our story

We’re Stephanie, Kurt and Kobe. We started The Big Dog Squad in May 2026. Kobe is our 1 year old Doberman who we got a 5 months old. He was very reactive, pulling on the lead, lunging, barking at other dogs- and we couldn’t enjoy a walk or a park without anxiety.

We started Kobe’s social media where likeminded Doberman owners reached out with the same issues and young pups. To help with his reactivity, we began meeting up with local Doberman owners. It helped build our confidence- and Kobe’s. We realised we had so much in common and built real friendships.

We expanded our network and started out first local group trips. Seeing how much it helped Kobe, we created The Big Dog Squad- a community for big breed owners.

our community & Our values

The Big Dog Squad was created with a clear purpose: to bring together owners of large-breed dogs in a supportive, welcoming environment where people can connect with others who genuinely understand the unique joys and challenges of owning big dogs.

Our community isn't designed to be everything for everyone – and that's completely okay. We have chosen to focus exclusively on large-breed dogs because that is the community we set out to build. Our events, guidelines, and decisions are all made with that purpose in mind.

The rules and expectations within The Big Dog Squad aren't there to exclude people unnecessarily; they're there to create a safe, enjoyable, and predictable experience for both dogs and owners. We ask all members to respect these guidelines, our mission, and the values of the community.

If our community or its approach isn't the right fit for you, we genuinely wish you well. There is no obligation to stay, and everyone is free to find a community that better suits their needs. We simply ask that our values and boundaries are respected while you're here.

Above all, The Big Dog Squad exists to build friendships, create memorable experiences, and provide a supportive space where owners of large-breed dogs can feel understood, welcomed, and part of something positive.

Note: Membership of The Big Dog Squad is a privilege, not an entitlement. We reserve the right to remove any member whose behaviour is disrespectful towards our community, its mission, its volunteers, or its guidelines, or whose actions undermine the positive environment we are committed to creating.