Hounds & Heritage exists within moments that matter deeply to people and to their dogs.
Behind those moments sits a body of work shaped over time, through experience, reflection, and change.
This page shares where the business came from, how it is supported, and the people who carry the responsibility of the work today.
Legacy & Team:
The people, values, and shared approach behind the service.
Legacy
Hounds & Heritage was not created based on a trend, a social media idea, or to rectify a perceived gap in the market. It was established through lived experience, responsibility, and a thorough understanding of what it means to be a dog owner, including the realities of caring for dogs during moments that matter most.
Founded in August 2021, the business grew organically from years within the pet care industry, alongside a parallel background in weddings and events. What began as a service has since developed into a recognised standard of care, trusted by couples, venues, and fellow professionals across Scotland and beyond.
The name itself reflects the ethos. Hounds represents devotion, loyalty, and the bond between people and their dogs. Heritage speaks to tradition, family, and the belief that dogs are not accessories or props within a wedding day, but part of its natural story. Every decision within the business is shaped by that belief.
Over the years, Hounds & Heritage has supported hundreds of weddings, working behind the scenes to ensure dogs are included safely, respectfully, and without compromise to their wellbeing.
The approach is considered and measured, always centred on what is right for the animal rather than what looks best on the day.
Olive, Amy & Sean · St Anthanasius Church · 07.04.22
OLIVE
“Being part of a wedding day means knowing when to step forward, and when to hold a boundary. Not every decision is immediately obvious, and not every moment needs more.
My role has always been to view the day through the dog’s experience, even when that perspective is harder to explain. When choices are made with care and understanding, dogs can be part of weddings beautifully. That belief sits underneath everything we do..”
— Jemma, Founder
She grew up in North Yorkshire, surrounded by dogs from an early age. They were part of everyday life, always with the family, and that constant presence shaped a natural understanding of dogs, their routines, and the role they play within a household. Alongside this, a love of the outdoors and the environment became a steady backdrop to her early years.
Dog walking entered her life during a difficult chapter, not as a planned career but as something that brought steadiness and relief. What began as a way to feel less heavy gradually developed into work she felt genuinely connected to, growing through dog walking, day care, and home boarding.
That work expanded into a larger pet care business with multiple branches across England.
Jemma is the founder of Hounds & Heritage Weddings and continues to work actively as a wedding dog chaperone, remaining closely involved in weddings alongside her team.
In January 2020, Jemma moved to Scotland to be with her husband, Steven, continuing to run her existing pet care business while taking time to reflect on where she wanted her work to go next. In August 2021, she made the decision to step away from that business and begin again, which led to the creation of Hounds & Heritage Weddings.
From there, weddings became the clear focus. Not because the role itself was new, but because it allowed space to work in a way that felt right. Each booking is approached with care and attention, taking time to understand what is needed before anything else moves forward.
That approach now sits at the heart of Hounds & Heritage, bringing together years of experience across pet care and wedding coordination into a service shaped by judgement, consistency, and advocacy for the dogs entrusted to her care.
DAISY
Daisy & Jemma · Seamill Hydro · 21.06.25
Hounds & Heritage is supported by a small team who work closely together, guided by the same welfare-led framework.
In September 2023, the business expanded into a team-led structure. The shift was made to ensure the level of care, attention, and judgement clients and their dogs deserve could be upheld consistently, while allowing the service to remain sustainable over time.
Earlier that year, during the height of wedding season, Jemma experienced a stroke while running the business independently - a moment that clarified the responsibility of protecting both clients and dogs, without compromise.
The move to a team structure was a natural progression. It allowed the care already in place to be upheld consistently, while creating resilience within the service as it grew.
The team brings over 30 years of combined experience across professional dog handling, events, military service, and veterinary and behavioural practice. This breadth of experience supports calm, practical care for dogs in environments that are often busy, unpredictable, and emotionally charged.
The team remains intentionally small, keeping the service personal and attentive throughout.
A Shared Approach
Bruce & Steven · Crossbasket Castle · 07.09.24
