Our First Hound
Meet Spencer, our first hound who changed our lives forever 🤎
We brought this happy pup into our lives in 2020 and he quickly became a city-dwelling, people-adored, food-vacuuming bundle of joy. Spencer had a special love for getting pats from everyone he met.
When we lost him in December 2023, our world turned upside down. But through our grief, we found a new purpose: to honour Spencer’s memory by sharing the things he loved most with the world.
That’s how Hill & Hound was born.
Stay tuned as we bring you the very best in food and drink for your four-legged family members, inspired by the joy Spencer brought into our lives 🌈
Why 'Hill & Hound'?
Meet the Human: Valerie
- Had a childhood dream of being a vet
- Has always been interested in food science & biotechnology (nerd!)
- Work experience in research & medical labs, as well as compliance (ultra nerd!)
- Determines to provide peer reviewed reference to health benefits of the ingredients used at Hill & Hound
- Moved to Melbourne at the age of 18
- Gave up city life (of almost 10 years) to have a backyard for the dogs
- Obsessed with Lana Del Rey
- Loves audiobook (particularly the fantasy genre), spicy food & tea
- Enjoys playing video games on PC, like Overwatch
- Deathly afraid of butterflies (among other things)
Valerie's Qualifications
My educational degrees are:
- Master of Biotechnology, University of Melbourne (2019)
- Bachelor of Science (agriculture-food biotechnology major), University of Melbourne (2015)
My continuing development is as follows:
- Natural Animal Nutrition, College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies
I have the following qualifications:
- Plant Breeders Right Consultant Qualified Person, IP Australia (2023)
- Internal Auditor Training ISO19001:2018, SAI Global (2022)
- ISO14001:2015 Foundation, SAI Global (2022)
- My Green Lab Ambassador, My Green Lab (2022)
Meet the Human: Michael
- The dog dad
- Has degrees in Nursing & Paramedicine
- Works in healthcare
- Fully supportive of Hill & Hound
- Cannot go a day without coffee
- Behind-the-scenes helper
- Magically fixes things up around the house
- Still plays World of Warcraft after almost 20 years
- Loves finding & trying new craft beers
- Cannot stand the feel of cornstarch
- Loves listening to informative (but boring) podcasts to sleep
Meet Our Hound: Shelby
Meet Shelby, our anxious but ever loving girlie. Here’s some fun facts about her:
- Born in 2021
- Nicknames include Sheb, Shebby, Shebby Baby, Jebby, Hebby Jebby & Jebbikins
- Always in tune with dog mum’s emotions, especially when she’s stressed or sad. Shelby would stay by dog mum’s side, or in her lap, until she feels better
- Dog mum’s soul dog who has taught and continues to teach her many things in life, such as the importance of mental health, accepting more help to manage life with anxiety and being kinder to ourselves!
- Drools whenever there’s food nearby
Meet Our Hound: Mabel
Meet Mabel, our inquisitive and mischievous girlie. Here’s some fun facts about her:
- Born in 2023
- Nicknames include M-Bel (Background: We bought letter cookies to announce Mabel joining our family, but Shelby stole and ate the ‘A’ cookie, thus the birth of M-bel nickname!), Mebby, Mebby Baby, Babel (aka baby Mabel), Possum and Bin Dog (she loves to rear up and sniff bins for potential food – acting as if she hasn’t been fed in forever!)
- Loves doing scent work training
- A professional blanket burrower
- Likes to push things off the couch or bed for absolutely no reason whatsoever
- Has recently entered her velociraptor teenage phase and now loves exploding all the dog beds
Meet Our Hound: Alice
Meet Alice, our master thief girlie. Here’s some fun facts about her:
- Born in 2018
- A retired show dog
- Mabel’s grandmother!
- A food and drink master thief. So far, she has managed to taste: Maccas chips, pawrents’ sweet coffee, sweet tea and G&T
- Loves to groom other dogs
- Siesta queen who grumbles if disturbed during nap time or cuddle time