Hi, I’m Richard, Owner and Founder of WAG Doggy Daycare.

It may come as a shock, but I’m a dog lover. The kind who still excitedly points out dogs wherever I go. Usually to the annoyance of my partner, Lina, who can apparently see dogs too. Despite starting out in the corporate world, I always knew working with dogs was what I wanted to do.

My journey began as a humble dog walker (dream job) for the Dogwatch Sanctuary in 2016. It was here that I met Deb, owner of MindPro Animal Behaviour, who taught me so much and helped me go from dog walker to trainer at Dogwatch.

Deb also introduced me to the Association of Pet Dog Trainers NZ - basically the Master Builders of the dog training industry. They give credibility to their members and confidence to the public for all dog-related issues. Every year the APDTNZ hosts a conference, attracting some of the world’s best dog trainers and behaviourists. After going along in 2018, I was sold; there was so much I wanted to learn and do. Through the Dogwatch Sanctuary I’d come to know Mark Weaver, who has had an incredible journey into the industry and was the President of the APDTNZ and currently the Chairman of Dogwatch Sanctuary Trust. When Mark asked me if I was interested in joining APDTNZ as secretary and committee member I jumped at the opportunity.

Throughout my own journey, the more I’ve learnt, the more committed I’ve become to promoting science-based, ethical dog training throughout New Zealand. Which is how I ended up here - Founder of WAG Doggy Daycare.

So why daycare I hear you ask? Great question, and thank you for asking. At the moment, dog daycares aren’t regulated in NZ, meaning many who get involved in the industry - while they may be dog lovers - possibly don’t have the required experience to best suit the dogs and their wellbeing.

One of the biggest challenges in dog daycares is a large number of dogs compared to a small number of staff, the average being around 15-20 dogs to a single staff member. This was the first challenge I wanted to address, as it’s not only dangerous to the dogs, but also the staff.

The second challenge was the over stimulation of dogs, which can lead to stress and behavioural issues. It’s a huge misconception that all dogs love to socialise with each other and for long periods of time. In reality, they’re not too different from humans! We’re all a mix of extroverts and introverts, and our surroundings can really affect our mental wellbeing. Dogs are the same - even the most polite dogs get agitated, and an over-tired dog being pestered by a more active dog could turn nasty. I’ve seen how important it is to balance stimulation and down time in small groups, and it’s something I feel very strongly about.

With the demand for dog daycares ever increasing, I wanted to create a place I’d be happy to send my own dog, Meika, too. My goal is to raise the standard of care in the industry, so that you can trust your dog is in safe hands and having a great experience when they can’t be at home. If I can help educate owners on enrichment games they can play with their dogs and strengthen those relationships when they’re not at WAG, that’s a big plus! By giving our dogs the right care and attention, New Zealand (and the world) will be a happier place for all of our furry companions.