Our Story
The Anxious Pet was inspired by our founder Brock’s dog Boulder, and his challenges with anxiety. This is their story.
We have set out to help Pet Parents enjoy, celebrate and help their pets who deal with anxiety. Much of that anxiety is what we have as pet parents about what “should” I be doing or what is the “right” thing to do for my pet, but it is also a normal issue many/most pets have in certain instances like thunder, being left at home, strangers, fireworks, and many other elements that are unique to each animal. Building The Anxious Pet to help people feel ok about their pet and themselves as their pet parents is something I have long sought to build.
I have spent the last 10+ years in the pet industry and having an “anxious pet” is at the very core of my awesome relationship with my dog – Boulder – an 8 yr old retriever. Yes, he was named for my Alma Mater – University of Colorado at Boulder. He is the 3rd amazing animal to be in my life as an adult having had a wonderful retriever named River and an English Retriever named Jax.
Boulder’s personality is at the core of my excitement to build The Anxious Pet. He is the sweetest, kindest, most docile and lovable dog anyone could imagine. He is super chill and just enjoyed being around people. Then….there are the elements that bring on the super cute “Anxious” side of his personality.
Boulder’s Personality
Boulder’s personality is at the core of my excitement to build The Anxious Pet. He is the sweetest, kindest, most docile and lovable dog anyone could imagine. He is super chill and just enjoyed being around people. Then….there are the elements that bring on the super cute “Anxious” side of his personality.
- Boulder fears his water bowl…he is scared of his water bowl – the water in the bowl MOVES when he drinks. He will stand over his water bowl and look at any unsuspecting adult around – willing them with his eyes to come over so he can safely and with confidence drink water. We have tried dark, silver, shallow, deep, metal, plastic….you name it and….all the same result.
- Boulder won’t ‘pass out” like most dogs – we watch him endlessly trying to keep his head up while his eyes close and bob’s his head endlessly before he will actually succumb to outright sleep
- Boulder rides in the car in full tense mode – he gets in the car with excitement of where we will be going, then stands in a semi crouched position for however long the car ride is. Whether that is 10 minutes or 6 hours. Sticking his head out of the window – NEVER
- Boulder never gets wet – unless stuck in the rain – he doesn’t just avoid swimming in a lake or playing in a stream or running up a beach when a wave comes in AWAY from the water ensuring the water never touches his fur….I love to hike and i have to carry him across streams that I can walk across while holding him and not get my own feet wet
I love the personality he has and his anxiousness makes him extremely lovable and a very unique personality. That being said, we are building The Anxious Pet to help him and I relax more and not be as tense/anxious all the time…because he bring so much joy and love into the world …I want to pay him and his fellow four legged friends back.
Brock
Founder, The Anxious Pet