Heaps Good South Aussies | School bus of pawfect passengers on Adelaide Dog Farm Days

Who let the dogs out? All aboard the barking bus for Adelaide Dog Farm Days ulti-mutt day out for our four-legged friends. Trust us, they’ll really dig it.

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These school bus passengers know how to stand out from the pack.

A few more legs, lots of extra fur and plenty of wagging tails – this is a doggy school bus.

You may have spotted the bright yellow vehicle around Adelaide’s suburbs, picking up its pawsome travellers ready for a big day of action-packed fun.

Adelaide Dog Farm Days, founded by Owen Kelly and Abbie Parker last April, provides man’s best friend with adventurous days out at an 8ha Fleurieu Peninsula farm.

The idea for the service first came to Mr Kelly when he was searching for a farm-like experience for his then-city-dwelling border collie.

“It was actually during the pandemic … there wasn’t really anything out there,” Mr Kelly said.

“So the original idea was that we would open a farm that people could take their dogs to and then as we ­developed it more, (the doggy daycare) seemed like a better option.”

Owen Kelly, co-owner of Adelaide Dog Farm Days, takes dogs on adventurous days out. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Who let the dogs out? Adelaide Dog Farm Days does. Picture: Brett Hartwig

While the dog bus may seem like a novelty, it is an integral part of the business’s door-to-door service, with each pooch picked up from their front door in the morning and returned home in the afternoon – low fuss for their fur parents.

“The bus we’ve actually got is a 1997 school bus from Corny Point on the Yorke Peninsula, so in the late ’90s this bus was taking kids to school … I think that’s where the inspiration came from,” the 33-year-old said.

“People really like to see the dogs sitting in their seats, being well behaved … it’s really cool.”

Are we there yet? The lucky dogs ready for their big day out with Adelaide Dog Farm Days. Picture: Brett Hartwig

However, the inventive mode of transport is only a small part of the dog’s day.

As they near the farm, ears start pricking up and eyes widen as they realise they are arriving at their favourite place.

Once the bus is parked, the scene can only be described as chaos, as the canines flood out of the yellow doors and immediately start sniffing, running, playing and swimming in the property’s dam.

According to Mr Kelly, this is the best bit.

“I think our whole ethos is letting dogs be dogs,” he said.

“We don’t involve toys or games, we let dogs explore nature.”

Owen Kelly says he loves “letting dogs be dogs”. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Sit! Good doggos! Adelaide Dog Farm Days on its way to the farm. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Another key part of the experience is providing the pups with enrichment, particularly through scent as the farm is filled with plenty of new and exciting smells.

“You’ll notice when we go on the walking trail, there’s a lot of natural smells and stuff down there,” Mr Kelly said.

“The other (doggy daycare) offerings out there are indoors, where they have to rely on games and stuff, which I think is suitable for some dogs but not all dogs.

“The breeds we get and the dogs we have here are usually larger dogs and high-energy dogs.”

Playtime at Adelaide Dog Farm Days. Picture: Brett Hartwig

And there’s time to cool off at the farm, too. Picture: Brett Hartwig

While golden retrievers, labradors, kelpies and border collies are some of the most common breeds to attend farm days, Mr Kelly said the business was not “breed-discriminatory” and considered a range of factors when bringing a new furry friend into the group.

“I mainly have dogs that I know get along,” he said.

After hours of fun, the pooches’ most dreaded part of the day eventually rolls around – home time.

BARKING MAD! The pups hit the dam. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Adelaide Dog Farm Days, an excellent way to keep your pup busy through the day and tired at night. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Even manned with a bag of treats, Mr Kelly said it could sometimes be a struggle to convince the dogs to leave the farm and head back to their suburban life.

“The main feedback that we’re getting is that dogs are becoming more sociable with other dogs and obviously they’re coming home exhausted as well, which (the families) really appreciate,” he said.

CUTEST DOG SEARCH

The Advertiser/Sunday Mail is on the search for the state’s cutest pooch, nominations open now. To nominate your furbaby, click here. Finalists will be put to a reader vote.