Founded by two brothers in 2018, Jordan and Jacob, HappyHound emerged from a need to keep our loved ones safe. One fall evening in 2018, after a long day of work, our mother, a busy real estate agent, took our late dog Scout for her usual walk. This routine was her only chance to unwind after a hectic day. However, that evening, as she walked through the dimly lit streets of a Toronto suburb, a car nearly struck her. The driver, deeply apologetic, admitted he hadn’t seen her in the darkness.
When our mother shared her frightening experience, we knew we had to do something to ensure her safety during her cherished evening walks. We dove into researching existing products, aiming to find something that could address all her concerns.
Our mother, like many multitasking moms, loved her evening walks with Scout. While searching, we discovered hands-free dog leashes that offered the convenience of having both hands free, but nothing addressed her primary concern—feeling safe at night. Realizing this gap in the market, we decided to create the perfect solution ourselves.
We started from scratch, progressing from rough sketches to a functional prototype. When we finally presented our mom with the finished product, she was thrilled. It not only made her feel secure during her nighttime walks but also allowed her the convenience of hands-free strolling, so she could take phone calls or enjoy a cup of tea. Unexpectedly, people began asking where they could get a hands-free belt and leash like hers.
Thus, HappyHound was born. Recognizing the demand for our innovative product, we decided to make it available to others facing similar challenges. We collaborated with various suppliers to find the right partner who could produce our design at scale. After a year of sampling, testing, and overcoming countless obstacles, we developed a production-ready product that could cater to the needs of all those who, like our mother, sought safety and convenience in their evening walks.