Hi, I’m Katie – Co-Founder, Creative Director & COO of DOG DEN.

My journey to founding DOG DEN began with sweaters and shepherds. I built my career in fashion design—primarily knitwear and childrenswear—where I learned to balance comfort, personality, and purpose in everything I create. But long before that, I was just a kid growing up with three golden retrievers, my best friends and constant companions. I spent most of my childhood outside with them, and their loss around middle school left a quiet space in my life I didn’t yet know how to fill.

Years later, during the height of COVID, my sister and I adopted a bonded German Shepherd mother-daughter duo from a shelter. We named them Dancer and Star. They came with deep trust in each other, but both were unsure of the world around them. That’s when our training journey began—one filled with patience, consistency, and a growing understanding of how dogs heal and thrive. After a year together, we packed up and hit the road with them for a cross-country training trip, from coast to coast. That experience became the foundation of what DOG DEN is today: a place where dogs and their humans learn, grow, and build confidence together.

In November 2023, we lost Dancer—our soul dog, our matriarch. Her passing shattered us. She was the heartbeat of our home and the one who taught me the power of trust, timing, and presence. Putting the pieces back together after that heartbreak was slow and painful, but it opened us to the next chapter.

In February 2024, we met Otis—a resilient, sensitive soul with a difficult past and a quiet strength. He came from a shelter background and had a lot to overcome. He’s still our “work in progress” pack member, working every day to regulate and adjust to what most people think of as a “normal” life. Some days are big wins, others are hard—but he reminds us that growth isn’t always linear and that all dogs deserve the time and space to feel safe.

Then in October 2024, Dash met her new best friend, Loki—and everything changed. Their bond was instant, joyful, and full of mischief. Loki quickly became part of our extended pack, and watching their friendship grow has been one of the most heartwarming surprises of this journey.

Most recently, in April 2025, we welcomed Vixen—a long-haired German Shepherd puppy from Poland. She’s full of fire, curiosity, and the kind of bold energy only a pup can bring. She’s added a whole new dynamic to our pack—and a whole new chapter to DOG DEN’s story.

At DOG DEN, I lead the creative vision and operations, designing our space, our gear, and our programs with the same thoughtfulness and intention I bring to my own pack. This brand was built on real experiences, real heartbreak, and real love—and my mission is to make every dog feel like they belong, and every human feel confident guiding them there.