here’s one of our favs!
Josephine – Dog Jogger (she/her)
Josephine is originally from Montreal, where she was trained in classical ballet. She has the equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree in the Cecchetti method of ballet! Josephine has danced professionally, teaching and choreographing for over 20 years! Some of her hobbies include camping, yoga, and long walks with her four-legged friends.
It’s hard to choose a favourite animal-related memory for Josephine, there are just too many to pick from! One of her more recent memories is when her pup Moonie met horses for the first time. The horses loved Moonie and the feeling was mutual, they all became best buds.
Josephine is motivated by yoga, animals, and life in general. If she could run anywhere in the world she would run by a nice beach, and Josephine’s favourite animal movie is Turner and Hooch. It doesn’t make her cry, which is a rare happening for her when watching an animal movie!
Rebecca – Head Dog Jogger (she/her)
Rebecca grew up with and has taken care of dogs her whole life. She enjoys exploring, being outside, and animals! Rebecca loves to draw and is a digital artist and freelancer, but before that she trained in aerial dance and parkour! She’s always been an avid jogger; running is Rebecca’s favourite way to clear her head and keep her endurance up.
When Rebecca gets ready for bed she always asks her dog if she wants to cuddle, and of course, she immediately will come up and rest next to her. As a dog mom that is her favourite time of day and those evenings are collectively her favourite animal memory!
Rebecca is motivated by living a meaningful life, which drives her to do certain types of work. She believes in learning about the skills and passions she already possesses and using them to contribute to her community. When she’s out for a run Rebecca always has her running backpack, which is much lighter and less clunky than a regular bag. If she could run anywhere in the world, Rebecca would go to Iceland or New Zealand for the beautiful nature. Her go-to animal movie is Balto, and Rebecca’s favourite restaurant is OEB Breakfast Co.
Rebecca is a reel star- check this out
Dallyn – Dog Jogger (she/her)
Dallyn is Canadian and loves camping, travelling, eating, and of course animals! She also attended CDI College and has a Veterinary Health Care Assistant Diploma. Dallyn used to love catching frogs in the creeks and swamps surrounding her childhood home, and now these are some of her favourite animal-related memories!
When Dallyn is faced with a task, she stays motivated by imagining how good it will feel when the task is complete. She also tries to make everything she does more exciting for herself so she stays interested! Her favourite brands for running gear are Nike and Lululemon, and if Dallyn could run anywhere in the world she would go to Singapore. Her favourite animal movie is Zootopia because of the hilarious sloths, and like a true Canadian her favourite spot for a coffee is Tim Hortons!
Dallyn truly is obsessed!
Diana – Head Dog Jogger (they/she/he)
Diana comes from a trade background. They have been in the Alberta Carpenters Union since they were 18 as a scaffolder but moved to Kamloops BC to pursue a Police and Security Diploma. Diana switched from that to psychology to sociology to political science, but they couldn’t make up their mind so they ended up back full-time in the trades. Diana’s hobbies include rollerskating, slacklining, surfing, and chilling in their hammock with their guitar.
Diana’s favourite animal memories are of their old dog Koby. He was the type of dog that just knew when something was wrong. When Diana was younger they used to get terrible migraines, and Koby always knew.
Motivation is no problem for Diana as long as they have their music! It truly sets the vibe for their day. Diana loves Under Armour for their running gear and if they could run anywhere in the world they would go to the red sand beaches of Greece, or the black sand beaches of Iceland.
Three of Diana’s favourite animal movies are Zootopia, The Secret Life of Pets, and Fantastic Mr.Fox. Diana usually makes their coffee from home but if they feel like going to a coffee shop, they will hit up Remedy or Second Cup.
Our team is in agreeance that Diana has the most soothing voice!
Gloria – Dog Jogger (she/her)
Gloria is an energetic animal lover who is happiest when she is moving her body! Before becoming a Dog Jogger she worked in many different fields like child and youth care, medical office administration, and hospitality. When the pandemic hit she did a lot of reflection and realized she is most passionate about being active and with animals. When she is not getting her sweat on, Gloria enjoys reading, cooking, napping in between her two dogs, and PC gaming!
Gloria’s favourite animal memory is the time she first held her dog Khalessi. She was the size of a potato and kept burrowing against Gloria’s neck for comfort. Now she is a sassy senior who still tries to burrow despite her grown-up size! Gloria’s motivation comes from stepping back and seeing the big picture while still embracing the little victories. When it’s time for a run Gloria grabs her New Balance shoes.
If she could run anywhere in the world Gloria would go to Norway, Denmark, or Sweden because she is a cold-weather gal! Her go-to beverage is plain tea, although in the summertime Gloria loves a good iced latte from Second Cup.
Gloria hadn’t posted before on stories before this!
Jaquelyn- Dog Jogger (she/her)
Jaquelyn grew up in the Okanagan valley and enjoyed everything it had to offer, from the sports and outdoor activities to its well-known beer and wine scene. She absolutely adores all animals, and her favourite animal is an owl. When she moved to Alberta she sadly had to leave her family pets behind, so she is super excited to meet all the fur babies of Edmonton!
It’s hard for Jaquelyn to choose just one favourite animal memory, but she is very fond of when she taught her dog Moka “bang”, which includes a finger gun and him rolling to his back. It still brings joy to everyone who witnesses the spectacle.
Jaquelyn is an active girl who loves a good set of headphones. She has different sets depending on how much protection her ears need from the elements! Jaquelyn also enjoys having a fanny pack while she runs for her phone and snacks! If she could run anywhere in the world she would go to Australia, and her favourite animal movies are the Harry Potter movies. She considers them animal movies because of all of the owls!
Emma – Dog Jogger (she/her)
Emma is an Artistic Swimming coach who still swims during her free time. She is an avid cook and is a major fan of trying new foods! Emma has always grown up with animals, and some of her fondest memories are of the times she would walk her orange tabby cat. He loved to climb trees!
When it comes to motivation, Emma likes to do daily reflection which gives her the energy to give every day her all. She also likes to destress and relax by going to the gym. Emma is not a picky gal when choosing her running/workout gear, as long as whatever she is wearing has a lot of pockets!
If she and her posse of pockets could run anywhere in the world, she would go to Norway. Her favourite animal movie is A Dog’s Journey, and her favourite gas-station snack hack is to add ice cream to an orange slurpee!
Tanner – Dog Jogger (he/him) *photo coming soon*
Tanner recently moved to Edmonton from Grande Prairie to start school for finance at NAIT. In his free time, Tanner likes to take his dog for walks, watch the Oilers, play video games, and engage in highly competitive crib matches with his girlfriend!
From the minute Tanner met his dog Delta, he knew that she would bring him many years of happiness. This is one of his favourite animal memories! To this day Tanner considers Delta to be his life. He is one good dog dad!
Tanner currently likes to run in a pair of trusty basketball shoes, but he is looking forward to figuring out what dog-jogging gear he likes and updating his closet. If he could run anywhere in the world he would go to Venice, and cinnamon bun Oreos are his kryptonite!
Kleio – Dog Jogger (she/her)
Kleio is in Edmonton studying Human Geography and Planning, but she is originally from BC! She loves to paddleboard, go for nature walks, and binge-watch TV series. Kleio is an avid gardener, but she’s pretty sure the plants she has killed would disagree.
When Kleio was little, her dog would come with her class on field trips. The class adored him, he would make sure everyone was okay by running up and down the group, checking in on everyone. Once he finished his rounds he would come back to hang out with Kleio. This is one of Kleio’s favourite animal memories.
Staying motivated is no problem for Kleio, as long as she has a cup of joe! Kleio isn’t picky about running gear, but it is imperative that she has a solid pair of running shoes. She thinks if your feet hurt then the rest of you will too! Art of Racing in the Rain is Kleio’s favourite animal movie, however, she thinks the book is far superior to the film. If she could run anywhere in the world, you would find Kleio running along the river in London. When Kleio is feeling like a tea she heads over to Block 1912, and her favourite blizzard from DQ is cookie dough!