We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Makenzie Johnson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Makenzie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

At Bella’s Pet Products, we’ve built our brand around a mission to prioritize pet health in ways that differ significantly from the industry standard. Unlike many larger brands that rely on preservatives, fillers, and artificial ingredients to mass-produce treats, we focus on crafting all-natural, limited-ingredient dog treats that all pet owners can trust. Our recipes are designed with transparency and simplicity in mind, ensuring every ingredient serves a purpose.

This commitment stems from a deeply personal reason. When I started Bella’s Pet Products, my goal was to create healthier options for my miniature schnauzer, Bella, who has a very sensitive stomach and allergies. One story that highlights why this difference matters is a conversation with a customer. Her senior dog, previously unable to enjoy treats due to sensitivities to manufactured ingredients, found that Bella’s treats are the only ones that don’t bother her stomach. Hearing how our products made a difference for her dog reaffirmed that veering from the industry norm is more than just a differentiator—it’s a necessity.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Bella’s Pet Products began as a passion project when I was just 13 years old, inspired by my miniature schnauzer, Bella. She has a sensitive stomach and struggled with store-bought treats, which motivated me to create high-quality, all-natural options that were both healthy and delicious. Over the years, that small idea has grown into a business that provides pet owners with treats they can feel good about giving to their dogs.

Our dog treat line features five different flavors: Apple Crisps, Banana Bones, PB&Pumpkin, Brew Biscuits, and Puppermints. Each is made with five ingredients or fewer, using real, all-natural ingredients with no preservatives, chemicals, or artificial flavors. This commitment to simplicity and transparency sets Bella’s Pet Products apart in a market saturated with over-processed options. We believe that what your dog eats plays a key role in their overall health and happiness, and we aim to make that choice simple for pet owners.

One of the things I’m most proud of is how our treats have made a real difference for dogs with dietary restrictions or allergies. At Bella’s Pet Products, we’re not just selling dog treats—we’re building trust with pet parents by offering a healthier alternative. Our goal is to ensure every pup can enjoy a treat that’s both healthy and delicious, without compromising on quality!

Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.

I created my five famous recipes eight years ago when I was just 13! From the very first batch, we’ve always manufactured our treats ourselves because we never want to compromise on quality. This hands-on approach ensures every single batch is baked to perfection. Over the years, we’ve learned how to make the process faster and more efficient. Upgrading to industrial baking equipment has been a game-changer, allowing us to produce larger batches without sacrificing the care and attention that go into every treat!

We’d love to hear your thoughts about selling platforms like Amazon/Etsy vs selling on your own site.

We sell our treats exclusively online at BellasPetProducts.com, which we launched in June 2023. Navigating the e-commerce world has been an exciting and rewarding journey, though it comes with its own challenges. Choosing to host our own site instead of using platforms like Amazon or Etsy gives us full control over our branding, customer experience, and product presentation. As a small business, we rely on social media, word-of-mouth, and targeted advertising to connect with our audience and drive traffic to our website. In 2025, we are excited to grow and expand the ecommerce side of our business!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://BellasPetProducts.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bellaspetproducts/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bellaspetproducts/
• Twitter: https://x.com/bellaspettreats
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BellasPetProducts