8 Dog Treat Business Success Stories [2024]
Dog treats are a cornerstone of the dog food market. If you enjoy baking and love dogs, you can combine these passions to create healthy, natural, and tasty treats for your furry friends.
As a dog treat entrepreneur, you have the opportunity to make delicious canine confections that are both good for dogs and enjoyable to eat.
Focus on ensuring your products meet the nutritional requirements and will be safe for their consumption, and consider introducing specialty services like custom birthday cakes and holiday gift boxes to provide an inviting niche.
Leverage online and local markets to transform homemade dog treats into a thriving and rewarding enterprise.
Here are some real life success stories of starting a dog treat business:
1. Treats Happen ($180K/year)
Lucas Walker and Riley Wallbank came up with the idea for their business, Treats Happen, when they were dissatisfied with the unhealthy dog treats available in stores. They decided to create their own line of all natural dog treats, starting as a hobby and then testing the market at a pet expo where they made $3,000 in sales. They have since focused on building their brand, expanding distribution, and improving their product offerings.
How much they make: $180K/year
Current team size: 0
Toronto-based Treats Happen saw a gap in the market for healthy dog treats, and now makes roughly $15K per month. Their biggest lesson? As a brand, they don't just sell on their website but want to be available on as many profitable channels as possible.
2. Dope Dog ($360K/year)
Michael and Erin, the co-founders of Dope Dog, came up with the idea for their business when their dog, James, needed a natural alternative to the medicine he was prescribed after ACL surgeries. They started supplementing with CBD and saw incredible results, which led them to create a line of CBD products specifically designed for dogs. Since their launch in 2017, they have grown organically and are currently generating $18,000 in monthly revenue.
How much they make: $360K/year
Current team size: 2
Dope Dog, a CBD dog product company founded by Michael and Erin, went from 1 product to a full line of 9 products within a year, generating $18K in monthly revenue through organic growth and word of mouth marketing.
So... can you actually make money with a dog treat business?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
3. Pawstruck ($21M/year)
Kyle, the founder and CEO of Pawstruck.com, came up with the idea for his business after struggling to find healthy, all-natural dog treats for his puppy. Frustrated by the lack of options, he decided to start his own e-commerce business to supply other pet owners with high-quality and reasonably priced dog products. With a dedicated team and a strong focus on customer retention, Pawstruck.com has experienced rapid growth, earning a spot on the Inc 500 list and projected revenue in the eight figures.
How much they make: $21M/year
Current team size: 25
Pawstruck.com founder and CEO Kyle Goguen shares the story of how his all-natural, reasonably-priced pet supply e-commerce business became one of the fastest growing companies in the US, ranking #87 on the Inc 500 in 2018, and is projected to surpass 8 figures in revenue in 2019.
4. The Anxious Pet ($960K/year)
Brock Weatherup, founder of TheAnxiousPet, came up with the idea for his business when he couldn't find a high-quality, all-natural calming product for his anxious dog, Boulder. Drawing on his experience in the pet industry, Weatherup and his team launched TheAnxiousPet, offering products such as CBD oils, soft chews, and supplement bars. In its first year, the business has already achieved over $1 million in sales and plans to expand its offerings through their sister site, Great Pet Shop.
How much they make: $960K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1.5M
Current team size: 21
Pet entrepreneur Brock Weatherup shares how he launched The Anxious Pet, a business offering all-natural CBD-based pet products, which quickly grew to over $1M in annual revenue in its first year, thanks in part to an SEO-focused companion site, Great Pet Care.
So... can you actually make money with a dog treat business?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
5. iHeartDogs ($22M/year)
Justin Palmer and Marshall Morris came up with the idea for iHeartDogs after building large dog-themed Facebook communities. They realized the potential for a business centered around dog lovers and decided to create a brand that sold physical products and also served as a media property for advertising. The success of their first product, a beaded bracelet that represented meals donated to shelter pets, propelled them forward and they have since raised over $300,000 for various charitable causes. They have been profitable since their first month of operation and continue to grow on their own terms without outside funding.
How much they make: $22M/year
Current team size: 50
iHeartDogs is a lifestyle store and blog with over 25 million members in its Facebook communities, which sells products for pet dogs and donates to specific programs that rescue animals, totaling over 1.5 million pet heroes served.
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- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
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- 8,628 business ideas
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- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
