Jump on board and discover the wonderful world of small businesses down under?
We have picked out some of our absolute favourite's from across Australia.
We're talking about cool pet boutiques, talented pet photographers, amazing trainers, and the makers behind delicious treats.
Now, take a paws to explore some amazing small businesses we highly recommend.
Sit Stay Play
Sit Stay Play QLD began in 2011 with founder Dejana (De), who started the business while studying at university driven by a deep love for animals and a belief that pets should be trained and cared for in a force-free, fear-free way. From its humble beginnings as a one-person pet sitting and dog walking service, it has grown into a full-service pet care and training business serving Brisbane and surrounds, with a strong reputation for practical, compassionate, and effective support for dogs and their families.
The core philosophy of Sit Stay Play QLD is rooted in positive reinforcement and modern animal behaviour science, with a mission to help dogs and owners live together with greater harmony, confidence, and wellbeing. The team combines extensive training, real-world experience, and ongoing learning to deliver services that are safe, tailored, and focused on real results.
Sit Stay Play QLD offers a wide range of services, including one-on-one dog behaviour training, puppy classes, dog walking and pet care, adventure outings, and specialised options like Walk & Train where dogs receive structured training while getting exercise. The business also provides in-home pet sitting and daily visits to keep pets happy and cared for when owners are away.
Over the years, Sit Stay Play QLD has been involved in community initiatives such as the LEAVE IT program (wildlife awareness), partnered with local clinics for puppy training, and presented at pet events such as Dog Fest; all while reinforcing its commitment to education, welfare, and building stronger bonds between pets and their humans.
Find them at www.sitstayplayqld.com or follow on Instagram @sitstayplayqld
Lux Paws Couture
Lux Paws Couture was born from a simple belief: dogs are family, and family deserves couture.
Founded in Australia, Lux Paws Couture creates luxury dog accessories designed for pet parents who value quality, craftsmanship, and timeless style. What began as a passion project quickly evolved into a brand devoted to elevating everyday moments with dogs into something meaningful, elegant, and unforgettable.
Each Lux Paws Couture collar is handcrafted using premium genuine leather and finished with carefully selected hardware and crystal detailing. Our designs are intentionally refined, blending durability and comfort with a couture aesthetic that turns heads without compromising practicality. Every piece is designed to be worn, loved, and treasured.
The inspiration behind Lux Paws Couture runs deeper than fashion. Just before launching the brand, life took an unexpected turn when I was hospitalised with a serious medical emergency while caring for my young daughter. That pause reshaped my perspective and reinforced why Lux Paws Couture exists, to celebrate love, resilience, family, and the deep bond we share with our dogs.
What makes Lux Paws Couture unique is our commitment to storytelling, quality, and intention. We don’t follow fast trends. Instead, we create timeless pieces that honour dogs as companions, confidants, and family members.
At Lux Paws Couture, every collar tells a story of love, strength, and the belief that luxury should be meaningful, not just beautiful.
Visit www.luxpawscouture.com.au for more, or follow them @luxpawscouture on Instagram.
The Dogs Treats
The Dogs Treats is an artisan dog treat and cake studio specialising in fruit-infused jerky and handcrafted celebration cakes for dogs who deserve more than ordinary.
Our jerky is made in small batches using premium meats, gently dehydrated and infused with real fruits and herbs to enhance flavour, aroma, and texture. We focus on creating treats that dogs genuinely crave, without fillers, additives, or unnecessary ingredients. Every recipe is developed with fussy eaters in mind and tested by our own very opinionated quality control team.
Our cakes, pupcakes and cookies are handmade using human-grade ingredients, no sugar content, and no preservatives. Each design is custom created for the dog it celebrates, making every order as personal as it is delicious. These are not novelty cakes, they are carefully crafted, nutritious treats designed to be enjoyed safely and enthusiastically.
At The Dogs Treats, we believe dog treats should be as thoughtful as the dogs who receive them. From everyday rewards to milestone birthdays, our products are made with care, creativity, and a commitment to doing things properly.
Not premium. Exceptional.
Visit www.thedogstreats.au for more, or follow them @thedogstreats on Instagram.
Homebound Paws
Homebound Paws began in March 2023 with one simple mission: to give pets the same love, comfort, and care they feel when their owners are home. As a lifelong animal lover, I wanted to create a service that felt personal, heart-led, and trustworthy - something shaped by real relationships with animals. My journey was deeply influenced by my late girl, Xan, who taught me the importance of gentle, patient care, and by my Jack Russell, Stevie, who brings joy, adventure, and inspiration into my daily work.
What started as a passion project is still proudly a one-woman small business, and in that time I’ve cared for over 200 dogs and been honoured as a finalist in the local small business awards in both 2024 and 2025.
At Homebound Paws, every visit, walk, and daycare day is focused on connection, comfort, and enrichment - giving each pet a tailored experience that suits their personality. My tagline, “Love and care when you’re not there,” reflects my commitment to offering genuine peace of mind to pet parents across Bribie Island and Ningi.
Homebound Paws continues to grow with the same heart it started with, inspired every day by the animals who made it possible.
Visit www.homeboundpaws.com.au for more, or follow them @homeboundpaws on Instagram.
WK&D
Meet Kylie from WK&D, mum to a beautiful 8-year-old boy (who was a long time coming -16 years, in fact!). I always dreamed of being a stay-at-home mum, especially after a rough start with a very colicky baby. But let’s be honest, being a one-income family these days is no easy feat.
So, I got creative.
First stop: baby clothes.
Spoiler alert. That was a total flop.
But then came a moment of real-life frustration that changed everything.
We were trying to find a nice Australian-made leather collar for our pugalier. He has terrible skin allergies and reacted to almost everything. Plastic collars made him itch, which resulted in hot spots from the irritation, and most buckles were cheap, plated metal. All I wanted was a solid, non-irritating collar that didn’t cost a fortune. Easy, right?
Wrong.
So I thought, I’m a crafty person… I’ll just make one.
I bought a bit of leather off eBay (it was horrible), but I gave it a crack, and surprisingly, the collar turned out beautifully. Solid brass hardware, handmade with love.
That was the start.
I soon found better Aussie leather and an Australian supplier for hardware. And from there, WK&D was born. Today, I’ve proudly sold over 3,000 handmade leather collars to dogs all over Australia, and a few overseas too!
Next on the list?
Creating the best dog harness you can get.
Visit www.wkandd.com.au for more, or follow them @wkand_au on Instagram.
Happy Paws Waggy Tails
AAA Pet Resort
AAA Pet Resort is a proud family-run business built on love, legacy, and a belief that every pet deserves a true home-away-from-home. Sixteen years ago in Mudgeeraba, our family took over a rundown kennel and transformed it into Queensland’s first genuine 5-star pet resort. We rebuilt everything with one purpose: to create a warm, welcoming space where pets feel safe, understood, and deeply cared for.
Long before premium pet accommodation became a trend, we recognised that families wanted peace of mind and pets needed more than basic boarding. They deserved comfort, enrichment, and personalised attention. That vision shaped every choice we made, from the design of our suites to the calm routines and passionate carers who form our team. We don’t just “look after” pets. We make sure they feel settled, enriched, and truly at home.
Pet parents trust us because they want their fur babies cared for with the same love they receive at home. Every detail, from our gentle daily rhythms to our focus on emotional wellbeing, is designed to help pets feel relaxed and happy. Whether they’re playful, shy, energetic, or cuddly, we take the time to know each pet individually and support them like our own.
Two years ago, we expanded to Moggill and once again revitalised an ageing facility with the same dedication. Alongside our luxury suites, we introduced pet sports including DockDogs® and invested $2.5 million into world-class play zones and enrichment areas.
Today, our promise remains simple: Care. Luxury. Love. We operate not as a kennel, but as a resort created entirely around each pet’s comfort, happiness, and wellbeing.
Visit www.aaapetresort.com.au for more, or follow them @aaapetresortbrisbane on Instagram.
Updog
Meet Sam and Brad, two dog-obsessed humans who, like so many of us, would do absolutely anything to give their pup the best life possible. Their Staffy, Vegemite, struggled with sensitive skin and allergies, and instead of accepting it as “just how it is,” they dove deep into the world of canine nutrition to find real solutions.
What they discovered was eye-opening. So many commercial dog foods fall short when it comes to true nutritional value, and many common health issues in dogs can be traced back to poor diet. That realisation sparked a mission, not just to help Vegemite, but to help dogs everywhere.
After 15 months of development with Pet Nutritionists and Vets, Sam and Brad launched Updog - a range of all-natural, human-grade supplements designed to support skin, gut, joints and, yes… even those butt issues we don’t always talk about.
Today, Updog is improving the health and happiness of dogs all over Australia. Their mission is simple and powerful:
More good days for more dogs.
Because a happy dog is a healthy dog, and a healthy dog starts with Updog.
Visit www.updog.com.au for more, or follow them @updogau on Instagram.
Kelpy Bone
I still remember watching my dog joyfully tear into yet another plastic toy, only to realise that the “harmless fun” came with a hidden cost. As an environmental scientist, I couldn’t ignore the truth; most dog toys are made from petroleum-based plastics filled with toxins like BPA and PVC, harmful to both dogs and the planet. That moment was my wake-up call.
I began searching for a safer, more sustainable alternative - and found it floating in the ocean. Through Notpla's innovative seaweed technology, I discovered a way to turn seaweed into a durable dog toy. That’s how Kelpy Bone was born: a dog toy tough enough for playtime, gentle on teeth, and compostable within weeks, leaving no trace behind.
Each Kelpy Bone represents more than playtime; it’s a small act of care for our pets and our planet. Our seaweed doesn’t just replace plastic; it actively restores ocean health as it grows. Recently, we came second to Unilever. Winning the silver 2025 Pentaward for Supplier Innovation proved that natural materials can rival plastics, and that sustainability can be joyful, practical, and truly regenerative. Most of all it shows that our pets deserve better for their health and for the planets health.
Visit www.kelpybone.com for more, or follow them @kelpybone on Instagram.
Bear & Co.
Bear & Co is an Australian-based luxury accessories brand, specialising in handcrafted items for pets and their owners. Our passion lies in keeping dogs and their owners stylishly coordinated while fostering a stronger bond through a shared love of fashion. Our collections draw inspiration from the unique connection between dogs and their owners, offering a diverse range of products including dog bandanas, bows, clothing, and matching hats and tote bags for owners. We prioritise innovative designs, meticulous craftsmanship, high-quality fabrics, and sustainability. Additionally, we provide a bespoke design service, allowing customers to have personalised handcrafted accessories according to their preferences, resulting in one-of-a-kind pieces they can deeply cherish.
Visit www.bearcompany.com.au for more, or follow them @bearandco.accessories on Instagram.
Hell Hound Treats
Born from a love of spoiling our fur babies with the highest quality treats, no nasties & no bullshit, just the way we like it.
So what makes us so special?
- All our treats are sourced from licensed suppliers in Australia. They are all one ingredient treats with no added preservatives, fillers, sugars etc. basically no nasties. And we have a huge range to choose from!
- Transparency! We love showing behind the scenes content on our socials. See where your treats come from & the work that goes on behind the package that you receive on your doorstep. What you see is what you get.
- We support the nose to tail ethos. Once we are up & running in our own licensed facility where we can dehydrate our own treats, we plan to be as zero waste as possible. This means using as much of an animal as possible, because why should we waste it? So expect to see all the weird, wacky & wonderful dehydrated goodies that are harder to find.
- 10% of our profits are donated to Pyrenees Animal Rescue. We have fostered puppies since 2023 & will continue to help & donate where we can.
And lastly, we like to have fun! We are a little bit different to your usual treat business. We swear, we dance, we show you the good & the bad. The business is an extension of us & we like to show that aspect.
Find them at www.hellhoundtreats.com.au or follow on instagram @hell.hound.treats
APAWLO Pets
Our mission is to create high-quality Australian-designed dog products that empower every owner with the tools and knowledge to nurture a strong, joyful connection with their beloved companions.
Through innovative solutions and a deep understanding of canine needs, we aim to help dogs around the world unleash their extraordinary potential and foster a lifetime of shared adventures, health, and happiness.
Find them at www.apawlopets.com or follow on Instagram @apawlopets
Courtraits Photography
Courtraits Photography is an Australian based Award-winning Pet Photographer, specialising in capturing the essence of pets through forest portraiture.
Nestled amidst the serene beauty of the forest, Courtraits crafts enchanting portraits that capture the essence of your pet’s personality against the backdrop of lush greenery and dappled sunlight.
Find them at www.courtraitsphotography.com or follow on Instagram @courtraits
BOIS THE LABEL
"BOIS THE LABEL creates high quality, everyday basics for your pets”
BOIS was created to offer stylish, well fitting clothing for larger breeds, rescue dogs and mixed breeds who might be an odd shape! We believe all clothing, even your pet’s, should last for years to come. That’s why we choose only the highest quality materials to create our products which, if cared for properly, have years of wear in them. At BOIS, we are dedicated to creating high quality, cozy hoodies for you and your pups. Each and every BOIS sweatshirt is handmade in Melbourne, using locally-sourced materials and even some Australian-made fabrics.
$2 of every BOIS item sold is donated to different animal rescue charities throughout the year."
Find them at www.boisthelabel.com or follow on Instagram @boisthelabel
Botanical Pawtraits
Botanical Pawtraits is a pet photography business that specialises in capturing the unique personalities and beauty of pets. As a passionate photographer, Jasmine combines her love for animals and her creative skills to create stunning portraits. She offers a range of services, including on-location photo sessions and special themed shoots. Jasmine’s work is characterised by her ability to connect with pets, making them feel comfortable and capturing their true essence in every shot. With a professional and open-minded approach, she ensures that every client feels recognised and valued.
Find them at www.botanicalpawtraits.com.au or follow on Instagram @botanicalpawtraits
