In 2022 toy poodle Burrito made headlines after surviving in an Auckland park for 11 days.
He had disappeared while exercising on a regular daily walk in the Botanic Gardens, and was later found hungry and badly dehydrated but alive.
Owners Grace and Isaac Loyola were determined to find him.
As well as camping out in the park to be close to him, they rallied a large community team of volunteer searchers.
The harrowing ordeal was to become the catalyst to form a regular meet up event for toy-poodles and their owners.
The group of around 15 connect via a Facebook page and meet at the Hobsonville Point Dog Park, in West Auckland every month.
Grace Loyola told The Wag when we joined the group on of the meet ups that the idea came after she began looking for somewhere her dogs (the couple have now added toy poodle Bobby to their family) could safely play and get exercise.
“I had been looking for this type of little group before so my dogs would be able to play with the same group of dogs, same size and same personality, and a friend suggested organising my own group.”
After the ordeal of Burrito going missing, she was reluctant to let him off the lead, so the meet up at the fully fenced small dog park is an opportunity for him to get off-leash exercise safely.
Grace drives from South Auckland for the monthly meet ups.
“It’s worth a drive just for Burrito and Bobby to be in a happy and safe place right now”
“They’ve got lots of energy to get rid of as well. Especially Bobby, he’s got a lot of puppy energy so it’s good for him to run at energy and just be happy running around with his friends”
One of the regulars at the meet ups is Helen who has been coming along with her with her dog, Miso for around two years.
She said she loved the idea of creating a safe space for toy poodles in particular, and it was an opportunity for like-minded people, owners, and dogs to connect, and socialise.
“It builds that confidence so that they can be a little bit more comfortable, even if we’re not right there beside them,” she said.
Helen had noticed positive changes in Miso because of the meetups.
“Miso has definitely become a lot more confident, he has come out of his shell a little bit more as well.
He has learned how to play with other dogs and actually make friends, because he was a little bit of a loner”
The meet ups had helped him become more adventurous, she said.
“Since we’ve been coming to these meetups, he’s a little bit more sociable, although he still likes to stick close to me, but that’s only because that’s where the treats are.”
“And it helps him burn off energy”.
The monthly meetups are also a great opportunity for owners to get together.
“It’s really nice to meet other dog parents, because it’s kind of tricky to find places to go together and hang out and eat, at a cafe, for example, given that not all of them are dog friendly.
“So having each other to hang out with is quite nice, and also it builds our network.”
The weekend The Wag joined the meet up, it was clear that the dogs were excited to see their friends.
Helen said Miso was always keen to see his pals.
“Earlier this morning, he spotted one of his friends, they had come a little bit early and they were just doing a little walk around the area,and he could spot them a mile away.
“Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Haku come into view.
And then he was just like, I need to go, I need to go say hi, and he bolted off.”
The group recommended those who wanted to set up a similar group to connect with other dog owners through Facebook or owners they know already.
