K9 Trails Dog Adventures is a dog walking service based at 18 Aberdeen Road in St Clair, Dunedin, with details on its website, k9trails.co.nz. A good dog walker does more than hold a lead. Around St Clair that means knowing which beaches and tracks welcome dogs, reading tide and weather before setting out, and matching dogs to walking companions by size and temperament rather than simply filling the van. Expect questions about your dog's recall, fitness and quirks at a first meeting, and a walker who carries water, towels off muddy coats and checks paws afterwards. When choosing, ask how many dogs go out at once and who will actually be walking yours — regulars tend to prize a familiar face over the cheapest rate. For St Clair dog owners, with the beach and clifftop tracks close by, a walker based on Aberdeen Road is well placed to make the most of them.