Dog Walker in Birmingham, MI: Walks, Sniffari, Trail Hike, and Force-Free Training

Triple-certified, vet-endorsed pet care for Birmingham pet parents since 2014. One household at a time, never a group walk.

Birmingham pet parents do not need a daycare van. They need a real walker who shows up, reads their dog, and reinforces what their trainer is teaching. Paws Around Motown handles midday walks, Sniffari scent enrichment, Trail Hikes, and in-home force-free training for Birmingham (48009 and 48025) and the surrounding Oakland County communities. Becky Lea, our founder, holds five professional credentials including CPDT-KA and Certified Shelter Dog Trainer, and every walker on our team is Pet First Aid certified.

BY BECKY LEA, CPDT-KA · UPDATED JUNE 2026

Why Birmingham Pet Parents Are Switching Away From Daycare

We can usually tell, within ten minutes of meeting a dog, whether the family has been doing daycare five days a week. The body shows it. The behavior shows it. The owner usually has not connected the dots yet.

Daycare for eight hours a day, five days a week, keeps the cortisol stress hormone elevated. The dog stops sleeping through the night. Reactivity creeps back. The trainer they hired starts losing ground. The Birmingham parents we work with figure that out around month three, then call us.

A 30 or 45 minute private midday walk in your Birmingham neighborhood does the opposite of daycare overload. Bathroom break. Sniff time. Fresh air. Then home to actually rest. We have been doing this in Birmingham since 2014.

Pet Care Services for Birmingham, MI

Every service is one household at a time. We never combine households on a walk, in a car, or on a trail.

Midday Dog Walks in Birmingham

30 or 45 minute private walks through your Birmingham neighborhood. Bathroom break, sniff time, decompression. The hybrid most of our clients land on instead of five daycare days.

Sniffari Scent Walk

A private 45 to 60 minute scent-enrichment walk. We set up a scent trail with dog-safe oils and let your dog follow their nose, investigate, and win treats. Slow-paced, decompression-focused, one household at a time.

Trail Hike

Our private solo hiking adventure. About two hours total with at least an hour of guided, on-leash hiking on a dog-friendly trail matched to your dog’s fitness. One household at a time, never a group hike.

In-Home Force-Free Training

In-home dog training with no prong collars, no shock collars, no choke chains, no alpha rollovers. Becky Lea is CPDT-KA and Certified Shelter Dog Trainer; Megan, our lead trainer, is a certified obedience trainer

Birmingham Neighborhoods We Walk and Train In

We serve all of Birmingham (48009 and 48025) and the surrounding Oakland County corridor. Below are the Birmingham neighborhoods where most of our current clients live. If you do not see your street, ask. We almost certainly cover it.

Downtown Birmingham

Old Woodward, Maple, S. Old Woodward corridor (48009)

Pembroke Park

Pembroke, Eton, Yosemite (48009)

Bloomfield Village

Lone Pine, Pine Lake corridor (48301 / 48025 edge)

Quarton Lake

Around Quarton Lake, Oak Avenue, Lakeside (48009)

Linden Park

Linden, Park, Pierce, Bates (48009)

North Birmingham

North of Maple, north Eton, Adams corridor (48009)

Poppleton Park

Poppleton Park, Westchester, Brookside (48009)

Holy Name

Holy Name parish area, Stanley Boulevard (48009)

Birmingham Schools area

Seaholm and Groves districts (48009)

Trusted Birmingham, MI Pet Resources

Below are the Birmingham vets, emergency hospitals, and dog parks our team and clients use most. We are not affiliated with any of these. We list them because we trust them when our own dogs need care.

Gasow Veterinary Hospital

Full-service Birmingham veterinary hospital with extended urgent care hours (Mon-Fri 6-9pm, Sat 9-4, Sun 10-2). The Birmingham vet most of our walker team takes their own dogs to.

Visit Website

Oakland Veterinary Referral Services (OVRS)

Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for emergency and critical care. Located in Bloomfield Hills, about 10 minutes from downtown Birmingham. (248) 334-6877.

Visit Website

Lincoln Hills Dog Park

Birmingham’s official off-leash dog park, on the grounds of the former Lincoln Hills Golf Course. Permit required ($50/year for Birmingham residents, $200/year non-residents). A nearly-acre fenced area.

Visit Website

Why Birmingham Pet Parents Trust PAM

Triple-certified founder

Becky Lea holds CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer), Certified Shelter Dog Trainer, and Pet First Aid & CPR Instructor credentials. Five professional certifications total.

12 years in Birmingham

Founded in 2014. Over 280 active client households across Birmingham, Royal Oak, Bloomfield Hills, West Bloomfield, and Farmington.

Michigan Small Business of the Month

Recognized by the State of Michigan as Small Business of the Month. Ranked among the Top 5 dog walking and training companies in Michigan for multiple years.

Never a group walk

We walk one household’s dog at a time. We never combine households in a car, on a trail, or on a walk. Your dog gets the full attention of their walker.

Your Birmingham Walkers and Trainers

Every PAM team member who handles a Birmingham client is Pet First Aid & CPR certified, trained on oral, topical, and injectable medication administration (including insulin), and force-free in every walk and training session. Here are the people who will most likely walk your dog.

Becky Lea, CPDT-KA

Founder & Head Trainer

Founded Paws Around Motown in 2014. Holds five professional credentials including CPDT-KA, Certified Shelter Dog Trainer, and Pet First Aid & CPR Instructor. Specializes in reactive and rescue dogs.

Bobby

Lead Trainer

Certified obedience trainer. Handles obedience and force-free behavior work alongside Becky. Birmingham resident.

Casey

Lead Trainer

Certified obedience trainer. Handles obedience and force-free behavior work alongside Becky. Birmingham resident.

Megan

Lead Trainer

Certified obedience trainer. Handles obedience and force-free behavior work alongside Becky. Birmingham resident.

Birmingham Dog Care Guides

Real answers to the questions Birmingham pet parents ask us most.

Why Birmingham Pet Parents Skip Daycare for Midday Walks

We can usually tell within ten minutes whether a dog has been doing daycare five days a week. Here is the cortisol math, the behavior signs, and the hybrid most of our Birmingham clients land on.

Need a Force-Free Dog Trainer in Birmingham, MI?

A force-free dog trainer in Birmingham, MI is usually two things: a specific behavior problem and a previous bad experience. Here is what force-free actually means, when you need a trainer versus a walker, and how to know which fits.

Birmingham, MI Dog Walking & Training FAQ

How much does a dog walker in Birmingham, MI cost?

A typical 30 minute midday walk in Birmingham runs about $25 to $32 depending on frequency, with discounts for 3-5x weekly schedules. A 45 minute walk runs slightly higher. Sniffari and Trail Hike packages are priced separately because they include drive time and a longer outing. Pricing is on our services page and we confirm the exact rate at your free meet-and-greet.

Do you walk in Birmingham 48009 and 48025?

Yes. We cover both Birmingham ZIPs: 48009 (most of Birmingham including downtown, Quarton Lake, Poppleton Park, Pembroke Park, Linden Park, Holy Name area) and 48025 (Bloomfield Village area on the Birmingham edge). If you are unsure whether your street is in our walk zone, contact us with your address.

How is a midday dog walk different from daycare?

A midday walk is 30 or 45 minutes of private, leashed exercise in your own neighborhood. One household, one walker. Daycare is 6-8 hours of group play in a daycare facility, with rotating handlers and other dogs. Most of our Birmingham clients switch from daycare to midday walks because their dogs sleep better, settle faster, and react less at home.

What is a Sniffari?

A Sniffari is our private 45 to 60 minute scent-enrichment walk. We set up a scent trail with dog-safe oils and let your dog follow their nose, investigate, and win treats. It is slow-paced and decompression-focused, not a distance hike. For dogs who also need to burn real physical energy, our Trail Hike is the longer, two-hour hiking version.

What is a Trail Hike and how is it different from a Sniffari?

A Trail Hike is our private solo hiking adventure: about two hours total with at least an hour of guided, on-leash hiking on a dog-friendly trail matched to your dog's fitness. We pick up at home and bring them back tired and calm. One household at a time, never a group hike. A Sniffari is shorter (45 to 60 min), slower, and focused on scent enrichment.

Do you offer force-free dog training in Birmingham, MI?

Yes. We provide in-home force-free dog training in Birmingham, MI. No prong collars, no shock collars, no choke chains, no alpha rollovers. Becky Lea, our founder, is CPDT-KA and Certified Shelter Dog Trainer; Megan, our lead trainer, is a certified obedience trainer. Most cases see real progress in four to six sessions.

Will my walker reinforce what my trainer is teaching?

Yes. Every walker on our team is trained on force-free handling. The body-language reading, trigger management, and reward-based reinforcement Becky teaches in training sessions are the same protocols your walker uses on every walk. That continuity is what makes the training stick.

Will I have the same walker every time?

Yes. We assign a primary walker to your household and a backup walker (usually a teammate who is already trained on your dog's routine). Your dog learns one or two faces, not a rotating cast. We tell you both names at the meet-and-greet.

Can your team administer my dog's medication during walks?

Yes. Our entire team is trained on oral, topical, and injectable medication administration, including insulin. We coordinate with your vet's protocols and document each dose.

Do you walk in bad Birmingham weather?

Yes, with judgment. We walk in light rain, snow, and cold (with weather-appropriate gear). In severe heat, severe cold, or active thunderstorms, we shorten the visit to a quick bathroom break and indoor enrichment time so your dog still gets the relief without the safety risk.

How do I book a Birmingham dog walker or trainer?

Start with a free 30 minute meet-and-greet. We come to your home in Birmingham, meet your dog in their own space, walk through your neighborhood, and answer every question. No contract, no pressure, no fee. Book through the contact page or call us.

What other cities near Birmingham do you cover?

We cover Birmingham first, plus Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township, Royal Oak, West Bloomfield, Berkley, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Pleasant Ridge, Huntington Woods, Franklin, Clawson, Ferndale, Farmington, Madison Heights, Oak Park, Lathrup Village, Southfield, and Troy.

Ready to Meet a Birmingham Walker?

The free meet-and-greet is 30 minutes, in your home, with no contract or fee. We will meet your dog, walk through your Birmingham neighborhood, and tell you honestly whether walks, training, a Sniffari, a Trail Hike, or some combination fits.