Harpers Hounds

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

09/09/2024

Buddy 💙

I had the pleasure of meeting Buddy in July, after receiving a call from his dad regarding his behaviour.

Buddy is incredibly strong, as he is a large boy. But underneath all of that, we have a nervous, insecure and unconfident dog.

Buddy was making his feelings quite known while out on walks. He lunges, barks, and has also nipped two people.

He has learnt that behaving like this makes people go away, and for Buddy, this was a win.

Although this behaviour started out as a way of scaring people off, over time it also became quite fun. It is not uncommon for dogs to start out with barking and lunging as a means to keep people away, but then it quickly transforms into a thrill seeking behaviour.

Buddy likes to practice this on other dogs, people, and vehicles (especially white vans!). When a dog has bitten a person, or a dog, my first priority is safety. Buddy’s first piece of kit was a muzzle (courtesy of Thor), so that his owners, and also myself, could start working with him without having to worry about any incidents.

With that in place, the behavioural sessions started. The way I work with reactive dogs is to not avoid their triggers, as this is just not practical going forward. Once I figure out what works for the dog, and why the dog is reacting, the process is straight forward.

This includes the introduction of confident and stable dogs. I need to work Buddy through his behaviours and to start teaching him new pathways to process his big feelings. Stella and Reef are invaluable for this, and I could not help so many dogs without them. They know just what to do and watching them is fascinating. They know to avoid direct eye contact, to maintain soft, non-threatening postures, and to stay as calm as possible. All of this makes the reactive dog start to calm down, and to realise that not all dogs are a threat. The barking and the lunging subside, and the positive reinforcement kicks in.

The reactive dog learns that the presence of other dogs isn’t so scary, and they can in fact, stay neutral. We had a very successful session with Buddy on Sunday, with no reactions, and with Stella and Storm walking a metre behind. He is much more easier to control, his reactions when he has them, aren’t as intense, and his recovery rate is within 20 seconds.

We still have some work to do, but compared to the dog I met two months ago, it is a massive, positive difference. As Buddy is so much easier now, his owners are much more confident with walking him. As he gets out more, his energy levels stabilise, the desensitisation continues, and the reactivity decreases.

Well done Buddy, I love working with dogs like you, and seeing how far you have come in such a short amount of time is so rewarding. I look forward to seeing you as a changed man going forward!

29/08/2024

Weekly Snaps ✨

Oona looks at me like this for the whole walk 🤣

Just a reminder to my Friday clients, there will be no walks today!

I am super excited to be in Melbourne for the Michael Ellis training seminar. Improving my skill set and knowledge base is very important to me, especially because I work with such a wide range of dogs.

Every dog is different, and methods that work great for one may fail on another dog. Learning off multiple canine professionals ensures I can be diverse and help a wide variety of dogs.

I will be back in action on Monday 🐕

21/08/2024

Handsome doggos 💖💙

15/08/2024

Never underestimate your dogs physical requirements.

So many behavioural issues are caused by a lack of exercise, and/or not enough variety.

I didn't understand Storm's physical requirements for a long time. As soon as I worked out that she got her main fulfilment from running, our relationship changed.

She became so much more easier to manage when I realised she simply needed "more."

09/08/2024

Sometimes I cannot deal with this face 💚

Apologies for the lack of photos lately! It's been too cold and wet, plus I have been needing to get home quickly to Storm.

Update. She is doing really well, but still has a long way to go!

She has gone from being a super active and fit dog, to being locked in a crate 23/7.

All of my dogs are crate trained, and Storm is actually coping really well with the confinement. She is loving the wheat bag and the massages especially ❤️

04/08/2024

Awesome day today meeting Josh from Elite Slatmills NZ

Exciting things are coming Harpers Hounds way.....

Stella went for the first test run, and she definitely gave it her best 🤣

More info to come soon

14/07/2024

Hi Everyone!

My name is Cloud.

I am just letting you know that Mum may be a little bit late to all of her walks for the next few months!

She has to come home between each walk to tend to me after my cruciate surgery. My little knee needs icing and a whole range of physio movements multiple times a day.

So please don't worry if she is not there at her usual time, she won't be far away.

Yours sincerely,
Storm

10/07/2024

When you just want to change lanes and this is the view 🤣

05/07/2024

Weekly Photo Reel 🐾

After some much needed time off, it is always fun seeing how excited the doggies are to see me.

Good progress with Ellie and Raven this week. Ellie is learning to sit down instead of trying to run when she becomes overwhelmed. Big trucks are a huge deal for her.

Few dogs away this week so hoping to see everyone soon 🩷

04/07/2024

Kiki is still looking for a home 😢❤️

05/06/2024

How dogs get their nicknames 😅

Most people are surprised to learn that I am a major DragonBall Z nerd. Luckily for me, James is as well.

One time a few years back we were rewatching the series. There is a little puppy in the Buu saga called Bee. Bee wins over the bad guy and makes him good, as dogs do.

And just like that, Stella became the Bee 💖 😂

01/06/2024

Popular spot. Not sure what's so great about it 🤔

Some snaps from this week!

Meet Ellie the husky 💖 She is all grown up now.
We have some serious training to do together. Little Miss is terrified of traffic, especially the big cattle trucks. She will quite happily have a tantrum on the side of the road and try to get off her lead in the process.
It will be back to basics in a quieter street for a bit while we learn to cope with loud noises.

Mac is doing really well with his walking. He still has his moments, say if a really loud motorbike goes past, but overall he has come such a long way and I am really proud of him.

01/06/2024

New threads for the puppies 💜

Check out Thor, Stella and Storm in their new winter jackets from

Custom made to size and you get to choose from a variety of prints.

Such amazing quality too. Check out their page!

28/05/2024

Welcome back Raven 💜

Raven and her sister Ellie will be joining HH twice a week.
Ellie and I have some engagement, focus and leash skills to work on before she can join in on walks.

Raven will soon be meeting Omega, Maya and Loki.

20/05/2024

The Arboretum is where we go to get all wet and muddy.
Huskies love it. Loki, not so much. My car, also not so much.

I caved to the Temu ad for the hard bottomed back seat protector. Best thing I've ever bought. Gives the dogs way more room.

20/05/2024

Happy 10th Birthday Thor and Storm 🎂

My two puppies, who taught me the power of a dogs unconditional love.

Not happy about the double digits, I want them to be 5 again, but I love them doubly more.

No cake for you because you will get the sh*ts ❤️

15/05/2024

My favourite boy ❤️❤️❤️

14/05/2024

Farewell Maya and Shao!

An action packed few years it has been 😎

You have both come so far in terms of reactivity, and it is a shame to see you go ❤️❤️

Husky Maya has a new bandana 😂

Group photos are sometimes terrible.

Puppy boy waiting for dinner 😍

13/05/2024

Who are you hiring to walk your dog? Part Two.

Controversial post incoming, but people need to be aware that their dogs may be at risk. Some serious safety concerns happen on a regular basis in Hamilton alone. Here are some red flags that you should be aware of with dog walkers.

1. They go to a public dog park to exercise your dog.
Any dog walker that does this should be avoided immediately. Dog parks are well known places for high incidents of disease, scuffles, bites, maulings, rude and pushy behaviour. A professional dog walker would never risk any of these things.

2. They drive around with the windows down with dogs barking out the windows.
This is a sign they have no control over the dogs in their care. No dogs should be barking out the windows, especially towards other dogs walking on footpaths. It also means the dogs have the potential to jump out of the vehicle.

3. They don’t do any one on one time with the dog, and introduce a new dog straight into an existing pack.
All dogs need to be tried and tested in a variety of situations and environments before meeting new dogs. Testing recall at the dog park is not a safe, nor professional way to care for a client’s dog, even if the owner says their dogs recall is great. One on one is how a proper relationship is built. If that step is missed, it’s a set up for failure.

4. The dog walker has a high incident rate. Mistakes happen when you work with dogs. I’ve had things happen. I can think of two notable events in nearly 4 years. But the question is what mistakes are happening, and how often. If your dog walker has had a dog die in their care, mauled stock, lost a dog, had a dog jump out of a moving vehicle, repetitive fights, had dogs float away down the river, scuffles in the car, then you have an issue. Events like this should not happen repeatedly, because it means your walker doesn’t have any semblance of control.

5. What do they post on social media?
If they post videos and photos, inspect them. Are the dogs controlled? When playing, is it back and forward, or are the dogs ganging up on others? Do they leap out of the van as soon as a door is opened? Although we humans can interpret rough play and excitement as happy dogs, it can actually signal a state of over arousal and a lack of boundaries. No dogs should be picking on others, dogs as a pack should not be running up to other strange dogs, and nobody should be leaping out of a vehicle as soon as the door is opened. No control = unsafe.

6. How does your dog walker control their dogs?
Do they use leads? Do they use harnesses? Do they use long lines? Do they use physical force? Are you aware of what kind of physical force, and are you comfortable with it?

7. Have you been on a walk with your dog walker to see how they operate?
This is an area even I could improve on. Generally, with all of my reactive dogs, their owner has been for a walk with me. But it can really show a lot about how your walker controls and corrects the dogs.

Note. Everything you have read in Part 4 has happened in Hamilton.

Send a message to learn more

10/05/2024

Who are you hiring to walk your dog?

There is a lot of commotion in the dog walking industry currently, due to a dog being mauled to death by a pack walkers dog in Auckland.

I have been questioning the lack of regulations for a long time, and so it is about time that councils are reconsidering their stance on dog walkers. I see too many people operating with no experience, no procedures, no structure and no regard for the dogs safety.

If you are considering a dog walker, please ask the following questions before you commit.

1. What is your experience?
This is a loaded question. Are you asking experience with dogs, or experience with dog walking? A fellow walker once told me that dog training is a completely different kettle of fish to walking dogs in a pack, and they were absolutely right. Be sure to differentiate.

2. What qualifications do you have?
There are many “qualifications” one can have, but there isn’t a course on how to walk dogs. Sure, there are dog training and behaviour courses, but that isn’t a guaranteed way to make the person better suited to the job. You can have a degree, a diploma, an online certificate, with zero hands on experience. Dogs on paper is completely different to working hands on with real life dogs with personalities. Hands on experience is a must.

3. What is your method of transport?
If there aren’t crates or a method of separating the dogs, be very wary. Any dog walker that says they have never had an issue with dogs free roaming in the back is lying to you. Or it just hasn’t happened yet.

4. Did you seek out a mentor with a reputable dog walker before you started out on your own?
Yes? Great. Who and for how long.
No? May be a cause for concern. Hands on experience is invaluable, and there are plenty of people out there willing to share their knowledge and expertise.

5. Do you have liability insurance?
If something happens to your dog, who pays for the vet bill?

These are just some questions that may help you whittle out the ones to avoid.

Always ask for personal recommendations from people you know and trust.

Social media is very easy to manipulate. Be careful and be cautious.

Send a message to learn more

09/05/2024

When you are going for a nice stroll, and a dog jumps out of a car window and runs at you 🙄

Luckily, the dog decided against attacking (five on one, not good odds).

Idiot owner (and yes, a well deserved title) got out of car and herded dog back through the window and they quickly sped off.

Everybody thinks their dog would never do this, until they do. Or they've probably done it before. People put their dogs lives, and innocent passerbys at risk.

There's a simple solution. Put your windows up. Easy.

A massive thank you to the two girls who saw what was happening and came to help me 😊

07/05/2024

When people ask why I don't like dog parks.

This happens on a daily basis. You just don't hear about it.

I however, do. It's my job to know.

I love dogs. When I say, don't go to the dog park, it is because I care about your dog, and I don't want to risk anything happening. Because it happens.

Everyone says it won't happen to me, until it does.
Then when it does, the chances of finding the owner responsible is next to none.

Your dog is potentially never going to be the same again (attacks are a major cause of reactivity).

When I look at a photo like this, I see that no dog park is worth that. I will always be against dog parks for this very reason.

You cannot be a professional dog walker, responsible for other people's dogs, and be pro dog park.

There are so many other ways to exercise and spend time with your dog.

Shared with permission.

02/05/2024

Samson Says

Just a reminder to my Friday clients, that I am not working tomorrow!

I will see everyone next week 😊

30/04/2024

The hardest part about being a dog trainer is having people not listen to you.

I have been training dogs for over 3 years. I would say 25% of people fully dedicate themselves to their training plans and commit to improving their dogs behaviour.

The others I never hear from again, despite sending follow up messages. I have to assume all is well. The reality is they just can't be bothered doing the work. I see clients flitting from trainer to trainer, looking for that magic quick fix that will always be beyond their reach.

I understand that life gets busy and time spent training the dog often gets put on the back burner, but we made the decision to bring a dog into our lives. They are 100% dependent on us, and the least we can do is be there for them and do right by them. This includes listening to what your dog trainer tells you.

Our advice is valuable. When you work with hundreds of dogs, you can meet a dog and just instantly know things. You know what type of dog they are, what is suitable for them, and what isn't. Our advice isn't always what you want to hear, but it is what is best for you and your dog.

But when you give a client advice on how to manage their dog, and they purposely and willfully ignore it, and their dog ends up dead because of it, it is very hard to move on from that.

I know it's not my fault, I can't force people to listen. I always explain things properly, and take the time to answer all questions and concerns. I explain why. I give examples. I talk about the risks. I know people will make their own decisions, but it is still hard.

I guess the point of this post is to educate people that dog trainers do know what they are talking about. We have your dogs best interests at heart, and we care. Please listen and follow through with our advice. If you have serious doubts, absolutely ask more questions or seek a second opinion. But do not pretend to know better. It never ends well.

29/04/2024

Tragic story, and one that could have been easily avoided if all of the dogs were on lead.

The dog walking industry in New Zealand is heavily unregulated, and this has to change. The scary thing is, is that it probably won’t.
Councils need to step up and protect the public and their dogs, but the same goes for protecting dog walkers. Wellington has made some great progress with this, but there is nothing in Hamilton.

Most dog walkers I know are responsible, cautious, and take the utmost care with handling the dogs within their care.
However, being in the industry, I also hear of several horror stories with others. Anybody can become a dog walker, advertise on Facebook, and before you know it they have 10 dogs off lead at the park.

Dog walking is a serious job and should not be considered as easy. A huge amount of time, effort and skill should go into training each individual dog. I have been laughed at for being “cautious,” but I would rather stick to a small pack because that is all I feel comfortable with, and safety is more important to me than money.

I really feel for this lady and her poor dog.

The owner says her 'hero' dog had to be put down a week after the attack.

26/04/2024

Yes, I will sacrifice my own rain jacket to keep Samson dry 😂

Took Mac on a walk with Charlie and Keira. It was not perfect, but it was great progress. Thank you Liam for the helping hand as Mac was super excited to finally be included 😂

Goodbye to Pac Man and Zsa Zsa 😢 I will miss you guys. Always so excited to go on their walks.

26/04/2024

Meet Miss Willow 🤍

Willow is a 19 week old poodle x golden retriever.
She is your typical back of the pack puppy: flighty, lacking confidence and scared of traffic.

All things I will help her overcome with time and patience.
She's not a fan of me yet, but trust is earnt, and I finally found some treats that she likes 😂

Welcome Willow!