Walking Dogs in Winnipeg:

A Story of Family, Friendship, and Furry Companions

There’s something special about the way dogs bring people together, they help us connect, get outside, and create lasting memories. The Duggleby family knows this better than anyone.

Jeremy and his wife Christine, along with their children Ellorie (13) and Conall (11), moved back to Winnipeg in 2020. Jeremy began his military career as part of the Ceremonial Guard in the summers between 1995 and 1999, later joining the Regular Force in 2002 as a trombone player with the Royal Canadian Air Force Band. After postings in Victoria and Cold Lake, the family was happy to return to Winnipeg, where Jeremy now serves as a Warrant Officer with the 17 Wing RCAF Band.

After the family’s beloved Airedale Terrier, Kismet, passed away around Christmas 2021, Christine contacted their breeder near Winnipeg. The breeder mentioned a six-month-old puppy who had been returned a few times and was looking for the right home. The Dugglebys agreed to a trial, and that’s how Copper became part of their family.

At first, Copper was calm, gentle, and easygoing. But as he settled in, his high energy and playful personality started to show. Unlike Kismet, Copper needed lots of activity and mental stimulation to keep him happy. The family quickly realized that regular walks would be key to helping him thrive, so they began walking him three to four times a day.

Copper has come a long way since those early days, but at just over a year and a half old, he’s still a puppy. Jeremy hopes to eventually train Copper to run alongside a bike and maybe even join him while cross-country skiing.

During their walks, Jeremy’s daughter Ellorie often noticed Penny, our Saint Bernard, watching longingly from the window. Eventually, she and her mom invited Penny to join them, and now Penny happily tags along for walks about three times a week. Their usual route winds around the Sturgeon Creek area, covering roughly three kilometers and lasting about half an hour.

Walking Penny has become a part-time job for Ellorie, and she’s done a remarkable job learning how to handle such a big, strong dog. Her calm, confident attitude has helped her build a trusting bond with Penny. She’s also learned to use both visual and verbal commands to keep Penny focused and calm when other dogs are nearby.

Winter walks can be challenging, especially when ice covers the paths, so the family now wears ice grips to stay safe. Penny even joined the Dugglebys for a snowshoeing trip along Sturgeon Creek, a special day for everyone involved.

Ellorie and Christine work together to help both Penny and Copper socialize with each other and the people they meet on their adventures. These walks have made a big difference, the dogs come home calmer, happier, and more content.

Larry and I are so grateful to have the Duggleby family across the street. Their kindness and willingness to include Penny in their walks has truly improved her behavior and given her something to look forward to each week.

For Ellorie, walking dogs has turned into the perfect first job. When asked about her future goals, she shared that she hopes to become a writer, creating novels in both English and French for young readers. She also dreams of owning land one day where she can be an organic farmer, growing food in harmony with nature.

Walking dogs is about so much more than exercise, it’s about connection, community, and care. It’s an opportunity to build confidence, stay active, and even earn a little spending money along the way.

If you’d like to share your own pet story in the VoxAir newspaper, you can contact Kelley at klpost@hotmail.com