Our story began in March of 2020 with a simple dream: to create classic, quality dog collars that dogs (and their owners) would love. With my grandmother’s help and my great-grandmother’s 1940s Singer sewing machine, I set out to start my very first business, Waggly Tails Dog Collars. My grandmother patiently taught me how to sew, and I spent countless hours learning, often having to pull out and redo stitches more times than I can count. Slowly but surely, I took over the sewing, and built my little business from the ground up, one stitch at a time. I didn’t have fancy equipment or a big budget—just a passion for dogs and the desire to create something special.

Fast forward to today: our business has grown bigger than I could’ve imagined, we’ve rebranded to The Southern Dog, and our product line is bigger than ever—but some things never change. That same 1940s sewing machine is still hard at work, and so are we, putting care and heart into every single product we make.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned along the way, it’s that you don’t need perfect conditions to chase your dreams. You just need some passion, a little courage, a lot of persistence (and yes, probably some late nights too). So, if you’re dreaming of starting something of your own—go for it! Dive in, embrace the unknown, dream big, and trust that you’ll figure things out along the way. If I can build a business with an old sewing machine and a dream, you can too!

I started this business solo, but with the help and support of many incredible people like you, The Southern Dog has become what it is today. Thank you for being a part of this journey; we’re so grateful for your support and can’t wait to bring you and your pup more products we know you’ll love!

- Ethan