Needlenose Hound Services - exclusive Greyhound walking, care & homestays

25/08/2024

Thanks to all who turned up today for a walk and lunch to celebrate our 7th birthday! We think around 30 plus hounds and their hoomans, please comment your hounds name if we don't have it and feel free to add photos 🎉

16/08/2024

The hoomans at Upper Hutt Needlenose have been a little busy giving houndies pats and attention and forgetting to post pictures! Here is a wee collection of our recent visitors; Cameron (Cameron's Indalo), Sammy (Custom Paint), Zoi (Glorious You), Dice (Unraced) and Ottie (Unraced). So many delightful hounds!

11/08/2024

Lovely Needlenose regular Mia (Toki Girl) has spent the last couple of weekends in Otaki, she's a delight to host, demanding snuggles and scritches, but her favourite place is the couch 💓 see you soon Mia.

05/08/2024

Well hai from Lola-Zoe, I have been extra busy sorting out the home stays of late, it’s been very busy at Valley Rd base.
Skeeter (Cawbourne Skeeta) is much bigger than me, he’s been here for a long, long stay, I quite like him…
Barney (McLovin) and Ollie (Stay Groovy) are back again and they are also much bigger than me……actually I’m always the smallest but I’m still the boss. Silvi hardly ever gets out of bed to help keep everything in order, I have to light her up with some silly play now and again. 😂

03/08/2024

Attention all Needlenosers ☀️👏

SAVE THE DATE Sunday 25th August 25

Needlenose Hounds has been caring for, loving hounds & supporting hound owners for 7 YEARS!!!
It’s our anniversary & we will be having usual birthday party in the Hound paddock on the 25th August at 10.45am
Format to be advised but definitely fun,fun, fun.
It’s been a year of changes for us, we have grown to 9 bases of experienced wonderful carers & Marita and I (Kerry-Ann) have said goodbye to our own hounds Gracie (passed 1 year ago) & recently Brixie. Enjoy these wonderful pics of Marita’s Brixie, she always enjoyed the social scene at NN❤️💜❤️

I will post up an event soon……..

28/07/2024

HAI! It's me Nova (unraced) having ma winter break in Ōtaki. I've been my usual derpy chattery playful self and have kept the crew on their toes with early morning wake up calls from downstairs! The hounds and hoomans here seem quite sad this time😞 so I've been trying really hard to cheer them up with extra snuggles. I think it's working 💓

20/07/2024

We've been hosting handsome Fergus (Thrilling Fergus) and I wish I could say he's pleased to see his full sister Ottie but they're fairly indifferent to each other! He's great to have around 🖤
And beautiful Ruby (Tammy's Fire) is back, she's just a darling and has such a cheeky grin. Love your work Ruby Dooby 🧡

17/07/2024

Mobile massage service available on the coast ❤️

10/07/2024

Rest in Love
💖Brixie Sparrow💖
20th Dec 2014 - 5th July 2024

AKA Brixie Boo, Brixie Pixie, Brix, Smartest Dog on the Planet, Brixie Poops (Bigtime Happy).
Our hearts have been shattered.
We had to send our Brixie over the rainbow bridge last Friday.
One week she’s her usual happy self (although we were investigating a slight limp and checks and x-rays revealed nothing anywhere) and the next she developed a swelling in her neck, only to be diagnosed within a few days with an aggressive inoperable thyroid tumour, that has taken her from us at just 9 and a half years old.
It’s not fu***ng fair.

Brixie was the brightest, most social, calm and loving hound, with the thickest fur and teeny tiny mohawk.
A May Hounds OG, she was so sharp, she (literally) ran rings around her brother and sister.
She just “got” agility (with the help of a few treats), tricks were easy, and she figured stuff out way faster than the others, super bright.
She was the life and soul of the party- a total butterfly at Needlenose gatherings, she would excitedly run around wagging her tail introducing herself to everyone, no one was excepted.
We met a previous trainer of hers briefly, who said she always was watching him, this remained true her whole life with us.
She used to push her head between our legs chattering while waiting to be taken out for a walk or to be fed.
She loved digging in the sand, the water, the dirt and especially the hooman and hound beds.
Morning Brixie was a joy. She used to come into our room and push her nose into the bedclothes and armpits, taking in the night smells, snorting, rubbing, snuffling and then zooming around upstairs with toys before flying outside for a zoom.
Brixie’s nose was forensic, reading all the weemails, checking out under bridges and down drains for the trolls (rabbits).
She was a Rockstar with the multitude of homestays we have had over the years, never a sharp word was uttered, although occasionally she liked to tell off other dogs who got too close on our walks.
Communication was easy for her, she could always make clear what she wanted, using her intelligent eyes, her voice and guiding us to where we could serve her needs!
Upside down was a way of life for Brix, on the couches and the beds, the “supported roach” was her favourite.
Watching TV was a hobby, particularly wildlife and The Dog House. She loved car rides and cat spotting.
And she always recalled to a whistle, just like a proper dog! Smart girl.

You have left a massive hole in our hearts and home, we so wanted you to be our old lady hound with those incredible eyes, ears and greying brows and face.
Rest in love our little black sweetheart, nearly seven years with you was never going to be enough, you join Josie tucked forever in our hearts
Go well our girl💔

29/06/2024

At Upper Hutt We have recently had the delightful company of Tigger and Howie(Highview Howard). Tigger is a delightful old boy who loves some gentle pats and scritches and Howie is a wonderful young chap who did so well on his first stay away from home. Both were very sweet with our Kora and just lovely lads to have visit.

27/06/2024

We've had the most chilled of lads staying here in Otaki, we love his cruisy demeanor and so do the ground crew.
Keeeeep Roaching 🧡Otis (Midsomer Magic)

15/06/2024

Jamie (unraced) has been staying at Needlenose Valley Rd since late March & it’s been an absolute pleasure to care for him. Jamie is laid back, sweet and obliging……until you move his bed or another hound has the audacity to sit in it😂😂. Being a bit princely & having a self inflated sense of importance, we find him sneaking down the bedroom most days.
Don’t worry Jamie, not long now till you head home ❤️

10/06/2024

In the last couple of weeks we have had return guests Fergus (Thrilling Fergus) and Jasper (Homebush Jasper) who each had a short stopover with us, and Wayno (Bigtime Wayno) who is presently happily snoozing in a bed. Lovely lads :)

08/06/2024

Beautiful Katie B (Kay Tuesso) is coming to the end of her stay in Otaki.
She's been on every bed, enjoyed every walk and it's been our pleasure 💙🩵🩶

06/06/2024

This is a good read 😊

I was having this conversation today with a client and I thought it was worth outlining here for anyone else who needs to hear this:

IT IS NORMAL (AND RESPONSIBLE) TO HAVE TO MANAGE YOUR DOG IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS.

What do we mean by 'manage'? We mean by changing their environment or limiting their interaction within an environment in order to keep them from "behaving inappropriately" (in our eyes).

Very typical examples:

🐾 Using a long line on walks
🐾 Shutting dogs away when deliveries come
🐾 Leaving your dog at home when you go somewhere
🐾 Keeping them on lead in some situations
🐾 Keeping them away from the table at meal times
🐾 Keeping them from approaching certain dogs
🐾 Not giving them their ball with other dogs around
🐾 Not putting their food bowl near anothers
🐾 Keeping them on lead around kids

The list could go on and on and on.

I don't know a single person who doesn't have to manage their dog in certain situations because dogs are DOGS. They aren't mini humans who can be reasoned with: "just share your toys with your friend, they're not going to take them away". Dogs are a straight thinking species: I want this, I don't want that, I need this, I am scared of losing that and so on.

It's a real error to assume that our dogs showing any degree of discomfort in a situation is a dog that needs to be "fixed". They're not broken! They're just being their real selves in a world that has REALLY HIGH expectations of them.

It's an even bigger error to assume that adding food to a situation will change anything. In some situations it can make it worse. Counter conditioning is NOT always the answer. Many of my clients have found that out the hard way from previous well meaning advice.

Don't feel ashamed if your dog can't do something that Joe Blogg's dog down the street can do. I bet you Joe Blogg's dog down the street can't do something your dog CAN!

Dogs are so painfully real and honest. They aren't perfect and they never ever pretend to be.

👇🏻 Name a situation where you need to manage your dogs! I'll start:

Lucy: has to be managed around young children with leads and gates
Raggy: has to be managed around stranger dogs as has low tolerance of bounciness
River: has to be managed in the outside world altogether using a long line
Alby: has to be managed around the house as will toilet inappropriately if given the chance.

MANAGEMENT IS AS NORMAL AS SOCKS AND HOT DINNERS.

Spread the word 🐾💜

31/05/2024

When your homestay turns up with the same coat! Welcome Katy B ❤️

28/05/2024

Rodders (Our Hot Rod) and Red (Rock It Red) have been on vacation in Palmerston North. Lots of autumn walks then snuggles by the fire.

26/05/2024

Devo (Doomsday) is Needlenosing in Otaki for the weekend. He got to join his old mates for a walk yesterday and he's really enjoying the autumnal activities 🍂🍁

26/05/2024

We've been hosting delightful hound Frankie (Cue Power) at Upper Hutt. Frankie is a distinguished gentleman, and who knows how to enjoy the finer things in life, like back rubs, treats, and the best beds in the house :)

13/05/2024

Hulk is still on the hunt for his forever home! He's a well known face in the Lower Hutt region and would love to find a loving family before his current dad Paul leaves the country in a few months ❤️

If you're interested in meeting Hulk and learning more about him, feel free to reach out to Paul at 027 411 6697. He'll be happy to arrange meet and greets and discuss Hulk's unique qualities with you!

12/05/2024

Wishing all the “hound” mums of Needlenose a happy hound mum day, I hope you are keeping the pointy faces happy and content like Lola-Zoe here, who couldn’t give a toss what day it was 😂😂

11/05/2024

At Upper Hutt we have had the absolutely delightful company of Maddie (Allegro Maddie) who was visiting for a fortnight and Dashiell (Our Dazzel) over the last week. Both hounds have been such sweet and endearing guests, and were great with our weekly regular Dice (unraced).

11/05/2024

Tonight is the last night for newcomer siblings Maddie (unraced) & Tony (Cruisys Luck). They have been with us at Valley Road for 2.5 weeks & have been wonderful guests & lots of fun. Senior Tony is the biggest smooch & has the best hound “grin” (iykyk) while Maddie is the first hound we’ve cared for who “yodels” when excited, it has made for interesting reactions with our hounds and long stay Jamie.

02/05/2024

ROY (Go Housie)
6th May 2011 to 29th April 2024
Aged (nearly) 13 magnificent years ❤️❤️
Roy……….a big cuddly hound with the hugest, happiest, kindest, calm heart who was always an absolute pleasure to be around.
We are very sad at Needlenose to learn of Roy’s passing. He had been a constant visitor with us since 2019 & we were always pleased see his happy, content face, a hound that we knew could cohabitate with any hound & calm a room with his sheer presence.
He loved to sit in the middle of a group, almost like an elderly grandfather & keep order. He was so so loved by his family & although they knew it was his time, they will be struggling with his passing.
Fly high & fast Roy Boy, over the bridge with the biggest wings I know you will have, it was a privilege to love you and look after you and become one of your special people, we will miss your big happy face.
Much love and light to Valentina and her family
❤️❤️❤️