Angus Healy | Taking the lead

What started as a Year 8 student’s simple idea to earn some extra pocket money has grown into a thriving business, a completed degree and a clear ambition to make a difference. Angus Healy founded Happy Paws by Angus from his love of dogs and has spent the years since building not only a successful dog-walking business, but also valuable skills in entrepreneurship, communication and leadership. Now a proud alumnus, Angus is looking to the future with plans to pursue a career in politics while continuing to grow Happy Paws and encouraging other young people to take the lead in creating opportunities for themselves.

Let’s go right back to the beginning. What prompted you, while you were still in Year 8, to start walking dogs?

Happy Paws really started because I wanted to earn some extra pocket money and I loved dogs. I started walking a few dogs around my neighbourhood after school. What began as a small side hustle quickly grew through word of mouth, with more families asking if I could walk their dogs.

I realised early on there was an opportunity to turn something I enjoyed into a business. I started thinking about customer service, branding, pricing and how to create an experience people would recommend to others.

What began with a couple of dogs eventually became Happy Paws by Angus, with a regular group of clients and pack walks across Brisbane. Looking back, starting so young taught me that you don't need to have everything figured out before you begin. Sometimes you just need to give an idea a go.

You’ve grown Happy Paws while studying at QUT. What has running a business taught you that you couldn’t have learned in a classroom?

Running a business teaches you very quickly that there isn't always a textbook answer.

You learn how to work with customers, manage finances, solve unexpected problems and take responsibility for the outcome.

The biggest lesson has been consistency. It's easy to be excited by a new idea, but building something sustainable comes from turning up every week, looking after your customers and continuing to improve.

It's also taught me resilience. Running a small business means experiencing successes and setbacks side by side, and learning not to let either define the bigger picture.

And conversely, has studying communications changed the way you approach Happy Paws?

Definitely. Studying at QUT gave me a much stronger understanding of how people consume information and connect with stories.

Happy Paws isn't just a dog-walking service. It's the story of a young person starting a business at school, growing it through university and building a community around dogs and their owners. Communications helped me learn how to tell that story authentically.

It also changed the way I think about content. Whether it's a social media post, a photograph, a video or an email, I'm always thinking about the audience and what I want them to take away.

The biggest lesson from my degree has been that effective communication starts with understanding people.

Social media has clearly played a role in telling the Happy Paws story. What have you learned about building a brand and connecting with an audience?

I've learned that people connect with people before they connect with businesses.

Social media gave me a way to show the personality behind Happy Paws. Instead of simply posting that we'd walked six dogs, I could introduce the dogs, celebrate their birthdays and share what a typical day looks like.

Authenticity matters more than perfection. Often the content that performs best is simple, genuine and relatable.
Building a brand is really about earning trust over time by consistently showing people who you are and what you stand for. For

Happy Paws, that's especially important because people are trusting me with a member of their family.

Cheeky question for the dog lovers in the room — where are your top five favourite places to take a dog in Brisbane?

This is a difficult one because Brisbane has so many great spots!

My five would be:

1. New Farm Park: an obvious favourite, but for good reason. It's a great place for dogs and people, and the riverside setting is hard to beat.
2. Kedron Brook: perfect for exploring and getting some exercise.
3. Nudgee Beach: especially when you want somewhere different and the dogs can enjoy a good adventure.
4. Victoria Park: there's plenty of open space and it's a great place to get out and about.
5. South Bank: more for a relaxed outing and exploring the area than a big dog walk.

I think one of the best things about Brisbane is that you don't have to go far to find somewhere new to explore with your dog

Now that you’ve graduated from QUT, what does the next chapter look like for you and for Happy Paws?

For me personally, the next chapter is about continuing to build on the skills and experience I've developed through business, university and community involvement. I'm interested in pursuing a career in politics, while continuing to grow and evolve Happy Paws.

Building this business has given me a strong foundation in entrepreneurship, leadership, communication and connecting with people. I want to take those skills into whatever comes next.

I'm particularly passionate about encouraging more young people to get involved in politics, business and leadership. I don't think you need to wait until you're older to make a difference or put your hand up for an opportunity. Starting Happy Paws taught me that you can create opportunities for yourself, even when you're young, and I want to encourage other young people to have that same confidence.

There is also something very exciting coming to Happy Paws, and I can't wait to share more about it.

QUT degree - Bachelor of Communication (2025)

Do you have a question for Angus? Connect with him on LinkedIn.