Co-founder
Pamela Smith
Dog lover, nutrition learner, and the people-focused heart behind the business.
Proudly local since 2012
A Nova Scotia business with dogs at its heart
Jollytails began with a dog trainer, a lifelong dog lover, and two unforgettable dogs. Today, that same local spirit lives across four locations throughout Halifax, Dartmouth, and Bayers Lake.
2012The doors opened
How it began
Built from behaviour knowledge and a genuine love of dogs
Before Jollytails, co-founder Tristan Flynn, CDBC, CPDT-KA operated Golden Rule Training, visiting families at home and helping with anxiety, aggression, and everyday behaviour challenges. His work was grounded in humane training and practical education for the people at the other end of the leash.
Pamela Smith brought a lifelong love of dogs and more than a decade of public-service experience to a completely new career. When Jollytails opened in July 2012, she began learning the pet world—from nutrition and best-care practices to the relationships built with local dog families.
Together, they created a place where daycare, training, grooming, and carefully chosen pet products could live under one roof. The idea was simple: make life with dogs happier, easier, and better informed.
Co-founder
Tristan Flynn, CDBC, CPDT-KA
Dog trainer and behaviour educator whose expertise helped shape Jollytails from day one.
Once upon a tail
Two people. Two dogs. One big idea.
That idea grew into four Jollytails locations, but the heart behind it never changed: making life better for dogs and the people who love them.
- 2012
The doors open
Jollytails begins at Intercolonial Street in Halifax, bringing dog daycare, training expertise, grooming, and pet retail together under one roof.
- 2014
Lady Hammond joins the pack
Our second location opens on Lady Hammond Road, sharing a building with Halifax’s first 24-hour veterinary service. It introduces our first separate indoor and outdoor little-dog daycare alongside spacious regular play areas.
- 2018
More room to grow
Lady Hammond moves next door into a larger stand-alone building. That same year, our third—and largest yet—location opens in Burnside, with spacious separate indoor and outdoor play areas for little dogs and the regular daycare pack.
- 2019
Jollytails Resort opens
Our first franchise location opens in Bayers Lake, adding overnight boarding to pet retail, daycare for big and little dogs, grooming, and training.
- Today
Four distinct locations
- Intercolonial Street
- Lady Hammond Road
- Burnside
- Jollytails Resort in Bayers Lake
Each serves its local dog community.
The dogs behind the story
Meet George & Freyja
George the Basset Hound and Freyja the Bernese Mountain Dog were part of Jollytails from the beginning. George helped inspire the business, while Freyja became a familiar face in training classes and demonstrations.
What still guides us
Local roots. Practical care. Plenty of personality.
Locally owned
Jollytails was built in Nova Scotia and continues to be independently owned and operated here.
Knowledge matters
Behaviour, nutrition, safe play, and thoughtful product choices are part of the everyday conversation.
Dogs are individuals
Different sizes, personalities, ages, and needs deserve care that recognizes the dog in front of us.
Always learning
Good pet care keeps evolving, so the Jollytails team keeps asking questions, researching, and sharing what it learns.
Jollytails today
Still proudly Nova Scotian
Four locations, one local team, and a whole lot of dogs. Visit us for pet food and supplies, daycare, grooming, training, socials, or an overnight stay at Jollytails Resort.
- Since
- 2012
- Locations
- 4
- Communities
- Halifax, Dartmouth & Bayers Lake