MEET THE VISTA CANINE TEAM
Gabby - Owner & Co-Founder
Dogs have been at the heart of Gabby’s life for as long as she can remember, and Vista Canine is the culmination of more than 15 years dedicated to learning from them.
Before moving to Northland, Gabby founded Pack Social – Day Camp for Dogs in Auckland in 2015. What began as a small hiking and training service grew into a successful adventure daycare and boutique boarding business before she and her family relocated north in 2023 to establish Vista Canine on their 450-acre farm outside Ōkaihau.
Throughout her career, Gabby has worked professionally with thousands of dogs of all breeds, ages and temperaments, from confident family companions to more complex behavioural cases involving fear, reactivity and aggression. She has also fostered rescue dogs, trained dog care professionals, and spent her life living and working alongside an incredibly diverse range of breeds. These experiences have shaped her belief that every dog is an individual and deserves an approach tailored to their unique personality and needs.
Beyond Vista Canine, Gabby is actively involved in the wider dog world through breeding, dog sports and film work. She helped introduce PSA (Protection Sports Association) to New Zealand alongside a group of close friends, holds New Zealand’s highest PSA title, and has trained and handled dogs for international film and television productions.
Despite these achievements, what has remained constant is her passion for spending time with dogs and helping them thrive.
Gabby’s vision for Vista Canine has always been simple: to create the kind of place she would want for her own dogs - a place where every dog is understood, cared for as an individual, and genuinely excited to return to. Every dog that joins Vista Canine becomes part of the family, and creating that environment is something she considers a privilege.
Mikal - Co-Owner
Mikal has spent more than 20 years working, training and living alongside dogs. Throughout that time he’s owned and trained a wide variety of dogs, including hunting dogs, working farm dogs and protection dogs, giving him a broad understanding of different breeds, drives and working styles.
His primary passion is protection dogs, where he specialises in decoy work and bite development. He has travelled to Australia and the United States to apprentice under some of the world’s leading decoys, continually refining his skills and expanding his knowledge.
Mikal and Gabby first met through dog training, and dogs have remained at the centre of their lives ever since. Together they’ve spent the past nine years building and operating successful dog daycare and boarding businesses, beginning with Pack Social in Auckland before establishing Vista Canine in Northland.
Before making dogs his full-time profession, Mikal served as a career firefighter in Auckland for 18 years. The calm, patient and consistent approach that role demanded continues to shape the way he works with dogs today.
Whether he’s working with a high-drive working dog or a much-loved family companion, Mikal has a natural ability to read dogs and adapt his handling to the individual in front of him. At Vista Canine, his focus is simple: providing every dog with a safe, structured environment where they can relax, have fun and thrive.
Saskia - Handler
Saskia has been passionate about dogs from a young age, beginning her journey as a dog walker at just 12 years old before volunteering with the Kerikeri SPCA as a teenager. Since then, she has continued to build her knowledge and experience through both formal study and hands-on work with dogs of all ages, breeds and temperaments.
She holds a New Zealand Certificate in Animal Care – Companion Animals, as well as a New Zealand Certificate in Animal Management – Canine Behaviour and Training. Throughout her training, Saskia gained experience with a range of organisations, including Bay of Islands Animal Rescue, Training Dogs for Life, K9FUNdanmentals, and puppy classes in Auckland.
Saskia has worked in dog daycare, puppy training and behaviour-focused environments both in New Zealand and Australia. She managed the dog daycare and puppy classes at All Good Pet Foods, worked with behaviour dogs while living in Adelaide, and volunteered with several obedience training clubs, including Coastal Community Dog Training, DJ Dogz and the Bay of Islands Canine Association.
Outside of work, Saskia enjoys continuing her own training journey with her dogs. She has competed in Rally Obedience and successfully completed all levels of the Canine Good Citizen programme with one of her dogs.
At Vista Canine, Saskia is known for her calm, patient approach and genuine love of working with dogs. She enjoys getting to know each dog’s individual personality and helping them build confidence while ensuring they have a fun, safe and enriching day.
Contact
0210 247 7423
Enquire Now
We’d love to learn more about you and your dog. Simply fill out the form below and tell us a little about what you’re looking for.
Whether you’re interested in Adventure Day Camp, Farmstay Boarding, or support for a dog with specific behavioural needs, we’ll review your information and get in touch to discuss the best fit for your dog.