Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Obergfoll.
Hi Jason, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Reservoir Doggies truly began with Emma. She started the business from the ground up in Los Angeles, and then rebuilt it again from scratch when we moved to Minneapolis. Emma has always had a natural, intuitive connection with animals, she’s the kind of person dogs instantly trust. Her passion for rescue work, behavior, holistic wellness, and structure is what shaped the foundation of the company.
When she relaunched the business here, I began helping more and more with the walking side while still pursuing my career as a recording engineer and music producer. Like many artists, I needed a way to support my creative work that still felt meaningful, grounding, and aligned with who I am. Working with dogs became the perfect balance.
Over the last decade, I’ve developed my own deep expertise from thousands of hours walking, training, observing, and building relationships with dogs. My experience has grown organically, shaped by real dogs, real challenges, and real daily work — always guided by Emma’s leadership and instinct.
Our employee also comes from a creative background, specializing in up-cycled artwork and community art markets. There’s a shared creative spirit in our team, but Emma is the steady, knowledgeable center of the business, the one whose natural understanding of animals anchors everything we do.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Growing a dog-walking business in a brand new city, twice, came with plenty of challenges. Emma had to rebuild her client base from the ground up after leaving Los Angeles, and navigating the seasons, the demand, and the logistics of Minneapolis took time and patience.
On my side, balancing a music career with the physical demands of this work required a lot of structure. Most artists know the reality of needing a second career that supports your art, and I’m grateful that mine keeps me grounded, moving, and surrounded by animals all day.
There were also the typical small-business hurdles: unpredictable weather, scheduling, growth, and the emotional responsibility of caring for people’s family members. But all of those challenges strengthened our systems, our communication, and the level of care we can provide to our clients.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Reservoir Doggies focuses on structured enrichment walks, pack hikes, and confidence-building routines for dogs of all ages and temperaments. Emma leads the behavior and wellness side of the business, her natural understanding of nervous, reactive, or rescue dogs is something our clients trust deeply. She brings a holistic perspective that blends structure, reassurance, and intuitive communication.
My own expertise has developed over more than a decade of hands-on experience. There’s something unique that happens when you spend years walking, observing, and working with dogs every single day, you learn body language, patterns, thresholds, and emotional states in a way that can only come from lived experience. I’ve become a specialist in structured, calm walks, building consistency, and supporting anxious or excitable dogs through routine and relationship.
Our employee brings a creative, community-oriented perspective, and between the three of us, the company has become a blend of animal expertise and artistic energy. What sets us apart is that we’re not just dog walkers, we’re a creative team who takes the emotional and behavioral well-being of each dog seriously.
What we’re most proud of are the transformations: the shy rescues who learn confidence, the overstimulated dogs who discover calm, and the families who tell us their dogs’ whole lives have changed because of consistent routine and care.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can reach out for:
Weekly recurring walks
Pack hikes and trail outings
Enrichment-based solo walks
Leash training
new rescue coaching
Confidence-building walks for sensitive or rescue dogs
We’re also open to collaborations with:
Local artists
Musicians
Photographers
Pet boutiques
Groomers
Trainers
Rescues
Foster networks
We love being part of the Minneapolis creative + dog community.
Pricing:
- 1 Hour group hike – $32
- 30 Min Power Walk/Visit: $25
- Dog Coaching Session: 1.25 HR $80
- Dog Boarding: Please Inquire / $75-$90
- Add $15 for an additional dog for dogwalking services.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://reservoirdoggies.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reservoirdoggiesmsp/
- Other: https://www.onesweetdreamrecording.com
