Bark with Buster Named Best Premium Dog Treat Brand 2026 Australia

We are incredibly grateful to share that Bark with Buster has been recognised as Best Premium Dog Treat Brand 2026 Australia in the LUXlife Pet Products & Services Awards 2026.

As a small Australian business built around genuine canine care, natural feeding, and years of hands-on experience with dogs, this acknowledgement means a great deal to us. It is not something we take lightly — and it is not something we would have reached without the trust of every single person who has ordered from us, shared our products, or told a friend.

Recognition That Means A Great Deal To Us

After previously being acknowledged as Best Natural Dog Treat Company 2025 Victoria, being named Best Premium Dog Treat Brand 2026 Australia is something we are incredibly grateful for.

We do not take either as a destination. We take them as a reminder that the approach we have always believed in — honest ingredients, genuine care, and real experience with dogs — is worth continuing. Local industry recognition growing into national recognition over two consecutive years is not something we expected. It is something we are quietly proud of.

Why Bark with Buster Was Created

Bark with Buster did not start with a business plan. It started with a dog named Buster.

While Bark with Buster officially began during Melbourne's COVID lockdowns, the inspiration behind the brand started much earlier for co-founder Reza Mohammed — through a German Shepherd named Buster belonging to his cousin in India. Growing up, dogs were often viewed cautiously due to concerns around stray dogs and rabies, but Buster completely changed that perspective and sparked a lifelong connection with dogs, animals and nature that would eventually inspire the Bark with Buster name years later.

That connection deepened after moving to Australia. Through Pet Stays Melbourne, our in-home dog boarding and care service, we have had the privilege of caring for hundreds of dogs across every breed, size, temperament, and dietary need. We have watched how dogs respond to different foods. We have seen the difference that simple, honest ingredients make — in energy, digestion, coat condition, and behaviour. We have also seen what happens when dogs are fed treats full of fillers, flavour enhancers, and ingredients that have no business being in a dog's bowl.

The idea for Bark with Buster began developing during Melbourne's COVID lockdowns while Pet Stays Melbourne was unable to operate for almost nine months. Having already spent years caring for dogs through boarding, fostering and everyday hands-on experience, the time allowed us to reflect more deeply on natural feeding, ingredient transparency and the kind of treats we genuinely felt good about giving dogs ourselves.

Long before Bark with Buster began, co-founder Jeannene Anchen spent many years fostering Labrador Customs puppies, helping raise and care for dogs destined for important working roles. One of those dogs was Leroy Brown, who later became involved in humanitarian landmine detection work connected to Bosnia through specialised scent detection systems.

Experiences like these helped shape the deep respect, understanding and connection with dogs that would later become part of the foundation behind Bark with Buster and its natural feeding philosophy.

That is what Bark with Buster is built on.

A Brand Built From The Inside Out

Over the years, Bark with Buster's packaging and brand identity have evolved alongside the business itself — not through an agency brief, but through genuine iteration and a growing understanding of dogs, natural nutrition, and what Australian dog owners actually care about.

Much of the creative direction and packaging design has been developed in house by co-founder Reza Mohammed, drawing on his background in technology and design alongside a deep passion for branding, dogs, and natural products. The result is a brand that reflects real values rather than manufactured ones — one that has grown more considered and more intentional with every version.

Today, our packaging continues to be produced locally in Melbourne, supporting Australian manufacturing and aligning with the values behind the Australian Made campaign and the broader local business community. That is not a marketing decision. It is simply the right thing to do.

Why Natural Feeding Matters To Us

The philosophy behind every Bark with Buster treat is straightforward: one ingredient, nothing added.

Air dehydrated dog treats are made through a gentle process that removes moisture slowly at low temperatures, preserving the natural proteins, nutrients, and flavour of the ingredient without the need for preservatives, fillers, or artificial anything. What you see in the bag is exactly what it is — real food, carefully prepared.

We are proud that every treat we sell is Australian made, sourced and produced here, supporting local producers and meeting the standards we trust. In a market full of complexity and clever packaging, simple is harder to do well than it looks — and we think it is worth doing properly.

For dogs with sensitivities, single-ingredient treats are not just a preference — they are often a necessity. Dogs who struggle with commercial treats frequently do far better on natural single-ingredient options, and we have seen this firsthand across hundreds of dogs in our care. Our hypoallergenic dog treats guide covers this in more detail for owners navigating allergies or sensitive digestion.

For ingredient-conscious owners who also enjoy making things at home, our Homemade Dog Treats Australia guide explores simpler natural feeding approaches — though we may be a little biased about the air dehydrated alternative.

Built With Support From Our Community

A significant part of what shaped Bark with Buster happened not online, but in person — at markets, festivals, and community events where we met dog owners face to face, watched dogs try our treats for the first time, and had real conversations about what people actually wanted for their dogs.

Those interactions — the repeat customers, the messages from owners whose dogs finally found a treat they could tolerate, the dogs who would not leave the stall — are what grounded the brand in something real. Industry acknowledgement is meaningful. But the trust of dog owners, built one bag at a time, is what we are most proud of.

A Thank You to Our Customers

This recognition belongs as much to the people who have supported us as it does to us.

Every order placed, every review left, every message from a customer telling us their dog went absolutely wild for the roo jerky or finally found a chew they could settle with — that is what has built Bark with Buster. You trusted us with something that matters deeply to you. We do not take that lightly.

For us, the greatest reward will always be the dogs themselves — and the trust their owners place in us every day.

Thank you. Genuinely.

What This Means Going Forward

We are not changing anything. The same care, the same sourcing, the same commitment to honest ingredients and real canine nutrition. If anything, this is a reminder to keep doing exactly what we have been doing — and to keep raising the bar quietly, without fanfare.

If you are new to Bark with Buster, the best place to start is our range of Natural Dog Treats Australia — single ingredient, air dehydrated, and made for dogs who deserve better than the average treat. Or explore our Healthy Dog Treats Australia collection for options suited to sensitive stomachs, training, and everyday enrichment.

For dogs who need something to really get their teeth into, our Long Lasting Dog Chews Australia and Kangaroo Dog Treats Australia collections are a great place to explore — lean proteins, natural chewing enrichment, and nothing unnecessary. And for reward-based training, our Dog Training Treats Australia collection covers high-value, single-ingredient options that dogs respond to reliably.

You can read more about the enrichment value of chewing in our article on Long Lasting Dog Chews Australia, or explore the emotional side of dog care in 5 Ways Dogs Absorb Your Emotions — something we think about a lot in the context of how we feed and care for the dogs in our lives.

To learn more about who we are and what drives us, visit our About Us page.

We are grateful. We are proud. And we are back to work.

— Jeannene, Reza, and the Bark with Buster team