Walks give your dog movement, enrichment and time with you. With Paw Rewards, an eligible member can also earn rewards walking their dog by recording an Adventure, collecting safely accessible Treats and joining eligible app activities.

The important word is eligible. Paw Rewards is part of Paw Privileges, and Treat earning is available to members connected through participating breeders and partners. A public account can explore the app and track dog walks, but it does not earn Treats. This guide explains the walk flow, what the app records, how eligible rewards may be earned and how to use location responsibly.

Quick answer: Sign in to Paw Rewards, open Adventures, choose your dog and the type of outing, allow the required location access, and start the walk. During the Adventure, follow your real-world route—not the map—and collect only Treats that are safe and appropriate to reach. End and save the walk to see the recorded distance, time and any eligible Treat activity.

Before you start your first Paw Rewards walk

A few minutes of setup will make your first tracked walk much smoother.

• Sign in to the correct account. If your membership came through a participating breeder or partner, use the account connected to that invitation.
• Add your dog. A complete dog profile lets you choose the right dog when you begin an Adventure and keeps that dog's activity together.
• Use the installed app when possible. The installed mobile app is the best choice for continuous route tracking, especially when your screen turns off.
• Turn on precise location. Paw Rewards needs accurate location access to record the route and recognize nearby map activity during an active walk.
• Check your phone before leaving. A charged battery, a working data connection and location services that are not restricted by battery-saving settings can prevent interruptions.

If you are new to the platform, begin with How Paw Rewards Works. It explains the larger Paw Rewards experience, including dog profiles, Adventures, Paw Quests and the difference between app participation and eligible Treat earning.

How to earn rewards walking your dog: the complete walk flow

1. Open Adventures

Sign in, open Adventures and choose the option to start a new Adventure. Adventures are the app's activity records. A walk must be started in the app before Paw Rewards can record its time, route or eligible activity.

If you simply carry your phone without starting an Adventure, the app is not running a Paw Rewards walk in the background. This is an intentional privacy boundary: active tracking begins when you tell the app that the outing has started.

2. Choose your dog and Adventure type

Select the dog joining you, then choose the activity that best matches the outing. A standard Walk is right for most neighbourhood or park walks. Other options may include Walk & Train, Tracking & Scent, Agility Adventures, a dedicated Training Session or another activity available in the app.

Choose honestly so the record reflects life with your dog. Paw Rewards may change eligible activities, challenges and bonuses over time, and no Adventure type guarantees a reward.

3. Allow location access

On your first tracked outing, your phone may ask how Paw Rewards can use location. Choose precise location and follow the prompts needed for tracking while the app is in use. On a supported installed app, allowing background location lets the walk continue recording if your screen turns off or you briefly use another app.

A browser is more easily paused by a phone's background restrictions. If you are walking through a browser, keep it open and the screen awake when practical. You can change permissions later in device settings.

4. Start the Adventure and follow the real world

Tap the start control when you and your dog are ready to move. Paw Rewards begins building the route from available GPS samples. It can record elapsed time and distance while the walk is active, but GPS quality varies around tall buildings, dense tree cover, underground areas and weak-signal locations.

Your dog's safety and the real environment always come first. The route on your screen is a record and discovery aid—not an instruction to cross a road, enter private property or leave an appropriate trail.

5. Collect Treats only when they are safely accessible

During some active Adventures, eligible members may see Treats or other discoveries on the map. These are short-lived opportunities associated with suitable public areas such as streets, corners, parks or green space. Walk normally and collect one only when you are close enough and can reach it without changing safe handling of your dog.

Never chase a digital reward into traffic, onto private property, across unsafe terrain or into an area where dogs are not permitted. Do not stop where you block a path, and do not let the phone distract you from another dog, wildlife, cyclists, children or changing weather. If a Treat is not safely accessible, leave it. Another opportunity matters far less than a safe walk.

You may not see map Treats on every outing. Availability can depend on the current program, location, route, timing, eligibility and active events. The app avoids placing an opportunity when it cannot confirm an appropriate public location.

6. Use optional walk features

Depending on the Adventure, you may be able to pause and resume tracking, add a Memory, record the weather or complete a training activity. These features help make the record more meaningful.

Pause for a break you do not want included in the movement record, then resume before continuing. For Walk & Train, choose exercises suited to your dog, training plan and environment. Paw Rewards supports informed training choices rather than one universal method or tool.

7. End and save the walk

When the outing is finished, end the Adventure and save it. Paw Rewards finalizes the available route and activity data, then displays an Adventure summary. The summary can include recorded time, distance and Treats associated with that outing.

Ending the Adventure stops active tracking. If the signal dropped, the recorded distance may be shorter than the ground covered; missing GPS sections are not invented.

8. Share thoughtfully, if you choose

Paw Rewards can create a shareable Adventure card. Sharing is optional. Some sharing activities may be eligible for Treats when they are part of the current rewards program and meet any verification requirements, but posting an Adventure does not automatically guarantee a reward.

Before sharing, check what the image or route reveals. Avoid publishing your home address, a routine departure point or any private detail.

What Paw Rewards tracks during a dog walk

A saved Adventure may include:

• the dog or dogs selected for the outing;
• the chosen Adventure type;
• start and end time;
• duration and GPS-based distance;
• route and location samples available while tracking;
• collected Treats or eligible discoveries;
• optional Memories, notes, weather or completed walk activities; and
• a finalized Adventure summary.

Location is used for walk tracking only while an Adventure is active. Results still depend on device permissions and signal.

Which walking activities can earn Treats?

For an eligible member, a completed walk may contribute to Treat earning in several ways. The exact combination can change as Paw Rewards introduces challenges, seasonal activities and partner-supported opportunities.

• Map Treats and discoveries: collect safely accessible opportunities shown during an eligible active Adventure.
• First or daily activity: a first Adventure or qualifying activity period may be recognized when that program is active.
• Consistency: walking streaks and participation milestones may recognize an established routine.
• Distance or Adventure milestones: an outing may contribute to an active milestone without turning every metre into a fixed amount.
• New places: eligible discoveries can encourage owners to explore suitable dog-friendly areas.
• Paw Quests and bonus events: a walk may advance an active challenge or limited program.
• Optional sharing: a qualifying share may earn Treats when the activity is active and any review requirements are met.

Treat amounts, requirements and availability are not permanently fixed. Check the app for the current activity before relying on an old screenshot or social post. For the broader earning system, read How to Earn Treats in the Paw Rewards App.

Plan the walk for your dog—not for the reward

A useful dog walk app should support responsible ownership, not push every dog to the same distance. Age, breed, conditioning, health, temperature, terrain and purpose all matter. A sniff walk, structured training walk and athletic outing are not interchangeable.

Puppies need activity that respects growth and development; seniors and dogs returning from injury need equally individual planning. See How Much Exercise Does a Puppy Need?. For health or recovery concerns, consult a qualified Canadian professional who understands your dog.

Also adjust for Canadian conditions. Hot pavement, wildfire smoke, deep snow, road salt, ice and low visibility can make the usual route inappropriate. The best reward is never worth ignoring your dog's gait, breathing, paws, comfort or willingness to continue.

Privacy and location settings

Paw Rewards needs location access to create a route and support nearby map activity, but you control when an Adventure begins and ends. Start tracking only when ready, end the Adventure when the walk is complete, keep your account secure and avoid sharing routes that identify your home. You can change location access in device settings at any time.

Troubleshooting a Paw Rewards walk

The route or distance is incomplete

Enable precise location and the required permission. Battery-saving modes can restrict background tracking; a browser should remain open. Buildings, tree cover and weak GPS can create gaps, and Paw Rewards does not count distance it cannot reliably record.

The walk paused when my screen turned off

Use the installed app, allow background location and review battery restrictions. In a mobile browser, keep the screen awake when practical.

I completed a walk but did not earn Treats

Confirm that your account is an eligible breeder- or partner-connected membership. Public accounts can track Adventures but do not earn Treats. For eligible members, results can depend on collected map activity, current challenges, timing, verification and current rules.

I cannot collect a map Treat

Confirm precise location and that you are safely near the public map point. Treats are live and may expire. Never enter an unsafe or restricted area to reach one.

I forgot to end the Adventure

Return to the active Adventure and end it. If the connection was interrupted, allow the app time to finalize recorded data instead of repeatedly starting another walk.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get rewards for walking my dog in Canada?

Eligible Paw Rewards members can earn Treats through qualifying walk activity in Canada. Eligibility, active opportunities and requirements apply. A public account can use tracking and discovery features but does not earn Treats.

Does Paw Rewards pay for every kilometre?

No. Paw Rewards should not be understood as a fixed payment for every kilometre. A walk can contribute through collected Treats, milestones, streaks, Paw Quests, discoveries or other activities currently offered to eligible members.

Do I need to keep the app open for the entire walk?

The installed app can support background location when the correct permission is enabled. Mobile browsers are more likely to pause tracking when backgrounded, so keeping the browser open and screen awake gives it the best chance to record continuously.

Can I use Paw Rewards for training walks?

Yes. Choose Walk & Train or the closest available Adventure type. Use training methods and tools correctly, match them to the individual dog and handler, and prioritize awareness, education and a healthy working relationship.

Start your first Paw Rewards walk

A good first Adventure is simple: choose a familiar route, verify location access before leaving, start the walk in Adventures and pay attention to your dog and surroundings. Treats are an added layer of participation—not the reason to compromise the walk.

Start your first walk in Paw Rewards. If you do not yet have an account, create your Paw Rewards account and complete your dog's profile first.