We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessica Lucero and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Our dog Kobe passed away in June of 2021 at 14 1/2 years old. He was my husband and my oldest child’s first dog. It was really hard on us as a family and I remember thinking about all the times I made him treats over the years from scratch and on his birthday , a dog friendly cupcake or cake. In August 2022 I remember seeing an advertisement on a dog treat business course that caught my interest and I went home and told my husband about it . It brought back a lot of memories of our Kobe and I saw it as a sign that I could really have my own dog treat business . So I researched a lot , took the course and really looked into dog nutrition. I started implementing what I was learning with our dogs at home. I saw the difference in what wholesome single ingredient treats can do for their health. It became my goal to help other dogs and educate on the importance of all natural , single ingredient treats can provide .

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
We are a dog treat business that provides all natural human grade dog treats with no preservatives , as well as single ingredient dehydrated treats. We make biscuits, pupcakes and dog friendly donuts . Dehydrated treats like beef liver, duck feet, ducks heads and sardines . We also make chews like beef tendon to pig ears and beef aorta. We believe in providing products that provide longevity to your pets health. Our goal when we meet people is to ask a background on their pets , age , any allergies, health issues , food or diet they are on, and what they are looking to add into their pets daily routine . Based off that we can offer suggestions on what we offer . We love to educate on the benefits of our treats. We invest a lot of time researching , attending online pet nutrition seminars and staying up to date on information .

From when we first started there was a lot of trial and error , along with trying to balance our regular jobs and our kids . But along the way we have built a lot of great relationships with other dog vendors in the community that have made the process easier . Knowing I can go to them for suggestions , advice , or even for them to share their experiences on what worked for them has helped us out .

Our brand is continuing to evolve as we have added a new family member , who goes by the name of Dodger . He’s a 1 year old Swiss German Shepherd and has become the treat inspector /tester on what we provide. He is the reason we added chews to our menu and have a variety of products that support hips and joints.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh to the mountains , being outside in nature is the best. Hole in the wall places to eat , mom and pop shops! A must is a Friday night Dodger game ! Friday night games are the best because of the fireworks .

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shout to my husband Ray ,who has supported me in all of this. He is the other half of this business and has cheered me on in all of this . To my kids, I do all of this for the 3 of you! Be genuine , be kind , give everything your all, and when you feel like giving up…DON’T! you can do anything you set your mind too and I hope I am setting that example for you!
To my dear Kobe, 14 1/2 years was not enough with you in my life. I miss you everyday , you were a great dog, you were my dog … my buddy and I hope I’m making you proud . I waited 2 years after you passed away to get Dodger and I promise to love him as much as I loved you .

Instagram: Kobesbarkingbakery

Other: Tik Tok – kobesbarkingbakery

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