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 Jen's business ScoutDog Studios had already proven to be successful at the point when Catherine came across her website. Products featuring her signature dog look, such as the Periodic Table of Dogs, appeared on products from well-known companies such as Tervis and Deny Designs. Whether adorning tumblers, school supplies, or home décor items, the whimsical designs charmed dog lovers – including Catherine The two began working together remotely – Catherine in the Florida Keys and Jen in Denver, Colorado. They collaborated on the logo and website for Generation Dog, and much more over the years. “We worked remotely before it was cool!” says Catherine. In 2007, after relocating to Birmingham, Alabama, Catherine opened Generation Dog's brick-and-mortar boutique in the centrally located SoHo area of Homewood. The Rub-a-Dub-Dog Bathhouse and Spa was also created to offer appointment-only grooming. Jen's artwork was essential to building Generation Dog's brands, including not just the boutique and spa, but also Bark and Roll Pet Strollers and Home Sweet Home Pet Care. By 2015, the spa business had become so popular for Catherine that it had taken over her day-to-day responsibilities. So, when forced to relocate from the original SoHo location, it made sense to phase out the retail boutique altogether. The next few years continued to be all grooming, all the time, but Catherine always knew there was more to come with Generation Dog. During the downtime from Generation Dog, Jen explored other passions. Angry Squirrel Studios, the brand that succeeded ScoutDog Studios, continued to provide colorful, creative designs. But she also decided to attend culinary school, where she focused on baking. She also hand-lettered signage for Trader Joe's and other local businesses in Denver. Rebel Girl Bakery was deliciously launched onto the scene in 2018 with some of the most creative cookie combinations, such as the sweet, sour, and salty “Pickle Cookie.” When faced with moving the spa again in 2022, Catherine reached out to Jen to revise marketing materials and do some special designs for the windows of the new salon. The two enjoyed working together again after a long hiatus, so they decided to keep the momentum going, Catherine decided it was time to relaunch Generation Dog. After a few challenging years due to the global pandemic, dogs were more essential than ever before to their humans. So instead of reselling products like before, Generation Dog would focus on designing products that celebrate this love of dogs with a lifestyle brand featuring the artwork that Catherine had always loved most about her business. It was meaningful for Jen, too, because it had been a while since she had worked with her original dog designs, which had been inspired by her dog Scout, who passed years before. The two decided to officially partner to reintroduce Generation Dog: Where Dogs Are Family to dog lovers looking to celebrate their bond with their best friends. First up will be a re-designed website with e-commerce capabilities, print-on-demand products, and a custom treat line. In addition to keeping Scout's memory alive, Sasha, Cooper, and Stella – Catherine's dogs, who inspired the original logo years ago – will continue to be featured prominently in the reincarnation of the brand. But don't worry, plans are already in place to offer customization options for all members of Gen Dog to have their own dogs' likenesses on their products.
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