More wagging, less worrying - enrol your furry friend at Wellington's experienced daycare centre for dogs

At Happy Tails in Porirua, we believe every dog deserves a day filled with adventure and excitement. Helen and her passionate team provide a doggy haven that combines playtime, agility and exercise, with lots of cuddles in between. With a unique and customised play-based approach to dog daycare, we've spent the past 15 years caring for canine companions across Wellington and Porirua, including the Kapiti Region.

Over the years, we've expanded our daycare for small dogs to now cater for all breeds, and currently operate six vans for our daily home pick-up and drop-off service. Enrol in our Wellington daycare centre today, or contact us if you have any questions.

Let our groomers bathe, trim and pamper your dog after a full day of play

A clean and well-groomed dog is a happy dog. We offer a professional grooming service to daycare clients as well as the public. Our experienced groomers are skilled in providing gentle and thorough hygiene cleaning, trimming, and styling services to help your furry friend look and feel their best.

We use only the best quality non-allergenic products for a healthy and shiny coat, leaving them feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

Working together for a seamless transition into daycare

When you enrol your dog with us, we'll advise on the best days for attendance based on their needs and social skills and you'll receive a tailored welcome plan to ensure your dog is never overwhelmed. Our staff have spent the last 15 years creating a homely and welcoming space that caters for all personalities and preferences. We group dogs of similar temperaments together, so they can look forward to fun-filled days chasing their buddies around the yard or enjoy a peaceful nap alongside other old-timers indoors.

With us, your dog is not just another number; they're a member of our family and will always be treated with love and respect. View our gallery page to see why dog owners call us Wellington's best dog daycare.

Would you like to enrol your dog in our doggy daycare?

Meet the Happy Tails team

Our team of dedicated dog lovers work tirelessly behind the scenes to provide exceptional service and premium facilities for dogs and their humans alike. Our team members are selected based not only on their knowledge and experience but on their kind and fun-loving personalities. Get to know our passionate dog-mad team.

Helen

Helen is the owner of Happy Tails, relief driver and dog handler. Helen ran an early childhood centre for 17 years before branching out into dog day care - She is married with two daughters. Helen has been a animal lover all her life and currently has a Staffy x rescure dog called Brandy and a horse, Charlotte.

Vicki

Joined our Happy Tails Team in 2009. Vicki worked as a veterinary nurse for approximately eight years, later running her own pet shop business in Tawa and assisted in running kennels for several years. Vicki covers the Titahi Bay Area so if you see her in the area give her a wave . Vicki can be seen with her K9 family – Odin the American Bulldog , Zeus the Chihuahua and Samson the Choc Lab.

Elliott

Elliott is the Manger here at Happy Tails . Elliott has many years' experience in the animal industry as well as being qualified in animal husbandry and care for domesticated and exotic animals. He worked for many years as a dog trainer, handler and later owning his own dog grooming business. You can spot Elliotts van in the Whitby area by looking out for his wonderful Samusky Rogue in the passenger seat.

Cain

Joined our Happy Tail Team in October 2017. Cain works every day for us picking up and dropping off our furry friends. Cain also manages his own personal training business along with caring for his gorgeous husky Ragnar.

Danielle

Danielle joined the team in 2021 as dog handler and Groomer - Danielle completed the Angels Academy grooming course considered one of the top training services in New Zealand, she now has experience in grooming all small breeds and coat conditions. She loves nothing more than taking care of her two dogs Monty and Bella.

Arama

Arama joined the team in 2023 after finding his passion for dogs after working with them for just over a year. Arama has worked hard with his rescue dog BB utilising his training skills to help BB come out of his shell. He also has another dog name Doja who he works with utilising his surroundings doing what he calls Urban Agility, something he is very fond of doing.

Kris

Kris joined with happy Tails in August 2024. From a young age she has had a great passion for animals, has completed the NZ Certificate for Animal Science and Care, and is currently studying the NZ Certificate for Animal Husbandry. She has 2 dogs; Zeus and Bruno, as well as several cats and chickens that are a huge part of the whanau. Kris loves being part of the team, and learning to be a dog handler has meant achieving a great dream.

Tess

Tess joined the Family in Feb 2025, she came to us experienced - working with dogs and a lifelong passion for animal care. Tess is one of our trainee resident groomers. Her love for animals extends beyond work - at home she shares her life with earth beloved dog Ziggie, and two cats, making animal companionship a central part of her daily life.

View our gallery to see our K9 family having a ball at daycare together, playing, acting goofy and enjoying well deserved nap time!

Doggy Daycare and Grooming - covering the greater Wellington region