Cheeky, Melinda Montney and Robert Stoetzel

Clockwise top left: Found my Animal, Kenyan Collection, Tanner goods, Beast and Babe all available at Dog & Co.

When I first started Mrs. Sizzle I was introduced to a cool lady who handed me her card that said DOG & CO, coming soon. It was worth the wait! Melinda Montney curates the coolest doggie stuff that she can find and it's no mistake that this gal came from fashion. Check out the story behind the store!
Where is Cheeky from?
I got Cheeky when she was about 9 months old, from a neighbor who had to get rid of her as she was moving out of the country for an unexpected job transfer. She was so sad to have to give her up - but I lucked out as she’d done all the right things with Cheeky as a pup! I wasn’t sure that I was ready for a dog of my own - and had always felt strongly about adopting an older rescue dog when I was - but after spending even a little time with such a sweet girl, I couldn’t say no.
What made you change careers?
My professional background is in (human!) fashion, and I had always loved what I did - but after 10 years of working with countless designers, all of the seasons had started to run together, and I knew that I was getting bored. I had been researching better dog products for Cheeky for a while, and had discovered lots of cool brands - but couldn’t find one resource where I could shop them all. I realized that there was an opportunity to use my experience and build a shop full of contemporary pet products for fashion customers & dog lovers like myself, so I made the leap into the doggy world and haven’t looked back since.
What are your favorite products?
I have SO many favorite products, but I try not to spoil Cheeky too much! Overall, I’d say that my favorites are the same types of products that I choose for myself - staples that can mix & match, with a good variety of textures and classic colors. Right now, I’d say that the BEAST + BABE denim leads, BONES SOCIETY shibori bandanas, PENN + POOCH t’s, and CLOUD 7 wool travel beds are all tops on my list. And so many amazing new pieces coming for Spring!
What do you look for in a product and why is it DOG & CO.?
In terms of product, I definitely look for pieces that are designed with both form + function in mind - those are definitely the two must-haves for us! Our customers expect items that look good and are built with quality materials, but as they’re made for dogs - they also need to hold up to real wear and tear. I also try to seek out products that are designed & produced domestically, and designers who value responsible and built-to-last construction.
Will you ever have a free standing store?
Maybe, hopefully! There’s definitely a strong market for customers who seek out special products for their pups, and it would be great to meet them all in person on a regular basis - it’s really just a matter of figuring out where, and when! In the meantime, we’re lucky to have placed a special group of products in one of our favorite Brooklyn women’s shops - Jumelle, and are working on a pop-up option for the warmer months (more info to come!).
How has your partner become involved?
Robert has been great in becoming our on-staff photographer and creative consultant. With a professional background in product photography, he’s an invaluable resource for keeping the site up and running. We feel that creating strong product images and fashion-style lookbooks are so important in conveying the value of the amazing products that we carry, and I certainly couldn’t do that without him!