If you’re like a lot of us here at Brit + Co., you’re a proud doggy mama or papa. And that means you totally get why we call those little rascals “(wo)man’s best friend.” Even your human BFF (who you’ve known since grade school and traveled around the world with) is not someone you’d let jump on you, lick your face, and wake you up by pouncing on your boobs.
Brian Hare is the founder and a crazy accomplished evolutionary anthropologist. He runs the Canine Cognition Center at Duke University and literally wrote the book on The Genius of Dogs. And that’s exactly what the small North-Carolina-based company aims to do, help you find the genius in your dog.
Through a questionnaire (completed by you, not Fido) accompanied by ten games (completed by Fido, not you), Dognition tests five personality traits: communication, cunning, empathy, memory, and reasoning. Rufus is then assigned a personality type. From there you can see how he compares with other dogs of the same breed, size, and age, as well as a comparison with other breeds.
Why is this attractive to you? Because. It helps you discover your dog’s preferred mode of communication and what motivates him or her. Like, is he doing tricks just for fun or because he wants that homemade treat or Beggin’ Strip really, really bad? It also helps you decipher if your lovable little ankle biter doesn’t sit because he truly doesn’t understand what you’re saying or because he just doesn’t really give two hoots what you tell him to do.
This sort of relationship therapy is undoubtedly going to cost you. (We mean, you just found out that your supposed best friend is actually a stranger.). It’s $29 for the initial meet and greet. If you want to do more bonding (which we think you should), you can pay $89 for an entire year of monthly games and tips and tricks tailored to your pups personality, whether she be a Stargazer, a Socialite, or an Einstein. (All of our dogs undoubtedly fall into that last category.) Oh, and props to Turkey Temple for being the newest dog of Brit + Co. and seriously rocking those shades!
Want to get to know your best friend better? Let us know in the comments below!
Getting the word out about your brand takes time, drive, and ingenuity. And it doesn't come easy for many entrepreneurs. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're chatting with Selfmade alum Taylor Morgan McPherson, founder of Sustainable Sparkle Bar, about ways in which she scored press as a solo startup brand and what she learned from Selfmade to take her brand marketing up a notch.
B + C: How did you know Sustainable Sparkle Bar was your business to start?
Glitter has always been my thing, so when I started my event company I decided to make it my niche. I started telling people I threw glitter-themed parties where people would get sparkled with glitter body art and makeup. Six months after that I applied to my first festival and to work with SUR restaurant in West Hollywood.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
I honestly can't say that I've had a specific strategy that I've followed when it comes to getting my business off the ground. I have a PR background so I was just constantly pitching new business and posting on social media.
B + C: What's the biggest challenge you face as a small business owner?
I would say creating a stable income and revenue stream. With a seasonal, event-based business it can be very up and down.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
The relationships I made and the push to start an email database.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I love what I do and I believe in myself 100%. Staying motivated isn't the hard part. Pushing myself to do the work and staying accountable is the hard part.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip? Do you use any apps that help you manage your business?
I keep multiple to-do lists, hand-written and digital. I also tell clients and partners that I will have something to them by a certain time or day so I have to stick to it.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Just do it, take the leap. And don't worry about what anyone else says to thinks.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Issa Rae, I'm so inspired by everything that she's created being a creative and a black woman. It's my dream to have my own show one day based on my life and where I give advice and talk about the world. She's doing it and making people laugh and giving people joy. And it's based in LA. Watching Insecure only further cemented my dreams of wanting to live in LA.
B + C: How did you hear about the Office Depot scholarship?
One of my friends that I met through Camp No Counselors saw an IG ad for it and nominated me.
B + C: What has receiving the scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start/grow your business?
It's completely helped me level up and take my business to another level. Selfmade helped me host my first virtual event and taught me how to set up my website to sell tickets to events and get RSVPs.
B + C: How have Office Depot services or products helped you accomplish more in your business?
I got new cards to send in all of my orders with my discount code on them. I also bought a really cool 4K camera that I now use for my social media.
Thanks Taylor! You really know how to sparkle. We love her colorful, creative vibe. You can follow Sustainable Sparkle Bar on Instagram @sustainablesparklebar.
Let Office Depot OfficeMax help you stand out in the crowd. From signs, posters & banners to promote your business, to marketing materials to keep your customers informed, Office Depot OfficeMax offers a full suite of business services & solutions to help you & your business get noticed.
Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.