Good Boy Wags Onto Main Street with Ethical, Design-Forward Pet Supplies

Because your four-legged friends deserve cool, responsibly made goods, too.

If you own a dog or cat, you’ve likely witnessed them slowly but surely taking over every valuable square inch of your home: leaving their chew toys and fuzzy friends scattered across your floors, outright ignoring the comfy beds and scratching posts you’ve painstakingly set up for them in favour of the Amazon boxes they came in and the foot of your mattress. (And let’s not get started on that hair.) So it only makes sense that Vancouver now has a store dedicated to making your abode neat, functional and aesthetically pleasing for both you and your four-legged pal… right?

That’s the thinking behind Good Boy Collective, anyway, the locally founded online pet-supply store that recently opened its first brick-and-mortar outpost in Riley Park. Owner Dayandra Elrod understands that playing mama to a dog or cat is a lot like having kids—especially when it comes to the sheer amount of stuff they need and the messes they inevitably make—so she aims to stock her boutique with modern, ethical pet products that are both beautiful and good for your furry companions.

Think aloe-infused conditioning shampoos by Mr. Fluff; minimalist Basswood beds by Pidan; tiny yellow rain coats (with removable hood!) by Max-Bone; and cheeky fish- and lollipop-shaped toys. From Vancouver, there are stink-proof BioThane leashes by Mountain Mutt; handmade, all-natural treats from Granville Island Pet Treatery; and pretty ceramic bowls by Brick Brick. Many of these are vegan, cruelty-free and responsibly made, and use organic or natural ingredients and materials whenever possible.

“I try to work with smaller brands, so I can have stuff that you wouldn’t see in every other pet store,” says Elrod, whose Boston Terrier, Bowie, and Chinese Crested, Rupert, hang out in the back of the shop. “Things that are special, that are a little different.”

Good Boy began as a dog-focused biz, but now that there’s a permeant storefront, Elrod has steadily been introducing more cat-centric items. She has plans to host adoption events and pet-education seminars in the space, too. “We’ll also do fundraising events , which gives us a chance to give back to the community,” she says.