Our Story

How we became HundHaus Designs

Rebecca was a dog mom desperately seeking a dog trainer’s help for her puppy Misty. At 6 months old, the giant-breed Leonberger was having serious issues — terrified of everything, out of control on a leash, and growling as if she was ready to bite. Rebecca was referred to Shawn by several people, and hired him as her dog trainer. 

It was the training efforts to rehabilitate Misty with Shawn that lead Rebecca to design the first prototype of what would become their DAE Lead hands-free dog leash system. Rebecca got an idea,  sketched it into a notebook, bought supplies to make a makeshift prototype, and started to use it with Misty.

At her next lesson, she blurted out excitedly, “I have something to show you!” Shawn completely dismissed it. “I don’t want to see it” were his exact words. "Grab your leash and take Misty outside."

But once outside, he immediately saw the difference in Misty. Rebecca and Misty were walking together. She was under control, walking in step by her side. Her attention was focused on Rebecca. Rebecca suddenly looked like a professional trainer.

Knowing how much Rebecca struggled with dog training, he quickly asked “how did you make such fast progress?” He then accused Rebecca of working with another trainer. She laughed and said, “No. I’ve been using this 'contraption' I made that I just tried to show you.”

It took many more moments, just like that one, but eventually, a very skeptical Shawn did look at what Rebecca created. Rebecca asked Shawn to work on the idea with her ... she knew it was Shawn's talents both as a dog trainer and as a craftsman, that was needed to turn her idea into a working prototype for dogs and their owners from all backgrounds ... big or small, house pet or working k9.

Intrigued by the progress she had made with her "hands free leash" -- progress she couldn't achieve with a traditional hand-held leash despite his coaching -- he agreed to work on the idea with her.

They met on an August afternoon for their first “working session” … reviewing the initial prototype and sketches, and brainstorming ideas and changes Shawn wanted to include. Together they created a revised design that was functionally better than the first. Shawn then took some leashes and collars out of his truck, cut them up and “taped” together a working prototype of the improved design — and Hundhaus Designs was officially born.

It was in the process of completing the prototyping for their "hands free leash" that they came up with the design for their second product, the Get a Grip leash. They had purchased several feet of a grippy, textured PVC "made in the USA" material from Biothane called "Super Grip with Bumps" for the hands-free leash prototype. However, the material just didn't work. In love with the soft feel and secure grip of the material in-hand, they decided to make a few leashes for there own personal use fixing all the things they hated about a traditional leash.

Shawn took his grippy leash to a lesson and a client asked to try it, and refused to give it back. They decided to immediately go to market with their grip leash design, naming it the "Get a Grip" leash which launched in 2018. Sales from the Get a Grip leash have helped pay for the patents and development of Hundhaus ever since. 

More about Shawn

Shawn is founder of Dogs Are Easy Professional Dog Training. As a Master Behavioral Dog Trainer for more than 25 yrs, Shawn uses his extensive background to create balance in the dog-human relationship by providing real world training solutions to people and their dogs from all backgrounds and breeds. From “everyday” pet owners, to rescue groups, to professional working K9 units, to the President of the United States, Shawn has successfully problem-solved and modified the behavior of dogs in every type of environment and lifestyle. Read more about his dog training background at www.dogsareeasy.com

Shawn served as the Public Affairs Officer for the United Stated Police Canine Association, Region 7.

He is a retired Military Police Sergeant, serving active duty with the U.S. Army post 9-11, where he used his civilian protection dog and bite training expertise to assist in homeland security operations.

Next to dogs, Shawn’s second love is American muscle cars. The son of an auto body repair and painting specialist, Shawn grew up fixing and building cars. He currently owns and personally restored a 1968 AMX called “Plan B,” which was his parents’ family car when Shawn was young. The brawler has won numerous car show awards and was recently featured in Hot Rod Magazine. He is also a skilled woodworker and welder. Shawn is co-inventor of the DAE Lead, which is protected by four U.S. utility patents.

Shawn's pack includes his German Shepherd pups O and Nova. You can follow him @dogsareeasy_dogtraining

More about Rebecca

Rebecca L. DeLuccia is an inventor, entrepreneur, and educator revolutionizing hands-free, no-pull walking with your dog through her patented leash system, The DAE Lead. She is the co-founder of Hundhaus Designs LLC and leads the company’s direct-to-consumer brand as it brings the innovation to market through small-batch manufacturing. Read more about HHD at www.hundhausdesigns.com

Rebecca holds four U.S. utility patents for her leash innovations. She was actively involved in the patent process, conducting the prior art search/analysis herself, writing a case against obvious which became part of the patent application, and completing her own patent drawing. Her collaboration with Kinza Hecht, founder and managing partner of Hard-IP, resulting in a robust filing that earned a a rare first-round utility patent approval in 2021 and additional approvals for variant designs in 2023, 2024 and 2026.

Rebecca is a professor at Montclair's Feliciano School of Business teaching business communication and Human+AI skill-building. She also mentors early-stage inventors through the Feliciano Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (FCE+I). 

Before launching Hundhaus Designs, Rebecca spent 20 years as a strategic business consultant, running a boutique employee communication consulting firm serving organizations including L’Oréal USA, The Body Shop, and Amneal Pharmaceuticals.

Innovation is deeply rooted in her family. Rebecca is the great-granddaughter of early 1900s American inventor and radio manufacturer Roy E. Thompson, whose inventions earned several U.S. patents before his company closed in 1927. Roy E. Thompson is an inductee of the Radio Hall of Fame. 

Rebecca's pack includes her Leonberger Misty and her GSD Ziva.