Dog owners in the Twin Cities have got it good. More and more businesses are catering to the needs and preferences of canines, and the caring for and pampering of furry family members. That's right: According to the U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook (2012), published by the American Veterinary Medical Association, “Six out of ten pet owners, or 63.2%, considered their pets to be family members.”

The four Twin Cities’ businesses profiled here are owned by women—dog lovers and entrepreneurs—who are catering to canines with successful start-ups. They’re not alone. The American Pet Products Association has a Professional Women’s Network to attract and engage women in all aspects of the pet industry. The network’s purpose is “to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas, and to promote social and career development activities that can help you achieve greater success.”

For those of you who schedule regular meet-ups at the local dog park, post or tweet about your dog(s) daily lives on social media, share videos of Bodhi (the Menswear dog) with relatives, have downloaded the “My Talking Pet” app to give Bowser a real voice (yours, of course), and check Sidewalkdog.com to find out what’s happening locally, you need to know about these businesses. You can shop for their products online and at Bone Adventure in Northeast Minneapolis.

Bedtime Bones

Karlene Wieland had worked with nonprofits, in product development, and as part of corporate America. Then she had a “personal calling” after adopting her Newfoundland/Husky mix. She noticed that, at bedtime, her dog would get excited and not go to bed. Wieland was loath to give her dog tranquilizers or medications that could have side affects, or were usually prescribed for other conditions. She talked to several veterinarians and discovered that dogs with too much energy at bedtime is a frequent concern (second only to house training).

Wieland decided to find a natural product for dogs and began exploring chamomile, a calming herb that works for people. In 2010, Wieland launched Bedtime Bones, an organic treat that includes chamomile (and no wheat, soy, corn, or fillers) and is sold in a box made from recycled materials. Since launching Bones, Wieland says she’s given up both her savings and normal sleep, but is thrilled to be meeting the needs of dogs and their owners.

She’s also giving back in other ways. Wieland teamed with Puppy Love Rescue for an event in the Minneapolis skyways to raise awareness and promote the adoption of rescued animals. In addition, she works with the local pet rescue group Pet Project.

Sarah Beth Photography

Graphic designer Sarah Ernhart began dabbling in pet photography in 2006, and exhibited her photographs in veterinarian offices across the Twin Cities. Whether shooting in her studio in St. Anthony Main or outside in more natural settings, she realized that, “I love the clean lines and bright colors and shapes that dogs make.” Ernhart also learned that, “I love animals and I seem to have a very special connection to them. I’m good at keeping them calm and making the shoot fun.”

So Ernhart decided to transform Sarah Beth Photography into a pet photography studio. While she enjoys photographing pets of all ages, she’s developed a specialty, the Joy Session®, in which she travels to people’s homes to document owners’ relationships with their terminally ill or elderly pets. “During Joy Sessions, owners often open up about their lives with their dogs,” Ernhart says. “We process that relationship together and sometimes we cry together.”

The reduced-rate Joy Session is one way in which Ernhart gives back. She also donates a percentage of all her pet session fees to a local nonprofit pet rescue, shelter, or advocacy organization.

Cosmo’s Collars

One day, graphic and textile designer Martine Sticha was working with fabric samples and realized the unused portions would be tossed away. “There were so many interesting and cool fabrics,” Sticha says, that she decided to recycle the leftovers into colorful dog collars. She started Cosmo’s Collars in 2008 after exploring various fabric types and weights, stitching techniques, and sustainable materials.

Sticha creates three types of collars: the Dotty, with single leather construction, for small dogs; Walker Brights, which have double leather construction for durability in everyday use; and Felts, made from 100 percent German wool felt. The Felts are not only her favorites to make, she says, but “felt, as a material, offers an alternative for people who don’t want something made from harming another animal.”

Sticha uses real metal hardware as fasteners and embellishments. Her collars come in flashy colors and lively patterns, and she takes her style cues from customers. “I hear people say, ‘My dog would love this,’ or ‘My dog would never wear pink,’” she says. “Those interactions inspire me to shop for fun new materials.”

Maggie’s Light

Five years ago, Kathy Kuhl was grieving the loss of her dog Maggie. The founder of Nelli Designs, an online candle business for pet owners who want to honor their canine companions, Kuhl says, “I’d just left my career in product development, and had been freelancing in photography and jewelry making.” Her jewelry was beginning to get some traction when the candles started to connect with people.

“I tried to keep up with everything, but there were too many balls in the air,” she says. “I started to hear how the candles were resonating with people and realized that Maggie actually pointed me in a direction in her own way.” Kuhl created a candle to commemorate her dog, calling it Maggie’s Light.

The Maggie’s Light candles, like all of Nelli Designs’ candles (Nelli is Kuhl's current canine companion), are individually hand-poured with eco-soy wax and cotton wicks for clean burning. Each candle can be personalized with special engravings and charms. “I really couldn’t find anything out there that was fitting—something that was personal,” Kuhl says. “I wanted to have Maggie's tags someplace I could see them, touch them, jingle them.”

Kuhl gives a portion of her profits to no-kill rescue organizations committed to finding loving homes for pets in need, including Homeward Bound of Minnesota and Tony LaRussa’s Animal Rescue Foundation.


Anne Jin Soo Preston is an independent consultant for arts and cultural nonprofits. She is also the owner of Bark Bites Dog Treats, made with organic ingredients, which she started in December 2012.