About The Dog Den
We know that being a dog owner is a life changing experience and an amazing adventure. Our sassy little Border Terrier Darby and his little sister Eddy brings us so much joy and happiness, whether we are going for a stroll along Takapuna Beach, fishing out on the Hauraki Gulf, or heading in to Milford for a coffee – they are always by our side.
The idea of The Dog Den was born in 2015 when Darby joined our family. As both of us were working full time in our own businesses, the family decided to start taking Darby to our local doggy day care. Our experience is that doggy day care was giving Darby a better quality of life, as he was able to socialise with other dogs and would spend the day playing while we were away from the house.
The Dog Den Takapuna, Silverdale and Puhoi were created by Steve and Helen and family, who are local Shore residents. Steve and Helen have a passion for animals and have always had dogs in their lives.
In November 2025 they handed over the reins of their Silverdale and Puhoi centres, to Glen & Christina.
Helen & Steve continue to be Managing Directors of Takapuna, and are working very closely with Silverdale & Puhoi .
Why choose us?
The Dog Den Takapuna aims to provide a trusted, safe and fun environment for customers, dogs and staff and caters to locals from surrounding areas or professionals working in or around Takapuna, and the North Shore. At The Dog Den we believe that creating a bond with owners and their pets is a big part of our services, and everything we do is based on making care of the dogs as our first priority.
Our Takapuna centre is located at 23 Barrys Point Road, Takapuna, opposite WoolworthsWe are close to commuter parking, offices, cafes for your morning coffee - providing an easy solution for dropping off and picking on your way to and from work. There is plenty of off-street parking and we also have a drop and shop hourly rate, if you just need to drop your pup off for a short period of time.
We were a finalist in the 2021 Westpac Business Awards People choice category, and in the 2022 Westpac business awards for Excellence in Customer service.
We have also been rated as the no 1 Doggy daycare provider in Auckland in 2021 & 2022 in an independent survey by Money hub based on customer ratings. https://www.moneyhub.co.nz/dog-daycare-auckland.html
Above all we wholeheartedly strive for your pup to have the absolute best time possible whilst in our care and for them to have new and exciting experiences each and every single day.orth shore dog day care takapuna dog day care Auckland
Charity & Community
We make monthly donations to Saving Hope, and Pet Refuge. We also look after a number of saving hope dogs in our daycare..
Our Team
Helen & Steve - Owners and Directors
Helen and Steve have two Border Terriers - Darby and Eddy with big personalities! They love dogs and Helen has owned and bred labradors, while Steve is a terrier lover. Steve has over 25 years working in People Development, HR and business, and was the CEO of a significant Ag business in NZ. Helen was a Project Manager at a large engineering consultancy in NZ. They started working on The Dog Den brand in 2017. Their qualifications:
- Bachelors of Science (hons) in Animal Biology & Biochemistry
- Masters of Development and psychology
- Certificate in Dog Behaviour and management
- Pet First Aid Certificates
- 60+ hours Puppy Preschool Training with Lyn Spathis (3 x National Obedience Grand Champion trainer)
Brittany - Senior Groomer
Brittany is a super-experienced groomer who’s become a bit of a favourite across Auckland. She confidently grooms pups of all shapes, sizes, and breeds—no fluff too big or too tiny! Brittany and her team (including her teeny‑tiny Chihuahua sidekick, Titan) are all about making every visit as relaxed and happy as possible, so each guest leaves feeling fresh, fabulous, and fuss-free. She’s often booked out weeks in advance, so be sure to bark early and secure a spot for your furry best friend!
Away from work you will find her at the park or beach with Titan and her little boy, trying to tire them both out
Britany loves working with dogs because no two days are ever the same. The wagging tails, happy faces, and of course the cuddles, make it incredibly rewarding.
Taylor
Taylor’s goal? Make every dog’s day better than the last. From managing energetic zoomies to providing calm reassurance, her positive attitude and dog‑first mindset shine through in everything they do. Taylor is an integral part of The Dog Den team. She brings a strong focus on animal wellbeing and calm, attentive care. Taylor is passionate, observant, and deeply committed to ensuring every dog feels safe and cared for. No matter what kind of day you’ve had, dogs always greet you with a smile
Away from work you find Taylor reading, spending time with friends or finding a fun DIY project.
Taylor loves working with dogs because from the first meeting to the fully bonded relationship, you get to go through all the steps of trust, communication and trial and error that can be some of the funniest and most rewarding moments.
Mary
Mary is a huge animal lover, and is incredibly passionate about working with them, especially dogs! Her focus is on making every dog feel safe, comfortable, and right at home, creating a strong bond with each furry guest. She’s known for working with dogs of all sizes and temperaments, her loving nature and her ability to win over even the shyest pups. Mary believes every dog deserves kindness, patience, and at least one cuddle per hour. Mary is also a certified groomer, and her work week is spread across daycare and in the salon with Brittany. Away from work you will find Mary spending time with her dogs Barnesy & Bruno
Mary said the best part of her job at The Dog Den Takapuna is creating bonds with the dogs and learning their personalities.
Ollie
Ollie is wildly passionate about dogs—especially Staffies! He joined The Dog Den team back in 2020 as a high school student and has been part of the pack ever since, all while studying for his Bachelor of Crim & Psych. He brings nonstop good vibes wherever he goes, and The Dog Den is no exception. You’ll often spot Ollie around even when he’s not officially on shift—usually “studying,” sneaking in cuddle time with some of his favourite dogs, or just popping by for a chat. And if you hear the music turned up loud with some enthusiastic (and questionably harmonious) singing from out back… you can be sure Ollie’s in the building!
Away from work you find Ollie playing a range of sports from basketball to football. He is an absolute movie fanatic – any movie you’ve seen, he’s seen too.
Ollie's favourite type of dog day looks like either sitting in a room full of staffies or running in a field with staffies.
Charlie
Charlie is calm, attentive, and genuinely enjoys building strong bonds with the dogs in her care. Nothing bothers her, and shes happiest when she is surrounded by fur, dribble and belly-rubs. Charlie also works alongside our Puppy Preschool Trainer Lyn on Monday night, and uses the skills from Lyn, to help support our resident puppys. She is also an important part of Puppy Socials, helping run the team and ensuring positive experience for everyone involved. Charlie, has two dogs at home called Shadow and Teddy.
Away from work you will find Charlie going on local bush walks, binging movies or painting
Charlies favorite type of dog day looks like lots of cuddles and snuggles and pups getting to play with their friends!
Dani
Dani brings calm confidence and a big heart to The Dog Den Takapuna. She’s passionate about understanding dog behaviour and believes every dog deserves patience, kindness, and a whole lot of fun. Whether it’s structured play or quiet cuddle time, Dani takes pride in creating a relaxed, enriching environment where dogs can truly thrive.
Away from work you find Dani reading, gaming, hiking, painting/gem art.
If Dani was a dog she’d be a greyhound.