ABOUT US

In December of 2007, Sid Velander created Have Leash Will Travel in the West Loop neighborhood of Chicago. His goal was and will always be to provide the highest quality of at-home dog care, catering specifically to discerning dog owners looking for a more professional option when seeking a dog walker or pet sitter. On the dog training side of the business, Have Leash has come to specialize in rehabilitation, or behavior modification, and in obedience training for puppies, large dogs, and bully breeds.

Entering the dog business in early 2005, Sid worked as a kennel manager in Chicago for nearly 3 years. During the last year at the kennel, he apprenticed to become an obedience trainer. Although he learned all aspects of obedience training and worked with all variety of dogs, Sid’s mentor was particularly skilled at working with large dogs & bully breeds with aggression problems. Sid coupled the hands-on training by immersing himself in the study of dog psychology & animal behavior not only in order to become a better professional, but specifically to learn to assist dogs that suffer from behavioral problems, such as separation issues, aggression & fear.

A native North Dakotan, Sid completed his undergraduate studies at Carleton College in Minnesota and his graduate studies at the University of Southern California in L.A, where he earned a Masters of Fine Arts in the prestigious Cinema/TV program.  He loves sports & exercise, favors old-time country-western music, Bob Dylan, and late-60s & 70s-era rock ‘n roll.  He always enjoys reading and pursuing his life-long passion for collecting & studying films. Most of all, however, he lives to spend time with dogs.

In mid-2012, Sid decided to leave Chicago and return to Minnesota, settling in St Paul, where he plans to stay permanently and bring the highest quality of dog and pet care to the great people of the Twin Cities.  His fabulous mutt, Isis, who is featured extensively in this site, passed away in 2018.  He currently lives with his cat, Walter, in the Mac-Grove neighborhood and is expected a Labrador puppy in early 2021.