About us

Hi, I’m Karis Bryen

My mom says my first word was “doggie”, so I guess I knew earlier than most what I wanted to do when I grew up.

I studied for four years at the Association of Pet Dog Trainers under some of the best and most knowledgeable dog professionals in the world; then started working as a dog trainer and behaviourist in 1996 while still in the USA. I also ran a doggie crèche and learned to train animals, both big and small, for film and print productions.

Now, in Cape Town, I run my own business called Happy Dogs which offers private, in-home consultations for dogs with various behavioural problems such as aggression, destructive habits, excessive barking, “sibling” rivalry and so on. I also teach puppy classes and basic obedience (from beginners to advanced).

My philosophy toward animal training revolves around positive reinforcement and learning to view the world through their eyes. Training an animal is about much more than getting it to do things on command; it’s about communicating your needs and allowing the animal to communicate his.

Hi, I’m Ansie Minnaar

With the right methods, you can teach most dogs just about anything. With Tiger, I took a neglected little rescue mongrel and turned him into an agility world silver medalist, so nothing’s impossible.

Whether I’m working or playing with an animal, I try to make sure we both have fun. For many dogs, having fun can be a better reward than having treats – and with the right reward, you can achieve wonderful successes.

Behaviourism is the key to understanding what we can, and cannot, achieve with any animal. It is this knowledge of animal behaviour that makes Hot Dogs the best choice if you’re looking for an animal actor.

In addition, the Film & TV industry has been my home since 1995,(Filmmaker, producer, director, Production & locatiions) so I have an intimate understanding of the bigger picture. I still location scout, because I love it.