Today we’d like to introduce you to Lori Trent.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
After dedicating 25 years to healthcare sales, I was part of a layoff in December 2024. Like many people in that position, I did everything I was supposed to do, interviewing, networking, and making it to final rounds, only to keep coming just short of an offer. While it was discouraging, that pause turned out to be a gift. It gave me the space to reflect on what truly brings me joy and fulfillment.
That answer had been quietly forming for years. During the pandemic, I fostered 37 dogs of all ages, sizes, and personalities, many with special needs ranging from medication schedules to extra emotional support. Each dog taught me something new, and I fell deeply in love with the one-on-one connection that comes from truly understanding an animal’s individual needs. One of those fosters, Drama, became my forever dog—a joyful foster fail who remains at the heart of everything I do.
In May 2025, during one of my many walks with Drama, I had a simple but powerful realization: why not turn this passion into a profession? Walking had become grounding and therapeutic for me, and I wanted to build something rooted in that same sense of care, calm, and connection.
Dominion Dog Walking grew from that moment. I began with a few neighbors as my first clients, and the business quickly expanded through word of mouth. Today, I have a full roster of clients, a packed Monday-through-Friday schedule, two part-time employees, and I’m currently preparing to bring on a third.
From the beginning, I was intentional about creating the kind of business I would want to hire myself, personalized, trustworthy, and easy to work with. Clients have simple, web-based scheduling access, clear communication, and the confidence that their dog is being cared for as an individual, not a number. Whether we’re exploring dog parks, walking along the river, or discovering the charm of Old Town, every outing is designed to be enriching, safe, and joyful.
At Dominion Dog Walking, every dog’s happiness, well-being, and individuality come first. This business is deeply personal to me, and I treat every dog with the same care and respect I expect for my own.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. In the very beginning, the biggest challenge was simply getting clients. I tried everything from Facebook, to Instagram, and other marketing ideas. I quickly learned that in this business, trust matters more than ads. Word of mouth became the real engine of growth.
Another early struggle was logistics. As clients started coming on board, I was scheduling walks and visits manually, and it became clear very quickly that this wasn’t sustainable. Things were starting to spin out of control. I needed a system that worked for both my clients and my team, so I did my research and adopted a web-based scheduling and management platform called Time to Pet. That decision was a turning point. It allowed me to stay organized, communicate clearly, and scale without sacrificing the personalized service that defines the business.
Hiring and managing employees has been another learning curve. Finding trustworthy, reliable people to care for clients’ dogs is critical and not easy. I spent most of my career as an individual contributor, so stepping into a leadership role meant learning how to manage people, set expectations, and build a team culture from scratch. Thankfully, my years in sales allowed me to work with a wide range of personalities and navigating complex relationships, gave me the confidence and skills to grow into that role.
Each challenge has ultimately strengthened the business. They forced me to be more intentional, more organized, and more thoughtful about how Dominion Dog Walking operates, and that’s made all the difference.
We’ve been impressed with Dominion Dog Walking, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Dominion Dog Walking is a personalized, relationship-focused pet care service founded on the belief that dog care should not be one-size-fits-all. We offer dog walking, adventure hikes, in-home visits, and boarding, customizing each service to match every dog’s personality, energy level, and routine. We are well-known for the high level of care and trust we establish with both dogs and their owners. Many of our clients have demanding jobs or travel frequently, requiring complete confidence that their dogs are safe, happy, and genuinely cared for.
I oversee all aspects of the business personally, shaping our team’s approach to pet care. Our focus is on creating enriching and joyful experiences; long walks, trail adventures, river walks, playdates at dog parks, and exploration of neighborhood green spaces around Old Town. We also pay close attention to dogs that need structure, calm, medication management, or extra patience. Matching the right caregiver and the appropriate activities to each dog is central to our method.
What makes Dominion Dog Walking unique is that it was designed to be the kind of service I would personally choose. We combine personalized care with professional systems, such as easy online scheduling, clear communication, and dependable consistency. Clients know exactly who is caring for their dog and how their day went.
I am proud that our growth has primarily come from word-of-mouth, reflecting the quality of our services. Our reputation is built on trust, reliability, and the genuine happiness of the dogs, rather than on flashy marketing. This isn’t just a dog walking service; it’s a thoughtfully operated business grounded in connection, accountability, and joy. Every dog is treated as an individual, every relationship is important, and each walk is approached with the same care I give my own dog.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory is being outside until the streetlights came on; no phones, no schedules, just bikes, neighborhoods, and figuring things out as we went. That sense of freedom has stayed with me ever since.
Pricing:
- Friday Dog Hike Adventure $75
- Once Daily walk $30
- In home boarding $80
- Sitting at clients house $100
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dominiondogwalking.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dominiondogwalking/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576708320635
