Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayla Lyons.
Hi Kayla, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Dogs Love Treats started with my own dog. Shortly after adopting her, I quickly realized how treat-driven she was, especially when it came to training. However, she couldn’t tolerate many of the commercial treats I tried, which led me to start making my own. I wanted to create something I could trust completely something made with simple, wholesome ingredients that I felt good about giving to her.
I began baking natural gourmet dog treats at home using recognizable ingredients, including real fruits and vegetables, without artificial ingredients. Seeing how much she enjoyed them and how well she did with them inspired me to share them with other dog parents who were looking for a healthier, more thoughtfully made option for their own dogs.
What started as a solution for my own dog gradually grew into a small business. As more people tried the treats and shared their dogs’ reactions, I realized there was an opportunity to create something bigger than just homemade treats. Dogs Love Treats became a way for me to combine my love for dogs with my passion for creating products that dog parents can feel good about giving their pets.
Today, Dogs Love Treats focuses on natural gourmet dog treats made with recognizable ingredients and crafted with care. Every treat is made with the same thoughtfulness and intention that inspired me to make that very first batch for my own dog.
Built on faith, care, and a genuine love for our four-legged companions, Dogs Love Treats is my way of turning something I created for my own dog into something I can share with dogs and their families throughout my community.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. Dogs Love Treats has grown alongside me through different seasons of my life, and one of the biggest challenges has been learning how to build a business while also being a single mom, working a 9-to-5, being a dog mom, and managing all of the responsibilities that come with everyday life.
There have been seasons when I simply didn’t have the time, energy, or resources to give Dogs Love Treats the attention I wanted to. I’ve had to start, stop, slow down, and pivot more than once. There were times when I questioned whether I could really make it work, especially when life required my attention elsewhere. It can be difficult watching a vision move slower than you imagined, particularly when you know how much potential it has.
Becoming a mom changed my priorities and the way I approached the business. I no longer had the same freedom or flexibility I had before, but instead of viewing that as the end of my entrepreneurial journey, I chose to bring my daughter along for it. She has literally grown alongside Dogs Love Treats. She has been there for different stages of the business and has become part of the story behind why I continue to build it. I want her to see that creating something meaningful doesn’t always happen quickly or perfectly. Sometimes you have to keep going, even when the path looks different from what you originally imagined.
Another challenge has been learning everything as I go. Dogs Love Treats started from a genuine need for my own dog, not from a business plan or a roadmap. I’ve had to learn the business side—product development, branding, marketing, sales, events, customer relationships, and all the behind-the-scenes responsibilities—while still managing everything else life requires. There have been plenty of moments of trial and error, but each one has taught me something and helped me become a better business owner.
The road has been slower and more challenging than I initially imagined, but it has also been incredibly rewarding. Every customer, every order, every dog that enjoys one of my treats, and every person who believes in what I’m building reminds me why I started in the first place.
Most importantly, this journey has taught me resilience, patience, and faith. I’ve learned that a pause doesn’t mean you’ve failed, and moving slowly doesn’t mean you aren’t making progress. Through every season, I’ve continued to come back to the vision I had when I first started making treats for my own dog.
I’m proud that I never gave up on Dogs Love Treats. I’m even more proud that my daughter gets to watch me build something from the ground up—not just during the easy seasons, but through the difficult ones too. I hope she learns from my journey that you can have responsibilities, setbacks, and moments when you have to start over, and still choose to believe in what you’re building.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Dogs Love Treats?
Dogs Love Treats is a natural gourmet dog treat brand created for dog parents who want to give their dogs something a little more special. We specialize in fruit and vegetable based treats that are meat-free and milk-free, with unique flavor combinations and a focus on recognizable ingredients.
One of the things that sets Dogs Love Treats apart is that we approach dog treats with the same thoughtfulness and creativity that you would expect from a gourmet food brand. I care about how the treats look, taste, and are presented—not just as something dogs eat, but as something their people are excited to give them. Whether it’s a reward during training, a special celebration, a gift, or simply a way to say “I love you,” I want treat time to feel special.
I’m especially proud of the identity we’ve created around Dogs Love Treats. From our product names and packaging to the overall look and message of the brand, I’ve been intentional about creating something that feels joyful, memorable, and uniquely ours. I don’t want Dogs Love Treats to blend in with what’s already on the market.
At the heart of the brand is the belief that dogs deserve to be celebrated, too. Our goal is to create treats that bring joy to dogs while giving their humans something they’re proud to share with them. As we continue to grow, I want Dogs Love Treats to become a brand that people recognize not only for its products, but for the feeling behind them: celebrating the special bond between people and their dogs.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is my faith in Jesus. He has never let me down, no matter how difficult life has become. He has guided me through every season of my life, personally, as a mother, and as a business owner, and I’m grateful that I never have to navigate any of it alone.
I’m also happiest when I’m present and able to watch my daughter grow. One of the most rewarding parts of Dogs Love Treats has been seeing her become comfortable with the process and excited to participate. She helps make the treats and assists with sales, and watching her confidence grow as she becomes more involved means so much to me.
I also cherish the simple moments with my dog, who has been such an important part of my life and the inspiration behind Dogs Love Treats in the first place.
As I look back on this journey, I’m proud of the legacy I’m creating and the impact I hope to leave behind. I’m grateful for the freedom that comes with building something of my own, but even more grateful for the experiences along the way. Being able to create something meaningful while sharing these moments with my daughter and my dog is one of the greatest blessings of this journey. For me, that is what success and happiness truly look like.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dogslovetreats.store/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogslovetreats_?igsi=MXhsYWdvOTRoOTA2cw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19PcwCRcj2/?mibextid=wwXIfr
