Wolf & I Co. Blog | Adventures Of The Wolf Pack

By sharing your dogs journey on instagram, you're sharing an insight into your dogs daily lives with the world. And, every time you tag @wolfandico, we get an glimpse into your world too and it's pretty epic to be a part of! We get a kick out of seeing dogs going on epic adventures and putting our gear to good use, so when Aura and Luca tagged us in some of their dog friendly Melbourne adventures, we had to find out more about what they get up to! We spoke to Jenna to share their story...

Tell us about your dogs Aura and Luca:

Aura and Luca are two Shepherds, barely 1 & 2 years old, so full of energy! Aura is a White Swiss Shepherd, she just loves being her human’s shadow, but can be a bit nervous of new things. Luca is a German Shepherd x Husky and he’s far more independent, he adores every person and dog he sees.

Why did you decide to get one dog, then two?

Aura was such an easy puppy, and well behaved, I think I was tricked into it! She’s always been good with other dogs, playing off leash, and I wanted her to have company. When Luca arrived he was so small compared to her, and she was so gentle! Now they can both roughhouse together. Though Luca was not as easy a puppy as Aura!

What do you love most about having dogs in your life?

I love how they encourage you to explore! I’ve gone to so many dog friendly and dog centred events, so many hikes and beaches and parks that I never would have before. The community and social aspect is fantastic as well – dogs are a great conversation starter and you’ve already got something in common. And all of us can talk about our dogs all day.

How often do you go on adventures?

We do daily adventures to all sorts of locations – hikes up mountains, diving into creeks and running on the beach.

We love where we live right now in Melbourne, as it’s such a dog friendly area. There’s tonnes of dog friendly cafes, walking paths in suburbia, and then of course dog off leash parks and walks along creeks, and on leash hikes – there’s something to suit everyone! We’ve even gone to the snow.

How did you find dog friendly places in Melbourne?

Social media! There’s so much on Facebook and Instagram. Dog centred groups and group walks, and everyone always has a suggestion on a place to visit. All Trails has also been fantastic for finding trails and hikes, and the most important part – finding out if dogs are allowed!

Do you go camping for a dog friendly weekend away?

We haven’t yet but would absolutely love to.

What are your five top tips for preparing your dog for an outing?

Make sure you bring water, research the place beforehand (how busy will it be, is it on or off leash, are the trails narrow), don’t feed breakfast before you go (that’s for my dogs specifically as Luca gets carsick, and they often drink too much sea water at the beach!), always bring more towels and doggy bags than you think necessary, and if it helps, give them a little walk beforehand so they’re not bouncing off the walls on arrival to your adventure.

What do you pack for your dogs?

I’ve got so much stuff for the dogs! It depends on what adventure. There’s Aura and Luca’s Wolf & I Co. harness, his 30ft longline, their leashes and collars, water bottle with a collapsible bowl, doggy bags, treats, a ball (and a spare, as Aura often loses her ball by dropping it in the bush somewhere and forgetting where), which come with us on every walk. I’ve got a first aid kit in the car, extra towels, and a car seat cover (as they always end up dirty).

Top places you’ve gone to around Melbourne so far?

We always love the dog friendly beaches! Somers Beach & Altona Beach are fantastic, there’s some other good spots in Mornington too. The You Yangs is fun to hike too, though it’s on leash.

Top dog parks around Melbourne?

I mostly like off leash areas that aren’t official dog parks, but if I can include those, it’d be (in no particular order): Ruffey Lake Park, Rosanna Parklands (our two favourites), Banksia Dog Park, Griffith dog off leash area, and Diamond Creek Dog Park.

Any places you’re planning to visit (just for the dogs) and why?

I’m planning on going for a weekend to Dinner Plain so they can play in the snow, and I’ve also bookmarked a dog friendly accommodation near Flowerdale so we can have a retreat away for a weekend.

What you love most about being able to get outdoors with Aura & Luca?

It’s just so much fun! I see so many lovely places, the views & wildlife. It pushes me to get up and going early so not only do we get to see a beautiful sunrise, but it really sets the tone for the day.

What do Aura & Luca seem to love most about their dog friendly adventures?

I think they just adore being able to RUN, and so much to sniff.

Any special training you had to teach Aura & Luca e.g snakes/roads/cane toads/water?

No special training, except to leave it. I hear there’s a trainer for snake avoidance in Melbourne and I have their business card for the future! But we tend to avoid bushy areas in the heat during snake season anyway.

Favourite dog treats and snacks post hike?

Since it’s usually early morning the dogs get treats for good recall etc on the walk; then a proper breakfast when we get home.

How did you hear about Wolf & I Co.?

Instagram!

What do you love about your dogs Wolf & I Co. gear?

The puppy dogs always wear their Wolf & I Co. no pull dog harnesses as they’re so sturdy, stand up to everything we do in them, and dry easily once we get home. The handle on the back is so useful. The café series 5ft dog leashes are amazing too, as the carabiner is so much more secure than a normal clip (plus we find sand gets caught in normal clips on leashes and makes them get jammed).

How do you see the Wolf & I Co. brand?

Adventure buddies! You let us have the awesome gear to go on our adventures.

Anything else we should know?

If you’re in the area, we highly recommend checking out Altona or Somers Beach, they’re so much fun.

If you'd like to kit your dog out just like Aura and Luca, view the range of Dog Harness Adventure & Travel Packs

Want to follow Aura and Luca's adventures? Check them out on instagram @aura_luca_shepherds and subscribe for more epic adventures sent direct to your inbox!