Hope Mehlberg may not call herself a professional dog trainer, but she recently accomplished something impressive: she got an entire school bus full of dogs to sit calmly for Valentine’s Day photos — all while wearing heart-shaped headbands.
Her secret?
“They’re very well compensated for their patience with me,” Mehlberg said with a laugh.
From Federal Job To Dog Day Care Dream
Mehlberg is the owner of K9 Konvoy in Oconto, Wisconsin, about 30 miles north of Green Bay.
Three years ago, she left a federal government job she’d held for nearly a decade. Although she managed teams and built a stable career, she felt miserable. During a difficult period in her life, she began walking her own dogs, Dodge and Teddy, to clear her mind.
Soon, she started walking relatives’ dogs as well. That simple act planted the seed for something bigger.
Then fate intervened.
One day, a dog named Zeppelin was hit by a truck right in front of Mehlberg’s home. She rushed to help, tracked down his owner — who had just moved to the area — and drove them to an emergency animal hospital.
During the stressful ride, she tried to lighten the mood.
“I said, ‘Hey, if he pulls through, I’d love for him to join me,’ and I explained my dog day care idea,” she recalled.
After four nights in intensive care, Zeppelin survived. Shortly afterward, his owner called — ready to sign him up. Zeppelin became Mehlberg’s very first official client.
Building A “Magic Bus” For Dogs
Mehlberg started small. She built a private dog park on three acres of her parents’ property and offered pickup and drop-off services.
Business exploded.
Eventually, her SUV could no longer hold all her furry passengers. So she bought a school bus and retrofitted it specifically for dogs. Today, she transports about two dozen dogs daily — each one buckled in with a seat belt for safety.
She began posting videos of her well-behaved canine crew online. Before long, people around the world were captivated. Her TikTok following grew to 1.7 million fans.
“A lot of my pet parents say it’s like a magic bus,” Mehlberg said.
The Real Secret Behind The Perfect Photos
While treats certainly help — she keeps a fanny pack stocked at all times — Mehlberg says routine is the true key.
“Routine is the biggest thing; we do the same thing every single day,” she explained. “We load up, we play, we get our snacks and we go home. Dogs thrive on repetition.”
She also carefully prescreens each dog to ensure they fit well with the group dynamic. Most importantly, she practices patience.
“Don’t force it,” she said. “If the dogs don’t want to wear something, we reset and restart.”
When it comes to those Valentine’s Day headbands, her method is simple: headband first, then treat. As each dog sees the others participating, they often follow suit.
“They look around and think, ‘Oh, they’re all wearing one, so I guess I will too.’”
Organized Chaos — And Pure Joy
Behind the adorable photos lies plenty of hard work. Driving routes, buckling seat belts, managing personalities — Mehlberg calls it “organized chaos.”
Still, she wouldn’t trade it for anything.
“When I pick them up, the way they greet me — I don’t even know how to explain it,” she said. “It’s a feeling like no other.”
What started as a search for happiness has turned into a bus full of it — complete with wagging tails, heart headbands and a whole lot of treats.