The Wag Pod

Richmond Griner of Wag Works talks to Drew Tilk and Brian Bauman, founders of Good Boy Social Club, about their community focused startup in California. Through meetups, merchandise, and a social media presence, these two are providing pet owners with activities where bringing your dog is not only allowed, but highly encouraged. The ultimate goal is for Good Boys Social Club to be a long term, viable project that Drew and Brian can pursue full time.

Richmond Griner of Wag Works chats with Ashton Edens, the co-founder of Hause of Dogs, in the Raleigh studio. Best known for their pup ice cream, this dog boutique opened in 2023, and is a popular spot for pet owners in Smoky Hollow. Ashton shares the path to starting her own business with her mom (and business partner), Amanda Moody, as well as future aspirations. While being a hub for tasty dog treats, Hause of Dogs also partners with local businesses to bring in new merchandise. Wag Works and Hause of Dogs are collaborating to put the AnnaBanana and MG Designs dog jewelry collections in the store!

Richmond Griner of Wag Works talks to Lori Smith about how starting a raw feeding diet for her dog Tanner when dealing with health issues led to opening the first IB Pet store in Imperial Beach. Her friends and co-workers, Ashley Smith and Victorio Osorio, also joined the episode to share their experiences, day-to-day roles, and what they have learned at IB Pet. Focused on providing natural pet food and supplies as well as educating customers in California, IB Pet has since expanded to three more locations: Chulo Vista, Rancho San Diego, and Del Mar!

Richmond Griner of Wag Works chats with Kimberly Gauthier, founder of Keep The Tail Wagging, about how she began feeding her dogs a raw food diet and sharing this journey on social media. What started as a blog page has turned into a path of education, and also led to her starting her own podcast “The Alternative Dog Moms” with her friend Erin Scott. Kimberly’s passion for learning, meeting new people in the raw feeding community, and love for her dogs is highlighted in this episode.

Richmond Griner of Wag Works chats with Amanda Tallerday and Paige Gagner of The Downtown Hound, located in Oregon. Starting off in mobile grooming, they share the stories of owning their own business and the journey to making the switch to a brick and mortar location.

Richmond Griner of Wag Works chats with Anna Coleman and Maria Wooldridge of Blue Ridge Bernedoodles based in South Carolina about their journey through breeding dogs. Maria taught Anna’s son in kindergarten, and soon they started working together. Lots of learning and lots of laughs happened during this episode, and we greatly appreciate the awesome conversation!

Richmond Griner of Wag Works hops on a Zoom call with Mary Fortney of Fortney Farms in Ohio where they breed American Bullies! After getting their first Bully, Odin, this family fell in love and decided to take the leap to start their own business. Mary was an absolute pleasure to have on, and her passion for highly diligent care resonates throughout the episode.

Richmond Griner of Wag Works hops on a zoom call with Michael Lobato of Lobato Dog Training who has been serving the Utah area since 2006. In addition to staying busy with board training, private sessions, and group sessions, Michael’s Instagram account has taken off as he spends free time making relatable dog memes. We appreciate Michael being our first “Zoomcast” participant, as he was such a knowledgeable, down to earth guest to have on.

Richmond Griner of Wag Works sits down with longtime friend and business generalist for Wag Works, Nathan Gross, to chat about several ongoing projects within the company. Nathan will be serving as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors for Wag Works Cares, our innovative solutions fund. A wide range of topics are discussed including the early stages of this start up, a deep dive into Wag Works Cares, and the process of app development.

Richmond Griner of Wag Works sits down with Park Pup Shuttle founder and UNC Basketball Alumnus Baden Jaxen (formerly Dexter Strickland) to discuss the lessons learned throughout his basketball career and highlighting his recent shift from playing overseas to creating his own business in the Raleigh area. Baden Jaxen’s love for animals shines through in this episode, as well as his passion for creativity, innovative marketing, and quality client relationships.