Dog Years

Dog Years…

Gordo eyeing up his daily Dog Year tablet…

I’ve watched and admired the Dog Years journey and Gordo has been using their Joint and Mobility, which he gobbles up every morning.

If you’d like to try their products our friend Koda has a code for 20% off - Koda20 - and we can recommend!

Please enjoy xx

These are the unedited words from brothers Gus, Jack and their two Chief Happiness Officers… aka their dogs :)

Please share your story

I've put in our backstory below which will cover this part nicely!

What inspired you to start your business?

It all started with our dog, Mac. He needed help with his movement, and like many dogs, was facing the usual prescription route. Monthly injections that cost a fortune and did little more than dull the pain. He was still the same fragile dog, just with a bit less discomfort. But the pain always crept back, well before the next dose.

We’d been through it before. Past dogs of ours became lame from hip dysplasia, and the vet visits were always stressful. It wasn’t the future we wanted for Mac. He had more life to live, but painkillers and clinical trips weren’t going to get him there.

Growing up farming deer velvet in our family, we knew what it was capable of. But it took over a year to source the right quality of deer velvet and combine it with other key ingredients. Only then did we see Mac do a complete 180. His movement improved first. That was our goal. But what surprised us were the other changes: his anxiety faded, his tail never stopped wagging, he smiled again, he slept better, and he finally held weight like a healthy dog. He wasn’t just mobile. He was happy. And for us, that’s priceless.

We didn’t create the supplement with a business in mind. There was no spreadsheet behind it. We didn’t cut corners or cost things out like a typical product launch. We just wanted to help Mac. That meant using the best, export-grade, human-quality ingredients, not the cheaper, less effective stuff. It's a high-cost product to make, but we stand by every chew. And even with that cost, it's far more effective and affordable than ongoing medication.

Today, we ship our supplements across New Zealand to dog owners who, like us, want the very best for their mates. It’s a business we’re proud of, one with real purpose.

Our future plans are simple. Keep doing right by more dogs, and help as many as we can live long, comfortable, happy lives.

What were you most afraid of when starting and how did you push past?

We had always been confident in the product and how it can help dogs, so we thankfully had that fire from the beginning. If anything, the personal investment was large and a lot of money soaked at the beginning from trial and error... I'm sure the scary parts are to come as we expand into other countries so I want speak too soon...

What inspires you to continue growing and developing your business?

Customer satisfaction and feedback, Impact on the community/society

Expand on what inspires you and any other thoughts you’d like to share.

As you'd expect, we're driven by the impact we have on dogs. That’s at the heart of everything. We genuinely believe in the product, where it comes from, and the farmers behind it. There's a strong sense of pride in knowing it's made right here in New Zealand. We're proudly patriotic, and being able to showcase what our country can offer

Who or what is your biggest inspiration as a business owner?

Our immediate family and friends. Making them proud!

Do you have mentors and/or advisors that you work with?

Yes. We're thankfully built a wonderful network of business friends and mentors who we learn from frequently now.

What do you find are your biggest challenges and what do you do to keep yourself in the best shape to face these?

Cutting through the weeds and tackling the main challenges that are withholding our development & learning to focus our energy on the right areas.

Would you recommend starting a business?

Yes, absolutely

What learnings do you have for those looking to step into business?

Use smart people around you and be persistent. The million dollar idea doesn't happen over night and often becomes unrecognisable from your original plan so don't try to perfect things at the beginning. Just tinker away at a good thing and enjoy the creative side of it.

If you’d like to taste test, you can use Koda20 for a bonus 20% off