Hi, I’m John, the founder of Doggo Sessions. Thanks for giving our new approach to dog treats a look!
The short answer to “Why Doggo Sessions?” is that I needed better and portable treats, a better solution than packing treats in ziplocks and ending up with crumbs in my pockets, or just forgetting them altogether. I also wanted lower-calorie, smaller, and healthier treats. So, I got a freeze dryer, a food processor, and started experimenting. And the rest is history. For the more detailed explanation, keep reading! (The existential answer is probably that, after getting out of the military and dabbling in a few industries, I needed to do something with purpose that felt genuine to me. We'll save that for a beer and a dog walk.)
Lupin
I’ve always loved dogs, but it wasn’t until 2023 that I finally got one of my own—a Vizsla puppy named Lupin. (I was reading the third Harry Potter book to my sons at the time.) Lupin has been transformative, not just for me, but for my entire family...front and center since the day we got him. (Read about Lupin's origins here)
I began training Lupin immediately. I was working in agriculture at the time, traveling a lot to Arizona, and I was able to have Lupin with me frequently and for long periods. I didn't have any aspiration for him being a frisbee dog, or competition trick dog. But I did need him to have phenomenal obedience and recall because he would be going everywhere with me. Lupin is about a year and a half now, and he's always a hit, with his combination of magnetic energy, great manners, and listening skills! But what I love most is the bond we have developed through intentful and frequent engagement.
Training isn’t just about teaching Lupin obedience or tricks; it’s about building a bond, improving understanding between us, and enhancing both our mental and emotional health. In the same way, treats aren’t just for training—they’re a powerful tool to connect, create unique and memorable experiences, and deepen that bond. It's the closest thing to going on a date in the human world: you're totally focused on each other even if that bond is completely different for Lupin than it is for me!
Since reengaging with the dog world through Lupin, my view of the relationship between dogs and people and communities has evolved. Dogs aren’t just companions for individuals and families—they’re bridges that bring people together. Whether it’s dogs and owners meeting up in the park, spontaneous quick chats with other owners on walks, kids getting excited about your dog, or simply observing the joy a pup brings to a public space, I’ve realized that dogs have a unique ability to foster connection and community. And these experiences are always best when a dog is well trained.
My Pain Points in Training
One of the biggest challenges I faced was simply making training and engagement sessions happen, in spite of the fact that Lupin and I were together a lot. A lot of times it came down to having treats easily accessible when I wanted them, whether I had lost my treat pouch, dashed out the door in a hurry, didn’t think I’d be in a position to use treats…or just being lazy!
Other issues were that treats are too large, high in calories, and had unhealthy ingredients, and the packaging sucks! I’d have to spend time cutting them into halves, quarters, or even eighths, and then about 10% would turn into crumbs. Treats come in big bags; Ziplocks are flimsy and hard to open and close; treat pouches get lost, are bulky, and I can’t always have a treat pouch on my hip; and in the end they’re all just vessels for crumbs.
Enter Doggo Sessions
After talking with other dog training enthusiasts, similar frustrations kept coming up and I realized I wasn’t alone.
So, I decided to create a solution: Doggo Rollers treat tubes and Doggo Discs.
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Forgetting treats: Doggo Rollers are compact and stashable. You can keep them in your car, purse, fanny pack, pocket, leash holster (we’re working on this :)...anywhere.
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Bulky treat bags: The Doggo Roller doubles as storage and dispenser, reducing the need to carry bulky treat pouches everywhere.
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Crumbling treats: The Doggo Roller protects the treats from turning into dust (which belongs on top of your doggo's meal!)
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Oversized treats: Doggo Discs are the size of a dime, each containing just 1/2 - 3/4 calorie per treat. You can even break them into smaller pieces.
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Poor ingredient quality: Doggo Discs are made with a single, natural ingredient: USDA human-grade ground beef, which dogs prefer. (We’re working on expanding to other meats, fruits, and veggies!)
We've been working on creating and refining Doggo Discs for several months now, and Lupin, I, and others have done extensive product testing! We’re able to have fun and quick training sessions much more frequently, and I love that I always have treats to give other dogs to engage with them and create those positive associations.
What’s Next for Doggo Sessions?
Doggo Discs (and its byproducts, Doggold and Doggo Logs) are just the beginning. Our mission is to create an array products and experiences guided by health and performance science that make it easier and more fun to train, engage, and bond with your dog wherever you are. Training your dog is one of those rare long-term investments that no-one regrets and it will be life changing for you, your family, your communities…and of course your doggo!
