Women-Owned Dog Businesses in New York City
Who run the world? According to Beyoncé, it’s girls! It’s true. We make up 50% of the population, but sadly that nice, round, equal number doesn’t always translate to the business world.
In New York City, men own 1.5 times more businesses than women, employ 3.5 times more people, and make on average 4.5 times more revenue (source). That’s a major bummer.
It’s time to spread the wealth and recognition, and us dog lovers can do our part right from home. I’ve compiled a list of women-owned dog businesses in the Tri-State area. These inspiring entrepreneurs are making their mark in everything from retail stores, to dog grooming, to the art world.
Every business listed below is 100% women-owned. Take a look, and have your wallet ready!
No money? No problem!
There are free ways to support women-owned businesses too!
- Follow them on social media.
- Interact with their social media accounts by commenting, liking, reposting or sharing.
- Shout them out, either on your own social media pages or blog, or by telling your friends and family.
- Write a positive review.
- Sign up for their newsletter.
If there’s a 100% woman-owned NYC dog business that we missed, please share in the comments below!
Andrea Caceres
Andrea Caceres is a Venezuelan visual artist and illustrator. She’s drawn over 1,000 pet portraits at over 100 events all across the city. If you’re a dog lover in NYC, you’ve probably seen Andrea’s work before – she’s known for her watercolor style and fun, vibrant colors.
Besides pet portraits, Andrea offers lots of other ways to indulge dog-loving shopaholics. She makes personalized hats, apparel, blankets, puzzles and bandanas.
Check out her website where she shares monthly freebies like calendars, cards and phone wallpapers.
The Bark Shoppe
Bronx native Melissa Mitchner opened her brick and mortar location, The Bark Shoppe in Harlem back in 2012.
This top-rated, premier pet care facility offers grooming, boarding, daycare and dog walking, as well as their own house brand of grooming products.
Besides their dog services, The Bark Shoppe also gives back, and in a big way. Melissa uses her business to help others. They offer internships to underserved communities through partners like Bronx Connect, Fedcap, Pathways to Graduation and Friends of the Island to help motivate and introduce people of color to the pet care industry.
Learn more about Melissa and The Bark Shoppe in this podcast episode.
Location:
100 St. Nicholas Avenue
New York, New York
Shop The Bark Shoppe products here.
Bowie Shoots
After working in fashion photography and retouching for over 10 years, Andrea ditched the (human) fashion industry for the canine world. She adopted her dog Bowie in 2016, and with him in tow, she dedicated her life to capturing stylized portraits of our beloved four-legged friends.
Don’t miss her super fun Picture Days, where she photographs portraits of your pet with stylish backgrounds and props. They’re for a good cause too – a portion of all proceeds are donated to local rescues.
Besides New York City, she’s traveled to places like Los Angeles and Washington D.C. to spread the pet portrait fun.
You can learn more about Andrea and sign up for an upcoming picture day on her website.
Bushwick Bark
Owner Dottie Evans opened Bushwick Bark because of her passion for animal welfare and rescue.
Now with two locations in the heart of Bushwick, the shops offer healthy pet food and supplies for both cats and dogs. The Irving location hosts adoption events in their spacious backyard on most weekends, and the Knickerbocker location offers a full-service grooming salon and a self service dog wash.
Best of all, Bushwick Bark is dedicated to serving as a resource in the community, and are on a mission to raise awareness regarding the urgent need to rescue, foster and donate to local shelters. Check out their fundraiser parties each year, and join in!
Locations:
175 Knickerbocker Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11237
181 Irving Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11237
Learn more about Bushwick Bark on their website.
Chateau le Woof
Natassa Contini came up for the idea for Chateau le Woof when she was out walking King, her 13‑year‑old pitbull rescue.
“First thing I do in the morning is walk my dog in search of a decent cup of coffee. One morning I woke up and thought why not both – coffee for me and a treat for my dog. That’s how Chateau le Woof was born!”
Chateau le Woof is a dog café and pet market with an off-leash play area, delicious food and great coffee. They hold regular events and are located right across the street from Socrates Sculpture park. Don’t miss this Astoria staple!
Location:
31-01 Vernon Blvd
Astoria, NY 11106
Learn more about Chateau le Woof on their website.
Dirt and Dog Hair
When the founder of Dirt and Dog Hair worked as a designer in the pet industry, she had a startling realization. Dog toys were made using the same production methods and materials found in the “fast fashion” industry. Not great for the environment, and not great for our dogs either!
She set to work making handmade and eco-friendly dog toys and accessories right in Brooklyn, using sustainably sourced materials that are low impact on the earth and vegan friendly.
Design isn’t sacrificed for sustainability, our environment’s health isn’t sacrificed for our dogs’ happiness, and we don’t have to worry about what’s in our dogs’ mouths. Plus, the designs are super fun. It’s a win/win.
Shop Dirt and Dog Hair products here.
Gone to the Dogs
Co-founders Jennifer and Santos set out to create a dog business with a mission: to offer thoughtfully designed and ethically sourced goods hand-crafted by local artisans worldwide.
They wanted to counter the lack of transparency and responsibility found in the process of producing pet goods. From that idea, Gone to the Dogs was created!
Their pet products are not only handmade, but sourced from recycled, reclaimed or renewable materials, and natural fibers. There are so many beautifully made items to choose from, with everything from leashes and harnesses, to toys, beds, and clothing.
Shop Gone to the Dogs products here.
Jonathan’s Journal
When Ashley, a graphic designer and illustrator, adopted Jonathan the Hound Mix in 2019 she found herself going through the normal “new dog mom” trials and tribulations. She began drawing and writing about her experience, and decided to share her digital sketchbook on Instagram.
Luckily, Jonathan provided a wealth of inspiration, and the Instagram grew. Today, Ashley shares resources for other dog owners, advocates for adoptable dogs, and raises money for rescues. She also does custom pet portraits and comics, and offers her dog-related artwork on mugs, t-shirts, stickers and more.
Learn more about Jonathan’s Journal and shop their products here.
Kizzou Pets
Dog mom Roxana Perez had a hard time finding quality apparel that fit her two Yorkshire Terriers Bee and Brownie. So, she decided to design them herself! She started Kizzou Pets, a dog clothing brand based right in New York City.
Kizzou isn’t just about the clothes. Roxana’s on a mission to create products that take the environment and workers into account. She produces her products in small batches, carefully selects recycled or up cycled material, and works closely with the seamstresses who hand make the items.
Kizzou started with a dog raincoat, and today has expanded to include coats, shirts and accessories. They make items to measure at no additional cost.
Shop Kizzou Pet products here.
maison de pawZ
maison de pawZ is a Parisian-inspired pâwtisserie that makes dog treats and cakes that look almost too good to eat!
Their baked goods are hand-cut and slow baked in small batches right in NYC using human grade, gluten and grain free ingredients. They contain zero preservatives, chemicals or by-products, so you won’t have to feel guilty about indulging your dog. Plus, dogs with sensitive stomachs, allergies, and picky eaters can join in on the fun.
The organic fruit and produce used comes from local NYC Green Market farmers and suppliers from the Hudson Valley. Yay for shopping local!
Order your maison de pawZ treats here.
Pawmiscuous
Mariko Miyake left the real estate industry in December 2015 looking for a change. She taught herself to sew using the internet, and started her company Pawmiscuous, a lifestyle brand for pet lovers.
Today, Mariko and her rescue dog Penny have grown their business to include dog shirts, hoodies, bandanas, human apparel, tote bags and more. They’re known for their sassy sayings, bold prints and great puns.
Shop Pawmiscuous products here.
Petminded
When Sonali adopted her dog Ella in 2018, she spent countless hours seeking out behavioral resources, training classes, and experts to understand her better. She realized that other dog parents were probably curious about the same things and would benefit from a centralized resource, so she created Petminded.
Petminded is a hub for pet parents to learn science-based insights from the experts themselves. They’re committed to making dog science both accessible and actionable for dog parents. They put on workshops, host events, and offer a membership community, so people can learn from experts and each other.
Join the Petminded community here.
The Pupper Cup
I scream, you scream, all of our dogs scream for ice cream! Kelly, the founder of The Pupper Cup, serves up dog-friendly dairy-free ice cream with no added sugar. It’s gluten free, with no added preservatives, and it’s available in fun flavors like pumpkin, blueberry and salmon.
Kelly hosts pop ups all summer long throughout the city. Treat your dog and then buy a pint to take home!
Find The Pupper Cup retail locations and pop up events here.
What’s your favorite woman-owned dog business in NYC? Let us know in the comments!
Pin for later!
So many wonderful businesses! Love supporting my fellow women! ❤️
If possible, I would love to nominate Love & Pawsitivity – I design shirts, tank tops, accessories, and gifts for dog lovers and cat lovers. It’s a woman owned business, with the mission to spread messages of peace, love, and positivity through the quirky lens of our love for pets.
A big focus for me is also equality – I created a campaign against the Pink Tax. The pink tax in summary means that products targeted to women tend to cost more. The women shirts I use actually cost more than the men ones, however, I make sure that I charge my customers equally, even if it means losing profit, as I think it’s unfair to do otherwise.
Please let me know if you have any questions and thank you so much for the opportunity!
I am a woman-owned and run dog training business! I hope to open my first space this year or early next, and right now I offer private in-home training. I have a degree in animal science, I am an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, and I am a trainer with Nerf Dog Toys. I work to make a bonded team between pet parents and their dogs. This eases frustration and increases safety and health for their pet. I work all over Manhattan and I’m working towards a patreon or an online workshop for those who want to support and learn from all over!
I also LOVE supporting other woman-owned brands. I try to partner and spread the word for these businesses to my clients and on my social media. My favorites are @buystuffnotdogs, @nowyoureclean, and @dogspotted.
Happy Hounds CBD is a great Vegan Dog Treat & Tincture company offering relief to pets and their owners! Check them out here: HappyHoundsCBD.com or on Instagram @HappyhoundsCBD 🙂
-Nicole S. (Long Island City)
Buddy’s Dog Den is a daycare/boarding/grooming facility with locations in Williamsburg and the Upper East Side Manhattan. Owner Lynne-Marie Paquette is warm and friendly and Buddy’s, named after her own Beagle, is a great place for pups to play with their friends.
Hi everyone! Please check out Ted & Co Pet – Etsy.com/shop/tedandcopet. Female owned, dog approved.🐾 I make fun and stylish pet accessories, and pet themed human jewelry. I launched Ted & Co in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic, with a collection of face masks and matching pet bow ties to keep everyone safe and stylish! I’ve expanded the collection since then, and even offer customized designs upon request. My dog Teddy is happy to be my muse and is often seen around the UWS looking very dapper in a Ted & Co bow tie. Get in touch on Etsy or Instagram!
Groomit – Pet Grooming App on demand is also woman founded.