We’ll arrange an initial meet and greet and assessment process. I’m looking at temperament, recall, confidence, responsiveness, and how your dog is likely to cope in a small-group environment.

The walks are best suited to social, active dogs who enjoy being outdoors and can comfortably handle longer walks, varied terrain, and a small-group environment.

As a general rule, the pack isn’t suitable for dogs who are aggressive, highly reactive, under a year old, entire, not immunised, or unable to comfortably manage longer adventures. Dogs with mobility issues, breathing difficulties, strong prey drive, severe anxiety, persistent barking, or problematic car behaviour are also not be suitable.

To help maintain balance and compatibility within the pack, I generally work with medium to large breeds – roughly from Blue Heeler size through to Shepherd or Huntaway size, or solid small dogs such as staffies etc.

Only where appropriate. That depends on your dog’s recall, the trust built over time, the group dynamics, and whether we’re in a Wellington City Council designated off-lead area. In all cases, I’ll practice recall extensively in a fully-fenced area first, before the dog is ever considered for off-leash walking.

Control starts long before the walk itself. I take time to build trust with each dog, understand their behaviour, reinforce boundaries, and encourage calm, balanced pack behaviour and cohesion.

Dogs are kept moving with structure and purpose, which helps maintain focus and reduces tension or overstimulation. Leads are used where needed – particularly during training, around hazards, or in higher-distraction environments. Every dog is continually assessed throughout the walk to ensure they remain safe, responsive, and under control.

That depends on the extent of the pulling. I’ll assess this during one or more trial walks before introducing your dog into the pack environment.

Dogs are encouraged to walk calmly, stay engaged with their handler, and settle into a more relaxed walking rhythm over time. Many improve quite quickly, but if additional work is needed I may recommend extra trial walks, training sessions, or some homework before joining the regular pack.

Some dogs settle immediately, while others need a bit more time and reassurance. I work calmly and patiently with nervous or uncertain dogs, and I’m comfortable handling a wide range of personalities and confidence levels.

Most dogs adapt surprisingly quickly once they become familiar with the routine, vehicle, and pack dynamic. If your dog is particularly anxious, please let me know beforehand so I can allow extra time during introductions and early pick-ups. It’s also helpful if you’re home for the first collection.

Yes. Walks generally go ahead rain or shine unless there’s a serious weather warning or conditions become unsafe.

Dogs usually take their cues from the humans around them, so if the outing still feels fun and positive, most are more than happy to get on with the adventure. It may mean muddy paws and wet coats from time to time, but that’s all part of outdoor life. Towels, heaters, and warm blankets are always on hand for the trip home.

Walks take place throughout the Greater Wellington region – beaches, bush tracks, hills, paddocks, walkways, and quieter off-the-beaten-track spots.

I’m often asked to share exact locations, but I generally keep them private so the adventures remain special for the dogs and away from overly busy areas.

Each pack walk runs for 90 minutes, with pickup and drop-off time on top of that. It’s not 90 minutes of marching non-stop – there’s a mix of movement, play, sniffing, learning, and occasional downtime depending on the dogs and the day.

For safety during transport, all dogs must wear a secure, well-fitted harness so they can be safely clipped into the vehicle while travelling.

Not necessarily. Many clients aren’t home during pick-up or drop-off times.

As long as there’s a safe and agreed way to access or return your dog, that’s absolutely fine. Some dogs are returned to secure yards, some owners provide key access or instructions, and others leave a spare key with me for ongoing walks.

Dogs are active animals, and with running, jumping, playing, and exploring, there’s always some level of risk involved – just as there is during everyday life at home or on personal walks.

That said, safety is taken seriously and I do everything possible to minimise unnecessary risk and care for the dogs as if they were my own. A canine first aid kit is always carried, and if veterinary attention is ever needed, I’ll contact you immediately.

At this stage, no. The service is built around regular dogs and stable pack dynamics, so casual bookings don’t really fit the model.

Not every dog is suited to this kind of environment. If it’s not the right fit, I’ll let you know early on. If it’s a matter of working through minor behavioural issues, I offer one-on-one sessions on Fridays that can help.

Behaviour is actively shaped during every walk through structure, repetition, guidance, and real-world social interaction. If your dog needs more dedicated training support, I can help via my Friday solo sessions or point you in the right direction.

I take safety extremely seriously and run the service with clear systems and boundaries in place. More detailed information around cancellations, responsibility, and service terms can be found within the policies and client agreement.

No. Pricing is kept consistent across the board and discounts aren’t currently offered for additional dogs or recurring bookings.

There’s usually an active waitlist, however placements aren’t handled strictly in order. Because the packs are intentionally small and carefully balanced, new openings are matched based on compatibility, temperament, energy levels, and overall fit with the existing group.

Some dogs may join quite quickly, while others may wait longer depending on the type of space that becomes available.