About Us

I’m so excited you’ve come to visit Day of the Dog Bakery. I’d love to share a little about my journey with you.

My first career was in the kitchen as a classically trained pastry chef, where I spent more than 12 years honing my craft. When it was time for a change, I turned to my other passion—animals. Over the past decade, I’ve had the joy of serving the Northern Virginia dog community and getting to know the pets (and their people) who make it so special.

Day of the Dog Bakery is where those two paths come together. I pour my experience and heart into creating wholesome, beautifully crafted treats—because our dogs deserve something just as thoughtful and delicious as the love they give us every day.

Through years of working closely with local dog owners, I heard a consistent concern: many of the “cute” treats on store shelves didn’t meet the needs of real families. Peanut-based recipes excluded households with severe allergies, while other treats were unsuitable for dogs requiring careful management of fat or protein due to conditions like pancreatitis. Too often, products fell short—whether in ingredient quality, appearance, or overall integrity.

Determined to do better, I began developing my own recipes. My goal was simple but ambitious: create a treat made with minimal allergens that was still sturdy, appealing, and delicious. After extensive testing (and plenty of eager taste-testing from my dog), our signature oatmeal and applesauce cookie was born.

The icing presented an even greater challenge. Drawing on my pastry background, I set out to create or find a completely sugar-free alternative to traditional royal icing and fondant—one that would dry firm for safe packaging and shipping, without relying on fats or oils. With that finally resolved, Day of the Dog Bakery officially came to life.

Our logo is inspired by my dog, Gunner—Chief Biscuit Officer, quality control expert, and constant companion. Like all devoted pet owners, I want him to live a long, healthy life, and I believe that real, thoughtfully made food plays an essential role in that.

The name and sugar skull motif pay tribute to my grandmother; the daughter of Mexican immigrants, whose heritage and influence left a lasting mark on my life. This bakery is, in part, a celebration of her legacy.

Day of the Dog Bakery exists because of the support of a community—those who contributed through research and development, encouragement, and every purchase made online or at local markets.

At its heart, this bakery is for all dogs—because they deserve the very best we can give them. After all, while a dog may be part of our lives for only a short time, to them, we are their whole life.

Treat them well.