The OZZY & OSA Story: Tough as Nails

Origin Story: Put Up or Shut Up

This is Ozzy & Osa, the tough dog gear eCommerce brand: Picture me stuck in the soul-sucking grind of corporate America – a world where creativity gets choked out faster than the newbie in Jiu-Jitsu. Then, bam! The pandemic slams us into a major reality check, stuck at home, it hits me – my dogs are freakin’ cold blooded dog toy killers and I’m at risk of becoming one of those zombie corporate lifer dbags mindlessly marching through life.

That was the wake-up call, “hell-no” moment. Watching my k9 wrecking crew tear through another toy made in some far-off land from God-knows-what was a disaster waiting to happen. These weak toys weren’t just a joke but a potential deathtrap. I realized if I didn’t grab life by the balls now, people would continue to gamble with their dog’s toys, and I was doomed to forever “add value” in the corporate cage. So, I said, “screw it” and gave the bird to the mind numbing 8-to-5 routine, turned my focus on to Made in the USA gear and bounced for the road less traveled.

Mission: Chew on This

The mission at Ozzy & Osa is simple, to deliver a collection of tough gear that’s built for dogs that "get after it". We’re talking Made in the USA, no-BS, unleash the monster kind of tough. This stuff is for large breeds and heavy chewers. You know the ones that put the beatdown on average toys leaving trails of cuddly toy parts and stuffing everywhere they go. But, if your savage does beat ‘em, many carry a lifetime guarantee (read warranty language for specific details). So go ahead, put your money where their mouth is.

Founder’s Journey: What a DIC

As the "DIC" (Dude in Charge) behind Ozzy & Osa, I’m a card-carrying contrarian, real-life Neanderthal (per a leading DNA firm), who hates the status quo and prefers the company of big scary dogs. Hardwired with the mantras "Who says?" and "Why not?" when faced with the ever popular “it can’t be done”.

Ozzy & Osa was built from a blend of the will to fight the good fight, creativity, and hardheaded persistence – a ‘pet project’ focused on more than just sales and profits. It’s about crafting a legacy with tough gear, where enhancing the dog & owner bond is the cornerstone of everything we do.

Challenges and Triumphs: Lions Don’t Listen to Sheep

Has it been a walk in the park? Hell no. We’ve stepped in a few steaming piles and ran into our fair share of haters. Which only makes us more determined to push forward and “tear this market a new one”.

“You’re crazy to leave the ‘security’ of corporate and risk your family’s future just to own a business and play with dogs!” - Yep, looking to help people connect with their dogs, not learn to love those golden handcuffs.

“Our brand helped build the pet industry and we can’t see an upside to working with an eCommerce start-up with no plans on brick and mortar.” - While not a great response, several other industry players didn’t even bother to respond to our inquiries.

“Why the focus on made in the USA? Consumers only care about the lowest price not where it’s from.” - Buying made in the USA products leads to higher customer satisfaction due to higher quality products, keeps those dollars here at home, more earth friendly – eliminates the large carbon footprint resulting from ships circumventing the globe, domestic manufacturers must adhere to strict regulations and tough labor laws, it creates jobs with fair wages, delivers a faster time to market, and encourages entrepreneurship. All are still important even in the current bizarro world we’re living in.

We’re the underdogs climbing up the mountain and we’re hungry. We’re bang’n heavy metal music, binging energy drinks and building our brand one bad ass toy at a time.

Pack Focused: Like a Glove

We’re not just here to sell gear; we’re forming an alliance. A place where dog people can share real life experiences, passion for bold breeds and hopefully have some fun along the way. The content? It’s legit not fluff – including topics related to dog ownership and behavior, advice from the pros, sit-downs with fellow fanatics, and other useful info. Think of it as the dive bar for dog owners – rough around the edges, but damn, it feels like home.

Future Vision: The Big Dog Legacy

What’s next on the horizon? We’re just getting started. Expanding our no-BS line of gear, dialing-up useful content and hitting it hard enough to leave a mark. We’re building something here – something to be proud of. More than a store, more like an ally to help enhance the dog–owner bond. We’re here for both the good days and the ones that make you want to punch a hole in the wall while questioning all your life choices.

Call to Action

Convinced you have a house crocodile instead of man’s best friend? Does your buddy chew through average dog toys before they even hit the ground? We’ve got your back. Gear up and fight the good fight – one tough, durable, safe, made in the USA toy at a time from Ozzy & Osa at ozzyandosa.com. Go ahead, ‘Let the Dogs Out.’