Services Directory
Hounding Around Verified
Premium pet care for your wedding day — from transport to “I do,” we’ve got your dog covered.
Portland, OR, Oregon
About
Hounding Around is a premium wedding pet attendant service for couples who want their dog to be a part of their big day without asking friends or family. We bring a rare combination of experience to our couples: hands-on dog handling as a dog trainer, paired with real wedding coordination experience. As the dedicated dog handler, we don’t just watch your dog — we manage them within the actual event timeline, covering everything couples and vendors care about most: transport to and from the venue, guest greetings, aisle walks, downtime and bathroom breaks, and making sure the pup is camera-ready the moment the photographer needs the shot. Every wedding pet care package is personalized and built around what each couple and their dog actually need — nothing more, nothing less. As a professional dog trainer by trade, we specialize in supporting dogs with anxiety, reactivity, or unpredictable behavior. Through pre-event preparation and day-of handling strategies, we safely integrate even high-needs dogs into the celebration — reducing risk for the venue and vendors, while lifting one of the biggest emotional burdens off a pet parent’s shoulders. Based in Portland, Oregon, Hounding Around is an LGBTQ+ and woman-owned dog training and pet care company. Licensed, insured, and first-aid certified, we bring planner-level precision and genuine animal-handling expertise to every event — so couples can walk down the aisle knowing their best friend is in the very best hands.
How It Works
Step 1: Free Consultation Call Reach out and schedule a free 30-minute consultation with Avery, Hounding Around’s wedding pet attendant. We’ll learn more about you and the vision for the day, and make sure we’re the right fit for each other. Step 2: Plan the Dog’s Role Not sure how involved your pup should be? No problem. We’ll walk you through options and suggestions based on personality and existing schedule, so you can decide what feels right, whether that’s the full ceremony and reception, just photos, or anything in between. Step 3: Coordinate With Your Vendor Team Have a wedding planner? Great! We’ll sync directly with the planner and photographer ahead of time to map out exactly where the dog fits into the day’s timeline. No planner, or just a day-of coordinator? No worries. Avery draws on her own experience as a day-of wedding coordinator to make sure every detail of the pup’s involvement is planned and accounted for, with no gaps and no surprises. Step 4: Wedding Day Support On the day itself, Avery keeps your dog calm, comfortable, and camera-ready throughout, not just during their “on” moments, but in between them too. She stays mindful of each dog’s threshold and energy level, responding in real time to what they need.
Available for weddings in and around the Portland metro area, as well as destination weddings. No minimum booking lead time or seasonal restrictions — reach out wherever you are in your planning process and we will do our best to accommodate!
Services & Capabilities
What Sets Them Apart
- Avery is a professional dog trainer with a science-based, kind approach - she doesn't simply hold the leash, she helps your dog stay calm and confident.
- Pet first-aid certified and fully insured, so your dog is in the hands of someone professionally prepared for the unexpected.
- Avery handles direct coordination with your planner and photographer ahead of time, so nothing about the dog logistics falls on you.
- During downtime your dog gets real exercise, enrichment, and bathroom breaks rather than just supervision — so they arrive at photos energized but composed.
- Avery works alongside your photographer to ensure your dog is looking at the camera for photos.
Certifications
Pricing
Get in Touch ↓Every wedding is different — and so is every dog. That’s why we don’t do one-size-fits-all packages. Instead, we build a custom quote based on your dog’s specific role in the day, so you’re only paying for what you actually need. Reach out for a free consultation, and we’ll put together a quote tailored to you.
Travel fees: Like our pricing, travel fees are custom-quoted based on your destination and the timeline you need a handler on-site. Whether we’re heading just outside Portland or joining you for a destination wedding, we’ll factor travel into your personalized quote — no hidden surprises.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Hounding Around travel outside of Portland for a destination wedding?
Yes! We absolutely love traveling when dogs are involved. Please send an inquiry using the form below for a custom quote!
What does Hounding Around do with my dog during the parts of the wedding when they're not needed?
It all comes down to the wedding itself, primarily, how much downtime we have and how the dog's stress and/or energy level is. Some dogs enjoy a leisurely walk while others prefer to rest in a quiet space in between. We use our best judgment to ensure the dog can show up to their responsibilities as their best selves.
Is Hounding Around insured?
Yes. Avery is fully insured and pet first-aid certified, so your dog is the responsibility of a trained professional throughout the event.
We have no idea how we want our dog involved in our wedding.
Easy! During our free consult call, we will discuss your dog's personalities and we can chat about how we can involve them in the wedding. I've had dogs show up to only be in one photo, I've walked dogs down the aisle, greeted guests at cocktail hour, and even had a dog get to do her very own first-look with the couple. It can be whatever you want it to be!
What if we aren't sure if our dog can handle what we want them to do?
Then we pivot! I am skilled at reading dog body language and will intervene if I feel it is necessary. Couple's tend to know what the pressure point will be, so we will create a Plan A and Plan B. Regardless of our plan, I will always ensure your dog is comfortable and removed from a stressful situation if necessary. I have removed dogs from the front of the ceremony without the couple even noticing.
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