ART OF THE PACK

We are Art of the Pack, a Wellington dog walking business specialising in small-group adventure walks. Our walks bring together exercise, exploration, social interaction and practical guidance, giving dogs more to do than follow the same pavement route each day. We head for Wellington's hills, bush tracks, coastal paths and open spaces, where dogs can move, sniff, play and explore in a setting that suits the group.

We keep our packs small, with no more than five dogs on an outing. That gives us room to get to know each dog, understand their temperament and energy, and choose companions they can relax around. We look at more than size or breed when forming a group. Play style, confidence, social manners and how a dog responds to other dogs all matter. Our aim is to build stable groups where familiar friendships and good habits can develop over time.

Enrichment is central to our approach. A walk can involve a proper run, a slower stretch of sniffing, or time to practise staying calm around everyday distractions. We work on recall, lead manners, impulse control, confidence and responsiveness as part of the adventure. We use calm guidance and positive reinforcement informed by the Jentle Method, adapted for dogs exploring busy, changing urban and outdoor environments. Off-lead freedom is introduced thoughtfully, with each dog's reliability and the permitted walking areas guiding our decisions.

Art of the Pack is led by Jake, who personally handles every pack walk. This gives our dogs a familiar person to trust and means we can spot changes in behaviour, build on progress and keep our routines consistent. Jake's experience includes caring for and training dogs of different breeds and temperaments, fostering dogs, working with rescues and living with German Shepherds. We bring that practical experience and genuine affection for dogs to every outing.

We believe dog walking should be enjoyable for owners as well as dogs. We offer collection and return within our service area, keep owners informed and share regular photos and videos from our walks. We also offer dedicated pet photography sessions for owners who want natural portraits and action images of their dogs. Whether we are working on a dog's confidence or capturing their personality on camera, we focus on their individual character.

We operate mainly across Wellington's southern and western hills, including Brooklyn and surrounding suburbs. Our service is designed for owners who want regular, attentive dog walking in a carefully managed group. We want every dog in our care to enjoy their time outdoors, build confidence with their pack and return home pleasantly tired after a worthwhile adventure.

Our main service is the Adventure Pack Walk, a structured, small-group outing built around movement, discovery, play and everyday learning. Walks last approximately 90 minutes, with collection and drop-off arranged around the route. Dogs are usually away from home for two to three hours in total. We run morning pack walks from Tuesday to Thursday, with collection starting from around 8.30 am. We generally head out in wet weather too, unless conditions make walking unsafe.

We match dogs carefully rather than treating pack walking as an open, drop-in activity. Before joining, each dog has a meet and greet so we can understand their confidence, temperament, recall and behaviour. We then use an initial walk as a trial to see how they settle with the handler and other dogs. We prioritise regular bookings and familiar groupings, because consistency makes a difference to how the pack behaves.

Our walks suit active, sociable dogs that can comfortably manage varied terrain and longer outings. We generally look for dogs over one year old, particularly medium-to-large breeds, although suitability is assessed individually. Dogs need to be fully vaccinated, desexed, registered with Wellington City Council and equipped with a secure, well-fitting harness for transport. A workable recall and polite behaviour around other dogs are important starting points. Highly reactive dogs, dogs with serious mobility concerns or those that struggle with group transport may need different support.

Training and guidance are part of the way we walk. We help dogs practise listening around distractions, returning when called, moving calmly on a lead and settling into positive social interactions. Where appropriate, we gradually introduce off-lead time, using designated areas and taking account of the dog's recall, the environment and the dynamics of the pack. We can also discuss one-to-one training support through our Friday solo sessions when a dog needs more focused attention. We carry canine first-aid supplies, and Jake is trained in pet first aid.

We provide dog photography as a separate service as well as sharing informal photo and video updates with walking clients. Our short home sessions focus on relaxed portraits in familiar surroundings. Standard outdoor shoots take place at suitable Wellington locations and combine portraits with natural movement. Premium sessions allow more time and flexibility for dogs, owners, family groups and action photographs, including across more than one setting where suitable. We supply a curated set of high-resolution images with personal-use rights, suitable for printing, framing and keepsakes.

Our core collection and return area includes Brooklyn, Mornington, Vogeltown, Kingston, Highbury, Kōwhai Park, Aro Valley, the Te Aro fringe, Mt Cook, Berhampore, Newtown, Island Bay, Ōwhiro Bay and Houghton Bay. We may be able to accommodate some locations outside this area, subject to arrangements and an additional travel charge. Keeping our route local helps reduce time spent travelling and gives dogs more time outdoors.

Our published Adventure Pack Walk price is $40 per walk. Where an extended collection route is possible, a $10 daily travel surcharge may apply. Published photography options include a 30-minute home session for $140, a one-hour outdoor session for $280 and a two-hour premium session for $560, with photography prices including GST.

To join the pack, we ask owners to share information about their dog before arranging an introduction. Spaces are limited by design. We want each new member to fit comfortably into the group, enjoy the experience and receive the attention they need.