Harpers Hounds

19/02/2025

We welcome little Ollie the Maltese to our pack walks 💙

Adding a new dog can be fun, but as Ollie is related to Jaz and Harley, there were no need for safe introductions on that side.

That left Loki, Maya and Omega, but with the assistance of they all gave him the tick of approval 👌

He has settled right in, as you can see from his little smiling face. I think Loki is stoked to finally have another small dog in the crew.

Thank you Lauri for lending a helping hand as always 😊

28/01/2025

Happy Birthday Baz 💙

Baz and I have been acquainted since he was four months old.
How is he is now turning 5!?
He is always a delight. Loves being up the front in the car. The other dogs are obsessed with him. Such a handsome fellow. His little fluffy feet are the best 😍

18/12/2024

One thing I get asked is how do I transport my dogs?

Because I walk a maximum of seven dogs at one time, I only transport six dogs at a time, because I walk from the 7th dogs house.

I am planning a video to show how my car is set up, but in summary, I have custom built gates that separate the passenger seat, the back seat, and the boot.

This allows me to separate the dogs that do not like other dogs in their space because I have three sections. The passenger dog gets clipped and belted in and the backseat is reinforced so there is no gap between the cage and the seat (will explain in video).

Windows are up, locks are on, and no dogs can jump out. They are also not allowed to jump out as soon as a door opens. There are also restraints so I can clip the dogs in.

I practice alot of thresholds to ensure the dogs safety around traffic hazards. When walking residentially I have to be mindful and respectful of other dogs walking past, people backing out of driveways, and pedestrians.

As always, dog safety always comes first with me.

Also, the dogs on my car are modelled after my actual dogs. In the exact order ❤️😂

17/12/2024

Today I had a delightful reuinion with an old client. I haven't seen Zoe in over a year? as she moved towns.

Luckily her dad just happened to drive past me out walking and called me over to say hello.

It honestly made my day ❤️ I miss that big floof. She looks exactly the same and she definitely remembered me. Such a lovely, happy dog who was always excited to see me.

Please note. Nobody else is allowed to move towns 😂

16/12/2024

Another Christmas is fast approaching 🎄

A reminder to all, my last day is this Friday the 20th of December.
Walking shall resume on Monday the 13th of January.
Slatmills are open by appointment only 😊

Harpers Hounds wishes everybody a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 🎊

09/12/2024

Prong Collars

In the past month or so, I have had some really intriguing conversations with two other Hamilton trainers, about prong collars.

Generally, most people do not like prong collars because of what they look like, and in all honesty, they do not look pleasant.
However, image aside, understanding how they work is key to understanding why they are such a valuable tool for certain dogs.

My main choice of tool is a slip leash. Leash pressure is one of my main methods of keeping the dogs under control. All of my dogs have been trained with an R+ and R- method for walking. Every single one of my clients walks with a slip leash, and they all receive weeks and weeks of individual training.

One thing I have noticed over my four years in business, is if a dog is really lungey, or pulls really hard on leash, then their neck is desensitized to normal slip leash pressure. If they are really strong, then a harness is out of the question. Often, the dog has actually pulled their owner over, and there is no semblance of control. The dog cannot be walked, because physically they are too strong, and mentally they do not care about pulling against their leash.

If a dog has not been taught to follow, then this leads to a massive problem for their owners. How can they safely walk their dog when they pull them over? The dog may also resist a halti, and perhaps also has to be muzzled for safety. A muzzle and a halti combo is impossible. This leaves the prong collar.

I also tier my tools. I start with a slip leash. I do lots of positive reinforcement with loose lead walking. With about 80% of my dogs, that is sufficient.
About 15% of my dogs need more control. I then go to a figure 8 on a slip leash (type of a halti). Some dogs (mainly excitable dogs) need the extra head control. Some reactive dogs benefit really well from this also.
The remaining 5% may need even more. In four years, I have tried a prong collar on Storm, to learn how it worked, but she doesn’t walk on one now. (She is a figure 8 gal).

I have walked hundreds of dogs, and have only ever prong collared four dogs. It is not my go to tool, but I will consider it for the dogs safety, and the owners safety. If a dog is really reactive and pulling to the extent the owner is in danger, then I will recommend the appropriate tools.

I believe that if the correct tool means the owner has confidence in walking their dog safely, then we have success. I believe that they need to be properly used, and owners taught by a professional first.
Education is key, because there is a whole range of other factors to consider (brands/positioning/size) and so making sure you have these correct is crucial.

They definitely have been stigmatised, along with lots of other dog training tools, but the reality is they can improve the quality of dogs lives and dog ownership.

06/12/2024

Happy birthday to a very special girl.

Miss Willow has come so far in her one year of life!

From being quite frightened of the world, and me, she is now happily jumping in my car and going for walks with her best friends. She loves Charlie, Fern and Oona ♥️

Good luck for Monday with the snip snip x

19/11/2024

Photo Catch Ups!

Am back into it after a four day seminar with

I had a great time learning some very valuable insights with his Dogmanship and Socialisation classes.

Learning is never ending in the dog training world, when you want to do it properly.

Every dog is different, and one day you might just need that technique you thought you would never use.

07/11/2024

Silly Sausages 🌭

Arboretum Vibes 🌞

Bee the Ghost 👻

Chill walks with the crew, 4 dogs, 4 leads, one finger 🤣

26/10/2024

I'm cute and I know it 💖

The warmer weather is approaching, so it will mean starting walks earlier!

The concrete can get too hot by 10-11am, and when you are doing three walks, this doesn't leave alot of time!

I will be in touch with my first walk clients very soon 😊

17/10/2024

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16/10/2024

Spring vibes 🌸 Summer is on the way.

Buddy and I went to hang out with to further his training. Buddy met some cows and decided he quite likes Matt after all.

Queen Bee in her favourite spot 👑

14/10/2024

👌👌👌

08/10/2024

18/09/2024

Let's Normalise Muzzles 💪 And how to act when you see a muzzled dog.

Muzzles are a great way to integrate a dog into a situation that they normally wouldn't be safe in.

Some examples include dog aggression, people aggression, prey driven dogs, dogs that eat things off the ground, and dogs that need extra space.

That's right. Muzzles are also a great deterrent for keeping other dogs away, as people in general are much more responsible with their own dogs if they see a muzzled dog. They automatically assume something is wrong, and make extra effort to give you space.

When I see a muzzled dog out walking, I don't care much for the why. All I see is a responsible owner out walking their dog. I see plenty of dogs that should be muzzled, and aren't.

I also see alot of people who don't know what to do when they walk past a muzzled dog. I understand people are curious, but my advice would be to continue on. Give the dog space and move by. If you are out walking your own dog, give the muzzled dog as much space as you can, and continue on.

I have had a few instances where people ask why the dog is muzzled, all while eyeballing the dog in question. I would strongly advise to not make direct eye contact with a dog with a muzzle on, and to not directly approach a dog with a muzzle on.

I muzzle my own dog, Thor. If we come across a roaming dog and the dog approaches, he will try to bite it. His training means that this might only happen 1/10 times, but I am not prepared to take any risks. Muzzling him meant he could come out walking with me more, because he was safe. He would meet new dogs without me having to worry. And he got better.

So let's normalise muzzle use. They help dogs in so many ways, and they are an under utilised tool. Safety first over stigma.

18/09/2024

Meet Mr. Zeus 💚

Reactivity comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes.
Zeus here came to Harpers Hounds, with the help of to improve his confidence around other dogs and people.

Zeus has the tendency to lunge and bark at things that give him a fright, such as people in high vis clothing, and dogs behind fences.

He is also very unsure about how to act around other dogs, and so we have been teaching him neutrality and calmness, and making sure he understands his space is respected.

He has been walking with the crew for a couple of months now, and we have seen a massive improvement in his demeanour. He hasn't barked or lunged in weeks, and he is slowly accepting his little friends.

He now takes treats from my hand, something he was very hesitant with at first, and today he walked with Stella, Storm, Reef, Toby, plus Lauri's crew and did so well.

Good work Zeus! He is a handsome boy, and it is always awesome to see them come out of their shell.

18/09/2024