About us

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Welcome to our heart-centered and environmentally conscious community! Since 2019 we have been empowering urban fur-families to live their best lives through outdoor experiences that strengthen the body, stimulate the mind, and nourish the soul. We are committed to using sustainable practices to be part of the solution to climate change. Our values of diversity, authenticity, transparency, inclusivity, and empathy guide everything we do. We believe in creating a sense of belonging, community-mindedness, fair wages, and helping our employees grow and thrive. Join us in making a positive impact on the world

ANYA JANE

MARISSA

KIANNA

Founder and Pack Leader

Pack Leader

Asst. Pack Leader

I have lived, raised my 2 kids, started and ran two businesses and been an active community member of NW Denver since 2006. Ironically, I have 2 cats. I have had 25 years of professional experience with dogs. I am a graduate of Bel-Rae Veterinary Institute and have worked as a Certified Veterinary Technician and Doggie Daycare manager.

I am originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Besides hiking and dogs, I enjoy playing the guitar and ukulele and love to sing (I am a former professional musician) .

This is my dream job and I pinch myself everyday.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

In this family, we know that:

Our deep relationship with the wilderness, our dogs, and each other can bring joy, meaning, and purpose to our lives and the world.
it can all begin with a spark
Wonder and curiosity can lead us to our next life adventure

Now we are a family

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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