Side Hustle School Ep. 3372 - TBT: Frozen Yogurt Dog Treats Are No Barking Matter
Mar 26, 2026
Matt Meyer, co-founder and co-owner of The Bear and the Rat, makes prebiotic frozen yogurt treats for dogs. He tells the origin story from kitchen tests to farmer's markets. He outlines simple, real ingredients and why the pet industry is ripe for growth. He talks about scaling distribution and the challenge of keeping independent pet stores visible as the brand expands.
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Hobby Idea Turned Farmer's Market Business
- Matt Meyer started The Bear and the Rat making prebiotic frozen yogurt for dogs from his kitchen and selling at a local farmer's market.
- The idea came from childhood memories of giving his family poodle a cone and seeing digestion issues, which led to a healthier recipe using real yogurt, bananas, and peanut butter.
Healthy Treats Over Human-Style Ice Cream
- The product deliberately trades indulgence for health, positioning as a dog-friendly smoothie alternative rather than a human-style ice cream.
- Ingredients are transparent: real yogurt, bananas, and peanut butter, made in a real ice cream facility to reassure quality.
Leverage Relevant Work Experience To Enter Retail
- Use prior industry experience to navigate retail and distribution; Matt's background in natural food sales helped land grocery and distributor relationships.
- Leverage that knowledge when scaling from markets to stores to avoid common grocery pitfalls.