Adventure Club for Dogs in Milwaukee

 
 
Off Leash MKE Adventure Club for Dogs logo for Milwaukee dog adventures, group outings, and decompression-focused enrichment

Decompression, freedom, and nature-filled adventures for city dogs who need more than a walk.

Some dogs don’t just need a walk — they need room to breathe.

Adventure Club is our flagship service for dogs who thrive with longer outings, nature-based decompression, and curated small-group or solo adventures around Milwaukee. Using long lines, behavior-forward handling, and carefully chosen locations, we give your dog something most city environments can’t: space, sensory freedom, and true mental reset.

Pick-up, drop-off, and detailed updates are all included.
Your dog gets the kind of adventure you wish you had time to give them — without you ever leaving work.

→ Apply to Join Adventure Club


Why Adventure Club Exists

City life is loud, fast, and full of stimulation. For many dogs, that means:

  • chronic tension

  • difficulty relaxing

  • leash reactivity

  • trouble settling at home

  • pent-up energy with nowhere healthy to go

Adventure Club is built around a simple belief:
nature, movement, and thoughtful handling are medicine for the canine nervous system.

On every outing, our team members focus on:

  • decompression instead of over-arousal

  • sniffing and exploration instead of constant obedience

  • emotional regulation instead of just “tiring them out”

  • connection and safety instead of chaos and overwhelm

This isn’t daycare.
It’s not a loud pack walk or a dog park free-for-all.

It’s a curated adventure designed to help your dog come home tired, regulated, and deeply satisfied.

Three dogs splashing through a stream on an Off Leash MKE Adventure Club hike in Milwaukee

Three dogs posing on equipment at Hounds & Tap during an Off Leash MKE Adventure Club session

Who Adventure Club Is For

Adventure Club is a fit for dogs who:

  • crave more than a neighborhood walk

  • benefit from longer time outdoors and structured exploration

  • enjoy the company of other dogs or need a one-on-one adventure

  • do well riding in a car (or can learn with patient support)

  • are friendly or neutral with other dogs, or can be safely managed around them

Age & format:

  • 1 year and older is the norm

  • Puppies under 1 usually join Puppy Adventure Club

  • Dogs 8–12 months may be approved for Adventure Club on a case-by-case basis

Reactivity does not automatically exclude a dog.
Many reactive or sensitive dogs join us for solo Sniffaris rather than group outings.

If a dog has bigger behavioral needs (pulling, over-arousal, fear, guarding, etc.), we can coordinate with our Dog Training team to build a plan.

→ Learn about Dog Training (behavior support)
→ Explore Puppy Adventure Club for dogs under 1


Dogs safely loaded in the car before an Off Leash MKE Adventure Club adventure in Milwaukee.

How Adventure Club Works

Every Adventure includes:

  • pick-up and drop-off at your home

  • minimum 1.5 hours of adventure time (often 90–120 minutes out in nature, plus transport)

  • long-line walks or decompression time in safe outdoor spaces

  • curated solo or small-group pairings

  • fresh water and rest breaks

  • return home with wiped paws, water refill, and a detailed update via Time To Pet

Your dog gets more than just exercise.
They get time to be a dog.

 

Types of Adventures

  • For dogs who benefit from individual support, are sensitive around other dogs, or are working on behavior goals, we offer Solo Sniffaris:

    • one dog, one team member

    • long-line decompression on local trails or at private outdoor spaces

    • pacing tailored entirely to your dog

    • ideal for reactive, fearful, or recovering dogs

    Solo Adventures are available to both members and à la carte clients.

  • Our small-group adventures are carefully matched based on:

    • temperament

    • energy level

    • play style

    • communication style

    Typically:

    • 2–3 dogs per team member, sometimes 4

    • calm, enrichment-focused groups instead of chaotic packs

    • curated pairings that support confidence, not overwhelm

    Group Adventures are for members only.

  • Every Wednesday, we host our longest-running large-group adventure at Hounds & Tap in Menomonee Falls — a combined tavern, daycare, and boarding facility with safe, controlled play spaces.

    • 3-hour minimum outing

    • 4–5 Off Leash MKE team members on-site

    • each with 2–4 dogs

    • structured play, decompression, and movement

    • we’ve been going weekly since Hounds & Tap opened

    This outing is ideal for:

    • social, well-matched dogs

    • dogs who love novelty and movement but still need supervision and structure

    Hounds & Tap adventures are member-only and billed at a premium rate due to length and facility use.

Where We Go

We choose each day’s location based on weather, safety, and the emotional needs of the dogs.

Typical adventure spots include:

  • local nature trails in and around Milwaukee

  • parks and wooded areas with room for long-line exploration

  • private Sniffspot rentals for distraction-controlled freedom

  • The Secret Dog Park – our exclusive-use outdoor space with no public dogs

  • Indoor dog gym in Wauwatosa – for extreme heat, cold, storms, or unsafe footing

Your dog might:

  • follow scent trails through the woods

  • explore open fields on a long line

  • practice gentle recall in safe spaces

  • enjoy sensory and conditioning work in our indoor gym

We keep the plan flexible so we can meet the dogs where they are that day.

 

Safety, Gear & Transport

  • We use 20ft and 30ft Biothane long lines to give dogs freedom of movement while staying safely connected to their team member:

    • durable in all weather

    • easy to clean

    • ideal for decompression and natural movement

  • To protect your dog’s neck and spine, we require a well-fitting harness for Adventure Club outings.

    We do not use:

    • prong collars

    • choke chains

    • e-collars

    Martingales:

    • generally not preferred for Adventure Club (in case an emergency retreat is needed)

    • allowed only when a dog has body-handling sensitivities and is not yet comfortable in a harness

    We can help gently transition dogs into harness comfort over time.

    • We adventure in all seasons, but always within safety limits

    • We’ll put on coats if you provide them

    • We wipe paws and towel-dry after wet or muddy outings

    • We keep an eye out for ticks during peak season

    • In unsafe conditions (extreme heat, cold, ice, storms), we move adventures to our indoor dog gym

  • Team members carry:

    • fresh water

    • portable or collapsible bowls

    We build in water and rest breaks before, during, and after each adventure, especially in summer.

  • Dogs are transported using setups that are safe for them and align with your comfort level:

    • seatbelt harnesses

    • secured vehicle areas

    • individualized transport solutions

    Transport is always included in Adventure Club outings.

  • Every team member brings:

    • high-quality treats (checked against your dog’s allergies)

    • spare leashes and harnesses

    • towels

    • poop bags

    • a portable first-aid kit

    • phone for GPS and emergency contact

    Everything is designed to support safe, regulated, enrichment-forward adventures.

 

How Dogs Join Adventure Club (Onboarding)

  • You’ll start by completing our new client onboarding form, sharing details about your dog’s history, temperament, and needs.

  • A team member visits your home to:

    • meet your dog in their comfort zone

    • review gear and harness fit

    • talk through your goals

    • confirm lockbox/keypad access

    • answer questions

  • Every Adventure Club dog starts with a one-on-one Sniffari:

    • long-line walk or decompression session

    • observation of stress signals, pacing, and comfort

    • assessment of car rides, trail comfort, and recovery time

    • gentle recall and cue practice

  • If the solo Sniffari goes well, we schedule a Buddy Sniffari:

    • your dog plus one carefully matched dog

    • small-group dynamics evaluation

    • communication, play style, and energy matching

  • From there, your dog either:

    • joins a regular Adventure Club group

    • continues with Solo Sniffaris if that’s what feels best for them

    Our goal is always the same:
    A dog who comes home regulated, fulfilled, and easier to live with.

 

Rates & Membership

Adventure Club is part of our membership-based model, which is designed around consistency and routine.

Off Leash MKE service rates and pricing chart for dog walking, Adventure Club, Puppy Adventure Club, cat sitting, and pet sitting in Milwaukee

Membership Requirement

To be part of Adventure Club, dogs must:

  • commit to at least one recurring Adventure per week (same weekday)

Once that weekly spot is reserved, you’re welcome to add additional Adventures throughout the week as your schedule allows.

Group Adventures, Hounds & Tap, and certain specialty outings are exclusive to recurring members.

Solo Adventures are available to both members and à la carte clients.

Full Services & Rates
 
Four dogs exploring Lions Den Gorge with Lake Michigan in the background during an Off Leash MKE Adventure Club outing featuring hiking, enrichment, and decompression in Milwaukee


Areas We Serve

Adventure Club is available to dogs in:

Milwaukee • Wauwatosa • Bay View • Whitefish Bay • Shorewood • Fox Point • Glendale • River Hills • Mequon • Cedarburg • St. Francis • Elm Grove • Brookfield


Adventure Club FAQ

  • Adventure Club is a longer, nature-based outing focused on decompression, exploration, and nervous system regulation. Dog walking is typically a shorter, neighborhood-based visit. Many dogs do both: neighborhood walks for routine + Adventure Club for deeper fulfillment.

  • Often, yes. Reactive or sensitive dogs usually start with Solo Sniffaris so we can give them space, pacing, and one-on-one support. We do not place dogs into groups unless we feel it is safe and supportive. Some dogs stay on solo adventures long-term, and that’s perfectly fine.

  • No. We use long lines to give your dog off-leash-style freedom while staying safely attached to a team member. In private, secure areas like Sniffspots or our Secret Dog Park, we may provide more freedom — but safety and recall always come first.

  • You can expect your dog to come home content, decompressed, and ready to rest, rather than “wired and exhausted.” We aim for regulated tired, not adrenalized burnout.

  • After every outing, you’ll receive a detailed Time To Pet report with:

    • photos

    • bathroom updates

    • behavior highlights

    • enrichment notes

    • anything we learned about what helped your dog feel safe and happy

  • Start by completing our new client form and scheduling a meet & greet. From there, we’ll plan your dog’s first Solo Sniffari and walk you through the path into Adventure Club membership.

    Apply to Join Adventure Club

 

Ready for Your Dog’s Next Level of Calm?

Three dogs hiking on-leash at the Forest Exploration Center in Milwaukee during an Off Leash MKE Adventure Club outing, enjoying fall trails, enrichment, and decompression.

If your dog needs more than a walk, Adventure Club gives them room to breathe, explore, and decompress in the ways city life doesn’t always allow.

We’ll handle the logistics — pick-up, drop-off, safety, and communication.
You’ll come home to a dog who’s happier, softer in their body, and easier to live with.

Apply to Join Adventure Club


→ Have questions? Contact us