We’ll kick off with a relaxed meet and greet so I can get to know your dog properly. I’ll be looking at things like temperament, recall, confidence, and how responsive they are – just to make sure it’s the right fit all round.

The walks suit social, active dogs who love being outdoors and can handle longer walks, varied terrain, and a small-group setting.

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, a strong prey drive, severe anxiety, persistent barking, or tricky car behaviour also won’t be a great fit.

To keep things balanced, I generally work with medium to large breeds – roughly Blue Heeler size through to Shepherd or Huntaway size – or solid small dogs like Staffies. Friendly, well-mannered giant breeds are absolutely welcome too!

Only where it makes sense. That depends on your dog’s recall, the trust we’ve built over time, the group dynamics, and whether we’re in a Wellington City Council designated off-lead area. In every case, I’ll work on recall extensively in a fully-fenced area first, before a dog is ready for off-leash walking.

Control starts well before the walk itself. I take the time to build trust with each dog, get a read on their behaviour, reinforce boundaries, and encourage calm, balanced pack behaviour.

Dogs are kept moving with structure and purpose, which helps with focus and keeps overstimulation in check. Leads are used where needed – particularly during training, around hazards, or in busier spots. Every dog is assessed throughout the walk to make sure they stay safe, responsive, and under control.

That depends on the extent of the pulling. I’ll get a feel for this during trial walk before bringing your dog into the pack.

Dogs are encouraged to walk calmly, stay tuned in to their handler, and ease into a more relaxed rhythm over time. Most improve pretty quickly, but if more work’s needed, I might suggest a few solo training sessions, or a bit of homework before joining the regular pack.

Some dogs settle in straight away, others need a bit more time and reassurance. I work calmly and patiently with nervous or unsure dogs, and I’m comfortable with all sorts of personalities and confidence levels.

Most dogs come round surprisingly quickly once they’re familiar with the routine, the vehicle, and the pack. If your dog tends to be anxious, give me a heads up beforehand so I can allow extra time for introductions and early pick-ups. It also helps if you’re home for that first collection.

Yep. Walks generally go ahead rain or shine, unless there’s a serious weather warning or things get unsafe.

Dogs tend to take their cues from us, so if the outing still feels fun and positive, most are keen to get on with it. There might be muddy paws and wet coats now and then, but that’s just part of life outdoors. Towels, heaters, and warm blankets are always on hand for the trip home.

Walks happen all over the Greater Wellington region – beaches, bush tracks, hills, paddocks, walkways, and a few quieter, off-the-beaten-track spots.

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

For safety during transport, all dogs need to wear a secure, well-fitted harness so they can be safely clipped in for the ride.

Not necessarily. Plenty of clients aren’t home during pick-up or drop-off.

As long as there’s a safe, agreed way to access or return your dog, that’s all good. Some dogs go back to a secure yard, some owners give 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 – just like there is during everyday life at home or on a regular walk.

That said, safety’s taken seriously, and I do everything I can to minimise unnecessary risk and look after the dogs as if they were my own. A canine first aid kit is always on hand, and if vet attention is ever needed, I’ll get in touch with you straight away.

Not at this stage. The service is built around regular dogs and stable pack dynamics, so casual bookings don’t really fit the model.

Not every dog suits this kind of environment, and if it’s not the right fit, I’ll let you know early on. If it’s more about working through minor behavioural stuff, I offer one-on-one sessions on Fridays that can help.

Behaviour gets 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 things with clear systems and boundaries in place. You’ll find more detail on cancellations, responsibility, and service terms in the policies and client agreement.

No. Pricing stays consistent across the board, and discounts aren’t currently offered for extra dogs or recurring bookings.

There’s usually an active waitlist, though placements aren’t strictly first-come-first-served. Because the packs are kept small and carefully balanced, new spots are matched based on compatibility, temperament, energy levels, and overall fit with the existing group.

Some dogs might get in quite quickly, while others may wait a bit longer depending on what space comes up.