We were lucky to catch up with Erika Fertitta recently and have shared our conversation below.

Erika, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

In 2021, I started making homemade dog treats for our dogs, Letty and Ryker, simply because I wanted them to have Christmas themed cookies in their stockings. My husband and I became more aware of ingredients in the foods we eat so it only felt right to do the same for our dogs. I was that girl in the pet aisle reading ingredient labels for a concerning amount of time wondering how any of the options were considered “food” and why the list of ingredients was so long. I felt simple, clean treats were the best option for our dogs and decided I would make them myself. I trialed numerous recipes which lead to having an overabundance of treats laying around the house, an amount that our dogs alone would be looking like Santa. During this time I was still a Veterinary Technician at an animal hospital in San Antonio, I would bring all the extras for coworkers to take home to their dogs. Making treats and hearing how other dogs enjoyed them lit a spark in me that I hadn’t had in a while as earlier that year we unexpectedly lost our beloved dog, Brody.

By mid 2022, the thought of starting a dog treat business came about. Providing clean, high quality treats other dog parents can feel good about giving their dogs. I had one dog treat recipe created, Peanut Butter Banana, and a bunch of cute cookie cutters. Opened an Etsy account and Brody Boy’s Dog Treats was live. The remainder of 2022 and into 2023 I only sold Peanut Butter Banana treats saving up for the licensing, testing, and registration the State of Texas requires. Free Roam Brewing in Boerne was the first brick and mortar to sell Brody Boy’s treats at their register and their anniversary event was the first vendor booth Brody’s set up for.

Since then, I began researching canine nutrition topics/tips for our own dogs which lead to aspiring Brody’s to be more than just treats, but treats that were functional and served a purpose. We proudly work with local farms to offer clean, high quality protein options.

Brody Boy’s Dog Treats was named after our dog, Brody. We adopted 2 year old Brody in August 2020 from a local rescue after he was found roaming the streets of SA. The first few nights were quite interesting as he was adjusting from his street manners to house manners, like not standing on our coffee table like he was Mufasa. He was spoiled with toys and Letty became his best buddy teaching him how to box play and run laps around the yard. Brody wasn’t much of a swimmer, he preferred napping on lake days, and made jumping the 7 foot fence easy to chase wildlife from the property. February 2021, Brody unexpectedly passed from Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC).

Brody taught us that life is short, jump that 7 foot fence because every adventure counts!

Erika, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My husband, Chris, and I moved to Texas from Florida in 2018. Prior to making dog treats I was a Veterinary Technician for 8 years, I now manage Brody’s full time and Chris is a sales rep for a fishing apparel brand. We have two dogs; Letty a 11 year old Boxer Pit mix and Ryker a 5 year old Shepherd mix. When we are not working, we are bringing the dogs for a hike or somewhere to swim!

Seeing Brody Boy’s in the pet treat industry is like a pinch me moment. What started out as simply making cute treats, led to going down the rabbit hole of researching how I can offer treats that were also beneficial to dogs and building a brand dog parents can trust. Brody’s has a wide array of treat options that fit wherever you are at on your dog’s real food journey, ranging from minimal ingredient biscuits and single ingredient protein options. We proudly work with local farms who humanely raise their animals, providing clean high quality treats.

You can find Brody’s treats in multiple businesses surrounding the San Antonio area, as well as seeing Chris and I at local markets. We love working with local pet friendly businesses and offer wholesale options. Brody Boy’s Dog Treats is licensed, registered with the State of Texas, and our treats are tested to provide the Guaranteed Analysis.

Our small business venture is in memory of our dog, Brody. He taught us that life is short, jump the 7 foot fence because every adventure counts! We hope to inspire you to feed real food and get outside with your dog.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

I feel there is not a most effective strategy for Brody’s but how multiple strategies work together. Choosing wholesale locations that align with my standards as a dog parent and a business owner. Setting up at local markets to meet anyone who wants to talk to me about their dogs. Answering their questions to guide them on a treat option that best fits their dog. Building trust as I will always do right by dogs, even if that means Brody’s treats is not a good fit.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

The pet treat industry is growing each and every day. What started as cute little biscuit treats, slowly pivoted into the functional aspect of the industry. A lot of the mentors/brands I am inspired by is where I aim to bring Brody Boy’s.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.brodyboysdogtreats.com/
• Instagram: brodyboysdogtreats
• Facebook: Brody Boys Dog Treats

Image Credits

Melissa Ashley Photography – photo of me in front of my booth at Boerne Handmade Market. The rest of the photos were taken by me.