Barking up toy business tree …
Couple makes, sells MuttPuppet, which keeps dog safely amused
By Mike Rasor
Akron Beacon Journal business writer
December 4, 2005
Michael and Theresa Fraser are dog people. It’s not because they have a dog or because they prefer dogs instead of cats. The co-owners of MuttPuppet Ltd. make dog toys.
Not full time, mind you.
Each has a day job. Michael Fraser designs Web sites. Theresa Fraser is a nurse at Akron City Hospital.
But last year, the Wadsworth couple started a company to capture a share of the dog-toy industry.
The company’s first product keeps dogs busy several ways. The $12 toy has a detachable head with a squeaker. The arms are made of rope that can be used for tug-of-war. It also has a slot in which owners may conceal a rawhide bone or treat.
Most dog toys have stuffing. MuttPuppets do not. Theresa designed them to be made completely of fabric. Stuffing was unacceptable in a dog toy, Michael said.
“All of them had stuffing,” he said. “That is for a kid’s stuffed animal, not a dog toy.”
If it seems that the Frasers have a serious hatred of stuffing, it’s true. Stuffing nearly killed their dog, Chloe, who choked on stuffing from a toy. Theresa had to rescue the dog.
Chloe, an English springer spaniel, was the Frasers’ inspiration to start MuttPuppet. Theresa created the first MuttPuppet for Chloe, without the intention of selling the items over the Internet.
Once the Frasers saw that Chloe liked the toy, they thought they had something that could be sold. They found a manufacturer in China who could make them a lot faster than Theresa could.
The couple said customers have been pleased.
Once a dog notices each MuttPuppet function, the animal will be hooked, Michael said.
“They smell the rawhide bone. Then, by coincidence, they hit the squeaker,” Michael said. “After they hit the squeaker, it’s on.”
As a Web designer, Michael has skills that translate to MuttPuppet. He created a site that includes a movie, Flash animation and outside links helpful to dog owners. Other companies lack these bells and whistles, he said.
“We looked at the competition’s Web sites, and they’re just awful — even some of the bigger companies,” Michael said. “It’s like they don’t care about their image.”
So far, the Frasers have sold about 150 toys. Having started the business last year, they are satisfied.
“Sales are pretty much what we expected,” Michael said.
MuttPuppet may begin selling other dog toys, Theresa said. The Frasers said they have plans for an all-cloth flying disc and miniature MuttPuppet for smaller dogs.
Despite the Frasers being dog people, they also own a cat named Arthur.
But Arthur’s lifestyle isn’t exciting enough to make the company expand into cat toys, Michael said.
“He doesn’t play very much,” Michael said. “He just lays around. I’d need more of an inspiration.”
