About us
Since 2019 we have been helping urban dogs live their best lives through outdoor wilderness experiences that strengthen the body, stimulate the mind, and nourish the soul. We are a hyper-local, woman owned small business located and serving the Greater NW Denver area.
OUR PACKLEADERS
Meet Your Pack Leaders
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Our Pack Leaders are dog-obsessed outdoor lovers who understand canine behavior and the magic of pack dynamics. We use positive reinforcement to guide and manage each hike, focusing on every dog as an individual and supporting what they need to succeed
Safety is our number one priority. All Pack Leaders are Pet CPR and First Aid certified, and trained to handle everything from playful energy bursts to on-trail interventions with calm, skilled care.
ANYA JANE
Founder and Pack Leader
I’ve been part of the NW Denver community since 2006—raising my two kids, running small businesses, and building strong roots in this neighborhood I call home. While I may share my house with two cats (yes, irony noted), I’ve spent over 25 years professionally working with dogs.
I’m a graduate of Bel-Rae Veterinary Institute and have worn many hats in the animal world, including Certified Veterinary Technician and Doggie Daycare Manager. My deep experience in canine care, behavior, and pack management is at the heart of everything we do at Happy Dog Hike Club.
Originally from Minneapolis, I moved to Colorado for the mountains—and stayed for the community. When I’m not on the trails, you might find me strumming a guitar or ukulele, singing (I’m a former professional musician), or soaking up time in nature.
IAN PERATT
Pack Leader
Having loved dogs and the outdoors since I can remember, I feel so lucky to be able to help lead the pack and spend each week helping all these amazing Happy Dogs live their best lives.
I am a graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder, where I studied Jazz Trumpet. I live with my girlfriend, Isabella, her family, and their cat, Fred, and Dog, Cub, in NW Denver.
COSMO
FLOP
Chief Financial Officer
VP of marketing
Our in house web designer and copy editor. He is paid in cat nip and is often caught sleeping during work hours.
Great at keeping the books but spends way too much time chasing his tail in the bathtub.
THE HAPPY DOG STORY
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Happy Dog Adventures began as a tiny spark, when I discovered that hiking with dogs was a pivotal part of my recovery from depression. Being in nature and experiencing the unbridled joy and curiosity of off-leash dogs was so healing for me that I started to wonder if I could build a business doing exactly that.
It all started as a spark
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Wondering led to the inception of Happy Dog Hike Club, the ultimate hat trick in mutual benefits—adventure for dogs, peace of mind for owners, and continued healing for me.
I wondered how to grow the spark
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I began to recognize that the value of Happy Dog Hike Club went far beyond a simple dog hike. My clients were finding that their relationships with their dogs improved, that their dogs listened better, and were happier, healthier, and more confident.
Owners who were busy with work, family, and home projects had a way to give their dogs the adventure they craved, with off-leash hikes that fulfilled their instinctual needs to explore, play, and socialize with other pups.
The more I healed the more room I had to wonder and dream
I kept nurturing the spark and following my curiosity
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I took courses in understanding pack behavior, reading dog language, and using positive training methods. I use that training—combined with experience and intuition—to build healthy packs for our adventures.
I get to know each dog, so I can help bring out the best in them and see which of my daily dog packs they’ll thrive with.
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When I take on a new client or team member, I am truly inviting them into the Happy Dog family. I’m not just building a dog-hiking business. I’m building a beautiful community, with joy, healing, and authenticity at its center.
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In this family, we know that:
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Our deep relationship with the wilderness, our dogs, and each other can bring joy, meaning, and purpose to our lives and the world.
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it can all begin with a spark
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Wonder and curiosity can lead us to our next life adventure
Now we are a family
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Where did my curiosity take me next? I wondered what magic would emerge from a quest to buy 35+ acres of land within an hour of Denver to create Happy Dog Mountain—a new home base for the Happy Dog family, complete with hiking trails, camping sites, and open space. On March 10th, 2022 we bought 50 acres of pristine wilderness (near Bailey, CO) surrounded by Pike National Forest. Just imagine what is possible now that everyone in the family has access to the healing benefits of being in nature with happy off-leash dogs. I can't wait to see how this enfolds.
The next adventure
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