A Wisconsin startup is betting that dog owners want their pets represented at the cocktail hour. Dogtails Mixology has launched a $28 Recipe Card Deck that pairs 24 craft cocktail recipes for humans with 24 dog-safe "dogtail" recipes for their canine companions, alongside a $12 pack of cocktail napkins — positioning itself as the first premium mixology brand built around both ends of the leash.
The Product Line
The 34-card deck is printed on thick matte cardstock and includes built-in mocktail substitutions, entertaining inspiration, appetizer ideas, and a dog-safe ingredient guide. Ingredient selections were reviewed by a licensed veterinarian and a lead veterinary technician at Oconomowoc Animal Hospital, giving the brand a credibility layer that distinguishes it from novelty pet products. The deck is designed, assembled, and packaged in the USA for gift-ready presentation.
The companion cocktail napkins — sold in packs of 15 — are made from 100% recycled materials and printed with food-safe inks, featuring full-bleed custom artwork and an embossed, cloth-like texture. A greeting card line called Between Us Dogs, framed as conversations between dogs rather than traditional occasion-based formats, is slated to follow.
Operator & Retail Relevance
For beverage and hospitality professionals, the launch reflects a broader consumer trend that beverage industry analysis has tracked for several years: pet humanization is reshaping how and where people entertain. Dog-friendly patios, pet-welcome hotel policies, and canine menus at upscale restaurants are no longer novelties — they are competitive differentiators. A retail product that formalizes the ritual of including a dog in the cocktail experience speaks directly to that behavior.
Founder Brenda Murty, a Wisconsin-based former human resources professional and educator, framed the concept simply: "Dogs are already at the party, they're in the backyard, at the lake, on the blanket next to you," she said. "I just wanted to make sure they had something in their bowl, too."
The vet-review credential is worth noting for any retailer or hospitality buyer evaluating the line. As dog-inclusive menus expand across restaurant hospitality coverage, the question of ingredient safety for animals is increasingly front of mind — and having a licensed veterinary partner attached to a product's development addresses that concern directly. Dogtails Mixology is currently available at dogtailsmixology.com and select local retailers.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
