INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT: Vancouver Dog Adventures: Indiana Bones // Sam (He/Him) & Oscar
I got the chance to meet Sam and his beautiful boy Oscar. Sam is the owner, founder, and head dog dad in charge at Indiana Bones and in this blog post, I’m happy to give you a glimpse into who the amazing human is behind it all.
Vancouver based Indiana Bones specializes in dog adventures which include dog hiking, weekend walks, boarding & sitting, and seasonal 2-day camping trips.
“Indiana Bones is a premier dog hiking company based in Vancouver, specializing in thrilling off-leash adventures for our furry friends. As passionate dog lovers, we understand the importance of providing dogs with opportunities to explore the great outdoors and engage in physical activities that allow them to unleash their instincts.
At Indiana Bones, we take pride in our unique service of taking dogs from Vancouver to the North Shore for exciting off-leash hikes. Our carefully planned routes and knowledgeable guides ensure that each hiking adventure is not only thrilling but also safe for our beloved canine companions. Whether it’s trekking through scenic trails, splashing in refreshing streams, or chasing after their furry friends, our dogs are guaranteed to have a fantastic time on our hikes.”
Originally from Brazil, Sam began his life in Vancouver in 2018 still as a mechanical engineer with two master’s degrees, in industrial management in human resources. But his deep love for dogs, which started since he was very young, inspired his career change when he started Indiana Bones. He felt aligned and was finally doing something he truly loved.
Sam’s had many dogs over the years and it started with a Doberman called Ariane. Many others came after: Nikita (Poodle), Antaris (Husky), Bubby (German Sheppard), Jimmy (Sheepdog) and finally Anya (Shar-pei) and Oscar (mix of Lab and Great Pyrenees – featured in this post!).
“Each of them has taught me as much as I have taught them.”
What is the most rewarding thing about your business and what you do?
The most rewarding thing is see the happiness of the dogs when we arrive to pick them up and the owners when we drop them off.
Have there been challenges? If so, how did you overcome them and what positive things came out of it?
There were many challenges but I believe the biggest one was learning how to balance my personal and professional life and maintain an interesting, innovative and vibrant business. I had a rough start in 2022 but the community is very supportive here in Vancouver and they understood the bleeps that happened along the way. The financial balance was a struggle. The company revamp launched in January 2024, and through that I finally was able to have free time for myself and actually start making money. The revamp was a success and now I realize that I am truly capable to create innovative and functional things.
I am a more confident man now.
What has been your proudest moment in your business journey so far?
There were many proud moments for me from reaching 50 reviews on Google, and maintaining a 5-star average, to quickly receiving an award from Georgia Straight’ Best of Vancouver.
However, the proudest and most meaningful moment for me, was laying down on the sofa and realizing how great what we do really is – it’s an exchange of love between us, dogs and clients and how little of the natural resources we use to operate.
I’d love to hear about your dog! What is their name, age and type?
My dog’s name is Oscar and he is almost 3 years old. Oscar is a mix of Lab and Great Pyreness!
What are some things that you love about your dog and why?
I love how expressive his face is and how easy to read he is. You can tell immediately if he is grumpy, anxious, bored… He also lays down on my chest when he sees I’m sad.
Does your dog have any special quirks or personality traits that are unique to them, or just simply make you melt?
He howls when I play saxophone his howling follows the volume! If I play low he howls really low.
One of the little thing I love is the way he raises his paw so I can put his harness on.
Dogs can teach us so much about ourselves. What have been some lessons you have learned about yourself?
Forgiveness, shake bad things off and reset.
What does the perfect day, time spent together with your dog, look like for you both?
Camping, a good hike and nap.
Thank you Sam & Oscar!
Follow Indiana Bones on Instagram here @indiana.bones.vancouver and to for more info on all the wonderful things they offer, check out their website indianabones.ca!
HAUS OF RUFUS
“Your pet is your best friend for part of your life,
but you are their best friend for all of theirs.”
Haus of Rufus is a pet friendly, photography studio in Vancouver that was born out of the love for our Goldendoodle, Rufus. We invite you to Haus of Rufus, a space where we help you capture meaningful, authentic and vibrant portraits of you and your loved ones.
And if you are lucky enough to be the guardian of a pet, we’d love to capture your bond, at any stage of their precious and significant life.