Heather Rhea opened up Hiking Dog Company after she and her husband went on the exciting journey of planning their next career phase. She recalls, “It was time to start thinking about what we wanted life to look like.” Realizing that they could do anything was liberating, and so Heather took her love of dogs and being outdoors and asked, “What if we had a store where we sell things for dogs?”
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After seeing an online store from Arizona that wanted to sell their branding, she started to see all of the possibilities that a brick and mortar store could offer. “I wanted a space where people could bring their dogs in.” Says Rhea. The store at Merle Hay Mall in Des Moines, and now one in Lincoln, Nebraska has great products, but also has a great personal touch that offers a combination of information and a chance to really get people started with the right adventure for them and their dog.
Unlike other pet stores, the focus at Hiking Dog Company is gear and advice about being active with your pooch. Heather learned about dog activities like Canicross and Joring and wants to pass this knowledge on to each customer that comes into the store. Being able to bring your dog in the store is a huge perk that allows Heather to not only “Get to pet dogs all day” (a perk she freely admits to enjoying) but to get to know what would be the best activity for you and your canine companion. She understands that safety is paramount for both human and dog and by having your dog with you, she can help you get the right fit for certain equipment.
Heather’s passion for dogs and her knowledge of outdoor adventures is something that comes across the moment that you meet her. Check out this episode to hear her success story and all of the great products, events and personal touch that you will get at Hiking Dog Company.