Our Story
Dog Avenue started with one little boy, one big fear, and a search for calm.
I’m Mark, a dad, a dog lover, and someone who has seen first hand how anxiety can shape everyday life.
My son Rue is 9, and he lives with emetophobia, an intense fear of being sick. It is the kind of fear that can follow a child everywhere. It can show up at bedtime, first thing in the morning, at school, or even in moments that should feel simple and joyful.
As a parent, watching that is hard. You want to make things better. You want to make the world feel safe again.
Then Dusty became part of Rue’s world.
Dusty, our cockapoo, quickly became more than just a dog. He became a calm and comforting presence for Rue during the moments when anxiety felt loud.
Not a fix. Not a cure. Just something steady. A companion. A reason to get outside, keep moving, and breathe.
Over time, I started to notice how much the outdoors helped too. Walks, fresh air, routine, and having Dusty by his side gave Rue little pockets of calm to hold onto. Step by step, those moments began to matter. Time outside became a reset. A way to slow things down and find a bit of peace together.
That experience changed the way I saw outdoor time with your dog. It was not just about getting out of the house. It was about connection, comfort, and creating moments that feel easier.
That is where Dog Avenue began to take shape.
Dog Avenue was built from a personal place. From watching how much a dog walk, and a simple routine could mean to a child who was struggling.
Right now, my focus is simple. I want to create practical outdoor essentials that make getting out with your dog feel easier, whether that is a quick walk close to home or a longer day outdoors. Products that fit into real life, support real adventures, and help dog owners feel more prepared wherever they go.
Dog Avenue is also a small brand, created in the real hours around everyday life. Early mornings, evenings, weekends, and all the messy, meaningful moments in between.
Winning the Small Business Sunday award was a huge moment for the brand, and it gave me even more belief in what I was building.
At its heart, Dog Avenue is more than dog products. It is about the moments outside that help us reset, reconnect, and feel a little more like ourselves again.
The Dusty Promise
Dog Avenue will always be rooted in something bigger than products.
A percentage of sales from products goes towards supporting children and families affected by anxiety and emetophobia through YoungMinds, a charity partner we collaborate with.
We also partner with Dogs Trust, because caring for dogs and the people who love them is part of who we are.
Rue’s journey is still unfolding, and Dog Avenue is part of that story. It was built from love, from hope, and from a belief that the smallest things can sometimes make the biggest difference.
For the dogs who bring comfort.
For the families finding their way.
For the moments when the great outdoors help us breathe again.
One dog. One little boy. One step at a time.