The Good Dog Company Is Lab Tested and Approved
By Josh Hagy

Like most people, Kim Oliver never associated the hemp plant with her two Labs, Ruby and Howard. However, a visit to a nearby textile warehouse and a little research totally changed Kim’s way of thinking, and now she thinks hemp and dogs are a match made in Golden, Colorado.

It was her own curiosity about hemp that first started Kim down the path that would lead to the creation of The Good Dog Company. “I started to learn about hemp and became very impassioned about it. I wanted to educate people,” she said. Kim coupled that passion with a desire to own her own business and began to look for ways to use hemp in her new venture. The answers to her question were wagging their tails in front of her the entire time, but it took a visit to a nearby textile warehouse with a friend to make her see it.

Ruby and Howard faithfully accompanied Kim on this visit and provided the much needed inspiration she had been looking for. “I was looking at these shirts and telling my friend that I was trying to figure out what it was I wanted to make. She laughed and pointed at Ruby and Howard. ‘Why not make something for them?’ she asked.” It was a suggestion that immediately took hold of Kim’s imagination. “I thought ‘why not?’ After all, pet products are a 40 billion dollar a year industry.” Even now, Kim still can’t believe she didn’t think of it first. “They were right there the whole time. My pets are like my kids and I can’t believe I didn’t think of that.” With the foundation laid for her new company, she began to work on product development.

She kept her two Labs in mind as she worked and started by designing a simple, rugged toy that would keep Howard amused. “Howard is an English Lab, so he’s kind of stumpy and short and he can be hard on toys. I was looking at a chew toy and I couldn’t help but think that I could design something better, and I wanted to make something better for Howard. The Bungee Bone was the result of that. It was the first thing we created.” The Bungee Bone was a hit with both Howard and Ruby and continues to be a popular product today. Encouraged by the success of the Bungee Bone, Kim began working on other products and just four years later The Good Dog Company is branching out into the world of fashion.

Along with her husband and business partner, Stuart, Kim has designed a variety of hemp leashes and collars. “We focus mainly on chew toys, collars and leashes right now. Those are our main products, but we plan on expanding our lines over the years.” That expansion is taking place right now, as a matter of fact. The Good Dog Company recently launched a line of hemp and organic cotton corduroy leashes that are quickly becoming best sellers. “They have really vibrant colors and they’re really soft,” added Kim. Of course, all of The Good Dog Company’s products are Lab tested and approved.

Ruby and Howard, four and a half and six years old respectively, certainly put their products through their paces. “They’re kind of our ‘spokesdogs’,” explains Kim. “Right now, as a matter of fact, Howard is sporting a blue Best Friends collar and Ruby has a bright marigold hemp collar. She looks very beautiful.” Not only are these products a fashionable accessory, they are also very healthy and Lab friendly.






Hemp, Kim explains, is the fiber of choice for dogs that have sensitive skin. “Hemp is antimicrobial and hypoallergenic, which makes it great for dogs that have really sensitive skin around their necks. Non-dyed hemp collars are usually recommended for dogs that have this problem. Those collars help by not causing hot spots and things of that nature.” While these wonderful designs are perfect for Labs and other canines, Kim admits that her work has yet to branch out into anything for their owners. “We have a couple of t-shirts for promotional use, but that’s really about it.” Even so, the design work is enough to keep her and Stuart quite busy.


Kim and Stuart handle the design work for The Good Dog Company and actually outsource the sewing. “We do the design work and send all the sewing out to Earthling Manufacturing, a company in the mountain town of Lyons, Colorado. All of our products are American made and we use sweatshop free labor,” said Kim proudly. The Olivers’ commitment to their community is not only a professional endeavor, but a personal one as well. Even with the task of designing and promoting her products taking up a great deal of time, Kim still finds time to volunteer with local agencies.



To get your Lab their own Bungee Bone be sure to visit All Labs’ Toys and Treat Dept. and if you’re interested in learning more about hemp and discovering more hemp products from The Good Dog Company, log onto
www.thegooddogcompany.com.