Our Story
Hey I'm Brent and people often ask me why I started Bark Road.
The answer’s actually pretty simple.
Her name’s Penny.
Penny’s been by my side for more than a decade and over those years she’s taught me something I think most dog owners eventually realise. Dogs don’t care how expensive something is. They don’t care whether you’ve bought them the latest toy or the fanciest bed. What they really want is to be included. They want to sit beside you on the couch, come for the drive, be there when friends come over and just be part of your world.
Once I realised that, I started looking at things a bit differently.
Friday nights have always been my favourite. Pizza on the couch, a beer after a long week or an ice cream on a warm afternoon. They’re the little things I genuinely look forward to. Then one night I looked over at Penny and thought…
Why should I be the only one who gets a Friday night treat?
That one question eventually became Bark Road.
Not because dogs need beer. Not because they need pizza. And definitely not because they need ice cream. Because they deserve to feel included too. That idea has shaped almost everything I’ve created. The dog beers aren’t about pretending dogs drink alcohol. The pizza inspired treats aren’t trying to replace dinner. The ice creams aren’t there because dogs can’t survive without dessert. They’re just little moments of inclusion, A way of saying… “This one’s for you.”
As Bark Road started to grow, I noticed something interesting. People didn’t just want fun products, they wanted products they could trust.
So while the shelves in my store might look fun, there’s a lot of thought behind every product I stock. Wherever I can, I choose simple ingredients, quality proteins and products I’d happily give Penny myself.
Because fun should never come at the expense of quality.
Today, Bark Road has become so much more than the products I sell. I’ve built a little place where dog owners can find healthy treats, celebrate life’s little moments with their dogs and enjoy shopping for them just as much as they enjoy shopping for themselves.
I’ve also got a grooming salon, because looking after dogs has always been a huge part of what I do. Whether they’re visiting for a groom or just popping in for their favourite treats, I want every dog to leave happier than when they walked through the door.
But if I’m honest, Bark Road has never really been about dog beers, pizzas or ice cream.
It’s about celebrating the relationship we have with our dogs. The everyday moments. The weekend traditions. The little routines that somehow become the memories we hold onto.
Because they spend every single day making our lives better, the least I can do is make them feel like they’re part of mine.
As Bark Road keeps growing, I hope it becomes more than just a business.
I hope it becomes a community.
If you’re another pet business, a creator, a supplier, someone with an idea, or even someone who’s dreaming about opening their own pet store one day, I’d genuinely love to hear from you.
Some of the best ideas come from people who just want to make life a little better for dogs.
If that’s you, send me an email at hey@barkroad.com.au.
I’d love to hear your story too and maybe we can build something that makes dogs’ lives a little more fun together.
Because at the end of the day…
Dogs deserve to have fun too.
Brent & Penny
