It All Started With Leda...

Well, in truth, it all started with a dog... The kind of dog they write stories about.
"I grew up with the dream dog, Sky, the perfect family rough collie, the dog who would let us kids dress her up and play hide and seek. She was my best friend and a real life 'Lassie'! When Sky passed and the next rough collie joined the family, things were a little different. Cassie took a lot of time and efforts to train and to be comfortable around normal every day situations. When I was at university, I would spend 4 hours a day on training and socialising her. I made friends with the local dog people and built a real community down at the park, so much so that it became an official dog park! This is when I accidentally started dog walking. People would see me out with Cassie all the time and ask me if their dog could join. Little did I know, that back in 2014, Cassie would put me on the path of my dream career!
Along the way I met Zephyr, my right-hand man, a border collie born completely deaf. He was 5 week old when I fostered him, and there was no way he wasn't going to stay! He has taught me so much about using my body language over words, a language far more natural to dogs. My passion is definitely learning about what makes a dog tick, and finding ways to connect and communicate with each and every dog I work with.”

Farm Grown Frenchie

For Camille, living with animals was all she knew. Raised on a farm in the South of France, with the usual menagerie that would imply, Camille will tell us a bit about her life...
"I loved being surrounded by animals. Those were obviously my first memories but even when the family was forced to move to the city, we always had a variety of pets. Cats, dogs, rodents of many kind, turtles, birds (including a stubborn, somewhat aggressive parrot!) you name it, we had it! Travelling is the only time in my life I lived without a pet and it was a problem quickly solved when I met Leda!
The love of dogs and all things dog behaviour definitely stem from my childhood pup, Julie. Similarly to Leda's, Julie was like a second mother to us all. She would walk us to school and pick us up, by herself. She even had a few stops along the way... neighbours who always had treats for her, one of them even bought her a daily croissant!
I now have my own best mate, my boxer Echo, who was born deaf, like our other dog Zephyr. We do everything together, from surfing to hiking, even a quick errand she'll always be keen to come!

I love pack walking and the dynamic behind it. I find it simply fascinating. It’s a feeling like no other when you’ve put in the work and your pack is just one with you… Hard to describe really!"

The Pack Life

Ever since meeting in 2017, the pair have been on quite a journey, collecting 6 dogs and 4 cats along the way!
"Our lives revolve around dogs, and we wouldn't have it any other way! Even when we travel overseas, we make it about dogs...
We have volunteered in a dog shelter in the South of France, travelled to Scotland and Los Angeles to meet with peers, we took our 6 dogs road tripping around the South Island for our honeymoon, and it's not uncommon for us to take 12 (ish!) dogs on a relaxing weekend away..!
The Pack is now made of Zephyr the deaf Border Collie, Neva the Borzoi, Echo the deaf Boxer, Beanie the Tea-Cup Chihuahua, Louie the St Bernard and Ashkii the Belgian Shepherd mix. We also have 2 Maine Coons who think they're dogs and 2 rescue cats who think they rule the rooster!
We have built Follow The Leda carefully over the years, pouring our hearts and souls into every single dog who has joined the pack.
Our goal has always been to have as much fun as the dogs do, and we usually succeed!"

Our Team

Leda
Owner, Senior Trainer and Handler

Camille
Owner, Senior Trainer and Handler

Grace - Handler

"My first memory with an animal was on a horse trek, aged 4, riding a gorgeous Welsh pony named Kara. Kara decided to canter un-prompted in the middle of our journey, proceeding to buck me off and rush to a lush patch of grass. I have loved horses and riding ever since, possibly mostly for their free will and power which was experienced on this day.

I love all animals though, with one of my most cherished memory being me and my cat Kurapae finding each other by divine fate at a campground in Hunterville last year. He was dumped there, and chose the biggest sucker to come home with. He stuck by my side and rode in the van all the way back up to Auckland over two days. Now he is the prince of the house, and my little soulmate.

My favourite thing about this job is spending time with the dogs and the amazing FTL team. It is a great mix of challenging and relaxed/fun- no day is ever the same. Each dog is so unique, and it’s extremely rewarding seeing positive changes in behaviour or even pack experience as better connections are built.

In my spare time I'm outside, same as work! Gardening is a big love and it also means being at home hanging out with the cats. Double win. Also love tramping and going out for a surf adventure on a perfect condition 2-3ft day haha."

Erica - Handler

"I began walking for Follow The Leda in July 2023 after finishing my commerce degree and spending the prior 5 years of my life working in VFX. Although it is a huge departure from what I expected to be doing, I would not be anywhere else! Being surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the outdoors and a pack of very lively companions daily has been one of the most rewarding and motivating experiences of my life. It’s a job that is anything but ordinary, where no two days or dogs are the same, bringing unique challenges and opportunities. Witnessing the infectious enthusiasm of the dogs I am lucky enough to have as part of my pack is such an incredible feeling and deeply cathartic. I love fostering a genuine connection with all of them in my care and being a part of their journeys as we are constantly learning and taking on new experiences. My furry pals are always finding new ways to delight and surprise me, I can only hope I am enriching their lives half as much as they do mine. And let's not forget the incredible humans I have the privilege of working with! Similar vibe if I am honest."

Tj - Supervisor and Handler

As a toddler, I remember being plonked on the floor of a bedroom in a distant aunts house and looking up to see 4 eyes staring down from what could only be described as the greatest beasts known to man. These 2 gigantic, unbelievable creatures turned out to be just a couple of super friendly Great Danes, but from that moment my mind was blown and my fate was sealed. I have been obsessed with dogs ever since! All through schooling, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but I knew it had to be with animals. After completing a science degree and trying to find my feet, I fell into my first job within the dog industry late 2020, and have been hooked ever since.

My passion within the dog industry lies in the 1 on 1 training. My favourite thing is meeting a new dog, figuring out how they tick, finding how to build the strongest relationship with them and then growing on that each and every time you see them. Mixing that with teaching a dog how to thrive within a pack environment is a seriously rewarding venture. That is definitely one of my favourite things about being a part of the Follow the Leda team, having the opportunity to work so closely with such amazing dogs and being able to see each and every one develop their own character and have the best time on our adventures.

When I’m not at work, you’ll usually find me out training my own dogs or enjoying our very own adventures. I find any excuse possible to bring my dogs along to whatever I can, so they usually are never too far away. Whether it’s a walk on the beach, or a roadie to the middle of nowhere we come as a trio and I wouldn’t have it any other way!