About Love Dogs Gifts Memoir
Anetes Early Years and Creative Longing
I was born in Latvia. A small Baltic country where you could experience all four seasons and enjoy the never-ending sandy beach shores. My formative years weren't exactly a renaissance of personal creativity. In art class, my work often looked like a dog had "redecorated" it. My early attempts at sewing, especially with only three sewing machines for a class of ten of us, were... memorable, and gave me a real appreciation for clothes that are actually put together properly. One class I would have liked to try out was woodworking, yet stayed off-limits no matter how many times I complained about it to my teacher. It seemed that using a saw was only for those with a Y chromosome (yes, I grew up in times when girls learned cooking and only boys were allowed to hold a saw).
Beneath the surface of poor artistry, a quiet desire to create remained. Interestingly, Latvia has also contributed some notable inventions to the world, such as the compact 'Minox' camera and the widely used 'RAF' minibus. Not that I thought I would be one of the inventors written in Latvian history, but I have always had ideas flowing around me. Constructive planning would have helped with that, but that's not my virtue. Sadly you can't have it all.
Affections for Canines and Early Dreams:
My deep-seated affection for canines, however, was never in question. Growing up in a single-parent home, I often dreamed of having a pet. My mother was already busy raising two lively kids. And a dog was out of question. At those years I was sometimes angry at my mom for not believing I would take care of my dog, but now that I am a grownup, I can't blame her. Kids are kids and dogs are no toys you can leave dusty in the corner of the room.
Realising that I won't have a dog as long as I live under my moms roof was hard. But I found a glimpse of hope, an opportunity how I could try out taking care of pets. I found a local animal shelter and even overcame my fear of syringes (you had to go through a rabies vaccine course to volunteer there). And that's how my dog summer started. It was a fast lesson in managing dogs and cats. There was a fun mix of feeding times, surprise playdates, and the important task of cleaning cages. This immersive experience was partly a mission to explore veterinary science, cause that was also one of my dreams. But the tough biology exam felt like a grumpy bulldog. It made me choose an easier route. After giving up on veterinary dream I still had another - a dog-friendly café with a "bark park" nearby for fun times. But my tiny bank balance quickly crushed that dream.
The Arrival of Beta:
Fast forward to 2015, two years before the delightful pandemonium of my first child's arrival. Living with my boyfriend helped me achieve a lifelong dream: owning a dog (I promise, that's not the only reason I moved in with my boyfriend). The breed research was nearly academic, but after careful thought, we chose the Labrador Retriever. Known for its friendly nature and forgiving attitude, it easily won over everyone.
I'll never forget the evening we drove to collect Beta. She wasn't the only dog we could have chosen, but something in her demeanor and those large puppy eyes...I just couldn't resist and took her home. And I can tell you that even in the joyful chaos of two little kids, her loving nature shines through. Labs are great not just at fetching things but also as a toddler warmers and cuddle 'pillows'. Also, the kids are learning important lessons in responsibility. This mostly means giving belly rubs on time.
Motherhood and Unexpected Hobbies:
Motherhood, it turns out, is a surprisingly fertile ground for unexpected hobbies. In the delightful chaos of little ones, I found the simple needle and thread again. I started making tiny outfits for my kids. It was a big change from my teenage sewing failures. It gave me a little island of creative control among all the sippy cups.
Next, after my second child was born, was crocheting. It felt like a rhythmic dance with the hook and yarn. This activity became oddly soothing, so I became a bit addicted. All my spare time went to crocheting. And buying yarn. And buying crochet hooks.
Venturing into Etsy:
In 2020, I decided to explore Etsy after creating something that looked sellable. I have high standards. After five years of selling products I chose myself, I still feel that growth won’t stop. I will always look for the best of the best.
My initial offering? Crocheted rope baskets, intended for the stylish containment of children's toys. The universe, however, has a peculiar sense of humour. My clients saw these well-built vessels not for stray Lego but as stylish spaces for their pampered dogs and their toys.
Pivoting to the Dog Market:
A new business depends on demand. So, moving to the dog market seemed more like a smart choice than a sudden change. Yet, the handcrafted nature of each basket presented a scalability conundrum. Selling them at a price that acknowledged the hours of meticulous looping felt akin to asking customers to remortgage their homes for a dog bed. So, I followed the digital rabbit hole and to my surprise stumbled upon the world of print-on-demand.
Discovering Print-on-Demand:
What 'caught my eye' was that this model was eco-friendly. It makes items only when a wagging-tailed fan clicks "buy." This way, fewer products sit in warehouses or are thrown out. They provide us with a global network of factories making shipping more affordable to our customers and streamlining quality control.
The Evolution of Love Dogs Gifts:
From humble sticker beginnings, the Love Dogs Gifts empire (ahem, small business) now encompasses a delightful menagerie of personalized paraphernalia: tees, hoodies, the occasional sophisticated whiskey tumbler for pondering canine existentialism, cozy blankets perfect for shared naps, and even festive hat adornments for the discerning holiday hound.
The journey has been a marathon of learning curves, culminating in 2025 with the grand unveiling of a standalone Love Dogs Gifts store, finally unshackled from the customization constraints of Etsy. While I remain eternally grateful to the Etsy platform that nurtured my initial foray into the world of online retail, the desire for a truly bespoke shopping experience for pet parents – think loyalty schemes and birthday serenades (digital, of course) – necessitated a solo venture.
Our Etsy tenure, however, has given us so many heartfelt customer stories. We've supported grieving owners and together, welcomed new, tiny terrors. That's the beautiful, messy reality of pet ownership, and we aim to be there for every slobbery step of the way. Even after more than 1,800 five-star reviews I still love to read new reviews, see customers dogs and see the joy our products bring to them.
I'm not sure if anyone will get to the end of this, but if you did, leave a comment below so I know you're one of those rare people who don't have attention deficit disorder (someone who's able to read more than 140 character twitter post) and that means all is not lost! I still have aspects of my life I haven't talked about here, but let's keep those for another blog post. :)
Have a wonderful day,
Sincerely,
Anete