Meet the Hooligans
Behind Every Great Trainer Is a Pack of Loveable Chaos
The name Happy Hooligans didn't come from nowhere — it came from them. Each dog on this page has shaped the way Jenn trains, teaches, and thinks about the human-dog partnership. From her very first dog to the latest four-legged recruit, The Hooligans are listed here from newest to oldest, because every story has to start somewhere.
Tempo de la Forge
The newest Hooligan to join the ranks, Tempo is proof that some dogs didn't get the memo about being appropriately dog-sized. Tipping the scales at over 80 lbs, this Belgian Malinois from La Forge Malinois operates less like a dog and more like a very enthusiastic horse in a dog suit—which has introduced a whole new range of training challenges that Jenn hadn't anticipated from her second Malinois. Yes, second: Tempo is Naruto's baby brother from the same breeder, a fact that baffles everyone who meets them since Tempo outweighs his big brother by a solid 25+ lbs. He is the annoying little sibling in every sense of the word, and he wears it proudly. His love language is hugs (given freely and often), and he expresses his deepest affection by locating his favourite toy and driving it into your stomach with maximum force. Despite all this, Tempo has shown tremendous progress since stepping into the ring for his first competitions, and Jenn is equal parts proud and slightly winded about where this journey is headed. He is currently training in agility and hoopers.
Naruto de la Forge
Meet the "goodest boy"—a title Naruto has earned not through perfect behaviour, but through pure, unrelenting earnestness. This Malinois from La Forge Malinois always wants to do the right thing; sometimes his enthusiasm just gets there a few seconds before the rest of him does. His résumé is genuinely impressive: winner of the 24" division at the 2022 Battle of the Atlantic, and the first dog in Atlantic Canada to earn titles in the Canine Hoopers of Canada. He's also dabbled in UpDog, sprinter, chase ability, ratting, tracking, and obedience—basically anything Jenn would let him try. In 2023, Naruto was diagnosed with a degenerative spinal condition, which prompted talk of retirement. He responded with a firm and unambiguous "no," so the pair reached a compromise: a modified training schedule that keeps him active, happy, and firmly in his identity as the heart of The Hooligans. He is also, for the record, the older and considerably more dignified of the two La Forge brothers—though Tempo would dispute this. He is Jenn's heart dog and her best friend.
Raafael (Raafi)
Raafi arrived as a scrappy stray from the city pound, and made his case for adoption in approximately three seconds—it took one look at those giant ears and the matter was settled. A true Heinz 57 mix, he was the dog who taught Jenn the most about working with dogs who struggle with stress and motivation. When they first met, Raafi was biddable but fragile—near-zero resilience, some resource guarding around other dogs, and more than a little nervous energy. But he was incredibly smart, and when they found their rhythm, he was capable of beautiful things. He went on to earn several second-place finishes at the NS/NL Regionals—the first dog to take Jenn to a podium. His career was cut short by a Medial Shoulder Syndrome diagnosis, and after 18 months of dedicated rehabilitation, it became clear his structure wouldn't support a full return. Jenn retired him from agility, giving him the quieter chapter he had more than earned—and lost him to cancer at just nine years old, far too soon. The lessons Raafi taught about patience, resilience, and meeting a dog exactly where they are live on in every student Jenn has worked with since.
Mufaasa (Mu)
Adopted from the Halifax SPCA at nine months old—after two previous families had returned him, likely due to his "enthusiastic" energy levels and impressive talent for mischief—Mu went on to become the original Hooligan and the foundation of everything that followed. You might notice the name: yes, Lion King—Jenn briefly had a theme going, though it didn't survive past the second dog. Regardless, the name suited him. He was the unshakeable big brother figure to every dog that came after him, the kind of steady, goofy presence that makes a household feel complete. His agility career may not have made the highlight reels, but without Mu there would be no Happy Hooligans, no career in dog sports, and significantly more uneaten snacks. The brain of a Border Collie combined with the stomach of a Labrador will keep you very much on your toes—especially if you'd like any snacks left by the end of the day. He was also a fantastic disc dog and an expert-level food thief right until the very end. Mu passed away in 2025 at the ripe age of 15, having lived a full and magnificent life surrounded by treats and good friends. The original Hooligan, and a very good boy.
Naala
Every great adventure has a beginning, and Naala was Jenn's. Given to her by her aunt and named by her cousins—after a certain Lion King princess, a film close to Jenn's heart—this German Shepherd x Rottie mix never competed in dog sports, but she never needed to. Smart, willing, and always happy to work, Naala came into Jenn's life during her years as a groom on the Show Jumping A-Circuit, and the two of them promptly set off across North America together. She charmed every farm dog she met, ruled the boys with quiet authority, and adapted effortlessly to city life in Nova Scotia when the circuit days were done. Jenn believes to this day that Naala would have been a tremendous agility dog—she had the intelligence and the drive; they simply ran out of time. Naala passed away tragically young at just four years old, Jenn's only girl and her very first dog. Her spirit lives on in the name, the mission, and the love that went into building Happy Hooligans K9 Training.
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