Nine years ago, a big, glossy black-and-tan bundle of attitude bounded into my life and completely rewrote the script. Her name is Reese, and she’s a female Rottweiler who somehow manages to be equal parts gentle soul and fierce protector. At 65 pounds of solid muscle and even more heart, she has taught me more about unconditional love, patience, and what dogs truly need than any book or expert ever could.
Reese was already five when I adopted her. She had the classic Rottweiler “I’m in charge but I’ll let you think you are” energy. Mornings meant a slow, deliberate stretch followed by a full-body wag that could clear a coffee table. Walks were non-negotiable—rain, snow, or 90-degree heat. But as the years passed, I started noticing the little things that made her life harder. Cheap harnesses rubbed her chest raw after just a few miles. Travel bowls leaked in the car. Water bottles meant for “all dogs” were comically small for a girl who drinks like she’s training for a marathon. And don’t even get me started on the flimsy leashes that snapped during one too many enthusiastic greetings.
Those frustrations planted the first seed for WagsGo.
One sticky July afternoon in 2024, Reese and I were on a long trail hike. Halfway through, she slowed down, panting harder than usual. I realized my cheap portable water bottle had cracked in my backpack and I had nothing clean to offer her. She looked at me with those trusting brown eyes as if to say, “Mom, we can do better than this.” That moment hit hard. I sat on a rock, scratched her favorite spot behind her left ear, and promised her I would.
Back home that night I started sketching ideas. Not just any dog gear—gear designed by someone who lives with a large, active senior dog every single day. I wanted products that were practical, durable, and actually comfortable for dogs built like Reese. No more chafing. No more tiny portions. No more sacrificing quality to save a few bucks.
Over the next year, Reese became the official (and very opinionated) product tester of WagsGo. She approved the dual travel pack by immediately sticking her entire head into the treat compartment. She gave the thumbs-up (or should I say paws-up) to the adjustable harness after wearing it on 50+ walks without a single rub mark. Every prototype got the Reese Seal of Approval: if she wagged, we kept it. If she ignored it or tried to chew it off, back to the drawing board.
Reese didn’t just inspire the products—she shaped the entire philosophy behind WagsGo. “Get a Few More Barks for Your Buck” isn’t just a tagline. It’s the promise I made to her that day on the trail: every item we sell has to genuinely make a dog’s life better, not just look cute on Instagram. Whether it’s the insulated water bottle that keeps water cool for hours, the reflective lead that glows at night, or the sturdy poop-bag dispenser that actually clips on without falling off, everything traces back to Reese’s real-world needs.
Now, at nine years young, Reese still joins me in the “office” (aka the living room) every morning. She supervises packing orders with her signature head-tilt and reminds me when it’s time for a break and a belly rub. Her graying muzzle and slower pace only make me more determined to help other dogs—and their humans—enjoy every single day together.
If you’ve ever had that one dog who changed everything, you know exactly what I mean. Reese didn’t just influence WagsGo. She is WagsGo.
So the next time you clip on one of our leashes, fill up the travel bottle, or treat your pup to something special, know that a very special 9-year-old Rottweiler named Reese tested it first—and gave it her full-body wag of approval.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Here’s to more wags, more adventures, and more barks for our buck.
With gratitude (and a lot of slobber), The proud mother behind WagsGo (and Reese’s favorite human)