All About All About the Hound

The All About the Hound Philosophy

A commitment to the best education & training available

Our owner, trainer, and groomer holds the best certifications in her fields, believing that the work of training and caring for dogs is too important to leave to anything less. Loving dogs simply isn’t enough. To be a true dog professional one must both love dogs and know them.

A commitment to the best dog care possible

For us, this means using only the most scientifically-sound, positive-reinforcement based training methods in all of our training classes and private training programmes, as well as during all grooming sessions and throughout every daycare day. Your dog should enjoy every minute with us, and you should enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing that will always be the case.

A commitment to the best customer service possible

We believe in taking just as good of care of our two-legged clients as we do of our four-legged ones. That means honest, ethical business practices and building real relationships. That’s why we keep everything we do small, from tiny group training classes, to our limited-space boutique-style daycare, through to our unrushed approach to grooming.

We also strive to make all our services as convenient as possible for our busy clients, providing flexible hours, lots of programme options, and even offering to train your dog for you!

All About April Williams, owner, trainer, groomer

April’s Training Credentials: KPA CTP, Certificate III

April is the only Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner in the Wairarapa, and was among the first graduates from the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Professional Program in Australia. The Karen Pryor Academy is internationally recognized as one of the most rigorous, intensive programs available to professional dog trainers.

Additionally, April holds her Certificate III in Dog Behaviour & Training, and is a member of both the Association of Professional Dog Trainers in the U.S. and the Association of Pet Dog Trainers in Australia.

April’s Grooming Credentials: IPGCSP, IPGCPG

April is an internationally Certified Salon Professional (IPGCSP), and internationally Certified Professional Groomer (IPGCPG), and holds Professional Dog Grooming Certificates from both the Dog Diversity Grooming School and the Sunraysia Institute of TAFE.

She is also a member of International Professional Groomers, Inc.

April’s Dogs: Precious & Monty

Let’s just say they keep April busy and on her toes! Precious is April’s project child. A rescue dog with a rough start in life. Precious and April have worked diligently to overcome Precious’ fears and help her playful, happy nature shine through.

Monty is happiness on legs, and yes, they're pretty long legs (or at least a lot longer than April's previous walking companions). Monty is wonderfully responsive to training, and is a superbly intelligent and intuitive companion.

In Memoriam: Archie & Millie

April's dogs are the reason she does what she does, especially Archie who literally changed April's life. He was the bold and outgoing one with a large dose of cheekiness. The travel companion who memorably launched himself into the river Thames, leaving himself covered head-to-tail in mud, and April head-to-foot. (Good thing she’s a professional groomer!)

Millie was the social butterfly, who loved to make new people friends (dogs too, though she liked to take that slowly). Millie’s most memorable talent / claim to fame was the greatest recall April had ever seen! Think furry little bullet train, and yes - that was Millie.

All About Wallie, mascot and canine poet laureate

Wallie is the (one dimensional) embodiment of the perfect dog. He loves everyone, human and canine. (He probably even likes cats.) He’s easy-going, affable, unflappable. Nothing scares him. Nothing even rattles him. He’s a friendly, fun, cool cucumber of a dog. Wallie is always ready for anything (and insists of being the center of everything). He is, in short, the dog we all strive for.

Wallie is also something of a writer, despite his lack of opposable thumbs. You’ll find his rhymes throughout our site. (He was quite adamant, and we had to agree, that a dog’s voice be represented on a website all about dog-related services.)