Dog Republic helps pet owners be leaders of the pack

When it comes to the business of dog walking, there’s more to it than one might think.

For example, a lot of training is required when we see eight or more dogs tethered together at the feet of one dog walker.

According to Kevin Burke, founder and CPL (chief pack leader) of Dog Republic in Newport Beach, adopting the “alpha” role is primary to becoming a leader of dogs.

By nature, man’s best friend requires leadership and therefore responds with respect and obedience when that guidance is communicated effectively, Burke said.

“The walkers are not referred to as dog walkers but pack leaders,” he said.

But Dog Republic is about more than dog walking. It combines exercise with socialization and obedience training.

“The whole ‘power of the pack’ is surrounded by the premise that behavior among dogs is contagious,” Burke said.

The company also provides mobile grooming, along with dog camps offering half- and full-day van outings. A boarding resort is in the works.

Pack leaders have the same standards of obedience for every dog. That begins with developing a game plan with every dog owner.

Dogs are taught commands, how to heel properly and to walk “in the direction you want to go and not where they want to go,” Burke said.

Pack leaders “need to be vocal, comfortable talking to the dogs and have an assertive personality,” Burke said. “Our No. 1 priority is to be super safe, which includes being aware of what’s going on around them.”

Dog Republic currently has 13 pack leaders who walk 150 dogs per day.

“We double in size every year,” Burke said. “It’s really cool how we have grown, and all by word of mouth, which shows how connected this community is.”

There’s currently a 30-dog waiting list, he said.

Hillary Simon, a client from Newport Beach who owns three Moscow watchdogs, said, ”They’re just the best — pickup, drop-off and even send pictures of our dogs, letting us know what they’re doing on the walks.”

Dog Republic has nine vans serving Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Laguna Beach and parts of Irvine and Huntington Beach. The pack leaders are responsible for picking up the dogs and returning them to their homes.

“I never could have imagined I’d have a job where I got paid to make dogs happy,” said Christi Contois, a pack leader and office manager. “Waking up every day and doing what you love lives up to the hype in every sense possible. I couldn’t be happier.”

The training process for pack leaders lasts one to two months. They begin by learning and practicing commands with one or two dogs and then slowly increase to a full pack.

Besides teaching dogs simple commands such as “sit,” “stay,” “come,” “leave it” and other “good manners,” leaders need to manage bathroom stops, cleanups and disposal.

“We want to leave the least amount of footprint and be as respectful as possible in the area we walk in,” Burke said.

Burke, who always had a passion for dogs, started the business — previously called Newport Tails — in 2010 as a one-man operation while attending Cal State Fullerton in the business entrepreneurship program.

“I’m really into dogs, and biology [which is necessary knowledge to become a veterinarian] is not my thing. This is a perfect fit, owning my own business and being able to work with dogs every day,” he said.

Most exercise outings take about an hour to walk the dogs 2½ miles. The pace can be fast or slow, depending on the abilities of the dogs. Either way, it’s fun and exciting for the dogs to be part of a pack and the social opportunity it provides, Burke said.

“People are looking for a program with intensive exercise and a good workout, so dog owners appreciate it when their dogs come back tired,” he said.

Dog Republic is at 20281 Riverside Drive. For more information, call (949) 491-2220 or visit thedogrepublic.com.

Hoffman is a contributor to Times Community News.