About Us — Bark with Buster
About Bark with Buster
Built By Dog Lovers. Trusted By Thousands Of Australian Dogs.
Bark with Buster was created by Reza and Jeannene after years of living, fostering, boarding and caring for dogs. Today we produce premium Australian made natural dog treats inspired by real world experience, not marketing trends.
✔ Australian Made & Owned ✔ 100% Natural Single Ingredient ✔ Air Dehydrated In Australia ✔ 13 Industry Awards ✔ 10+ Years Hands On Dog Experience
Meet The Founders
For more than a decade, dogs have shaped our lives.
From raising Labrador Customs puppies and caring for hundreds of dogs through Pet Stays Melbourne, to volunteering with animal welfare organisations and helping rescue animals across different parts of the world, dogs have never simply been pets to us. They have been teachers, companions and family.
Everything we have learned from those experiences became the foundation of Bark with Buster.
Not because we wanted to create another dog treat brand. Because we wanted to create the type of treats we would confidently feed every dog in our own care.
Our Journey
2007
Reza arrives in Australia and begins building a life around community, animals and nature.
2010 — 2013
Jeannene fosters and raises Labrador Customs puppies, supporting animal welfare initiatives across Australia.
2014 — PRESENT
Pet Stays Melbourne begins caring for dogs in a true home environment — not a kennel, their actual home.
2020
Melbourne lockdowns pause Pet Stays. That reflection becomes the seed of Bark with Buster.
2022
Bark with Buster officially launches — premium Australian made natural dog treats built on a decade of real experience.
2024
National and international award recognition begins across multiple pet industry categories.
2026
Recognised as Best Premium Dog Treat Brand Australia — LUXlife Pet Products & Services Awards.
It Started With a Dog Named Buster
Growing up in India, Reza's early experiences around dogs were very different to the life he would later build in Australia. Concerns around stray dogs and rabies meant that, like many children, he was often cautious around dogs rather than confident around them.
Everything changed when he formed a connection with a German Shepherd named Buster — a dog belonging to his cousin. Calm, loyal and completely unlike anything Reza had expected, Buster helped transform caution into trust and sparked a lifelong appreciation for dogs, animals and the unique bond they share with people.
Years later, after building a life in Australia, that passion for dogs continued to grow through fostering, Pet Stays Melbourne and sharing life with their own dogs — including Marvin, who remains a much loved member of the family today.
The lessons learned from Buster, Marvin and the thousands of dogs they have cared for over the years ultimately became the foundation of Bark with Buster.
Built From Years of Living With Dogs
"Not every dog changes the world. But some dogs change your world forever. Buster was one of those dogs."
Buster
The German Shepherd who inspired a lifelong love of dogs — and a brand.
Marvin — still part of the journey today.
For Jeannene, dogs have always been part of the fabric of life — genuine companions who shape your days, teach you patience, and leave marks on you that don't fade.
Over the years she fostered and raised Labrador Customs puppies — future service and working dogs who needed consistent care, early socialisation and patient, hands-on attention that sets them up for the work ahead.
One of those puppies was Leroy Brown. Leroy went on to be connected to humanitarian landmine detection work linked to Bosnia — part of a program where dogs used their extraordinary scent detection abilities to help identify dangerous air samples collected from minefields. Work that contributed to protecting human lives. Knowing that a dog you helped raise, fed, cared for and loved went on to do something like that — that stays with you.
There were others too. Zest — spirited and curious. Heidi — gentle and deeply affectionate. Dino — a big personality who needed patience and trust.
And then there was Marvin.
Marvin arrived at Pet Stays after being abandoned. What began as providing him with a safe place to stay quickly became something more. He never left.
Today, Marvin is part of the family — a daily reminder of the second chances dogs deserve, and Bark with Buster's unofficial chief taste tester. Whether it's Beef Liver, Kangaroo Jerky or Fish Jerky, Marvin still hasn't managed to decide which treat is his favourite.
Watching him rebuild his confidence, find his place in the world and become such an important part of our lives remains one of the most rewarding chapters of our journey with dogs.
Each one left a mark. Some never leave.
From Our First Packaging To Today
When Bark with Buster first launched, our packaging looked very different. These were some of our original bags, sold at markets and community events across Victoria as we introduced dog owners to simple, natural Australian treats. As the brand grew, so did our investment in packaging, product presentation and customer experience. While the look has changed, our commitment to natural Australian ingredients remains exactly the same.
One of the earliest Bark with Buster market displays featuring our original yellow packaging. Long before the colourful packaging you see today, we were introducing Australian dog owners to simple, natural, single ingredient treats one conversation at a time.
The Bark with Buster range today — evolved packaging, same commitment to natural Australian ingredients and honest single ingredient treats.
✔ Australian made ✔ Single ingredient recipes ✔ Air dehydrated nutrition ✔ No artificial colours, flavours or preservatives
While the packaging has evolved, our commitment to dogs never has.
From Local Markets To Every Corner Of Australia
What started with a few bags of treats, a simple yellow package design and countless conversations at local markets has grown into something we could never have imagined.
Since launching Bark with Buster, we have been incredibly fortunate to earn the support of dog lovers from all walks of life. Our treats have travelled from Melbourne homes to regional towns, remote communities and every Australian state and territory.
One of our most memorable orders was sent to the remote Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the Indian Ocean. For a small Melbourne founded business built by two passionate dog lovers, it was a reminder of just how far this journey had come.
Every order, every conversation at a market and every photo shared by a customer has helped shape Bark with Buster into what it is today.
While our packaging, product range and reach have grown over the years, our mission remains exactly the same:
To create simple, natural Australian dog treats we would proudly feed to our own dogs.
Most importantly, we remain incredibly grateful to the thousands of dog owners who have welcomed Bark with Buster into their homes and trusted us with their dogs.
Helping Dogs Beyond The Treat Bowl
Through their travels and experiences, Reza and Jeannene have seen both the joys of dog ownership and the challenges many animals face around the world. These experiences have inspired a long term dream to one day help establish and support a rescue and education centre in India, focused on animal welfare, responsible pet ownership and creating better outcomes for dogs and local communities.
In the meantime, through fundraising partnerships and community initiatives, Bark with Buster is proud to support animal rescues, breed-specific groups, shelters and organisations making a difference in the lives of dogs across Australia.
While Bark with Buster continues to grow, they hope the business can become a vehicle for making a positive difference in the lives of dogs both in Australia and beyond. Our dream is that one day Bark with Buster will help fund a dedicated rescue and education centre, creating better outcomes for dogs and the communities that care for them.
Learn About Our Fundraising ProgramPet Stays Melbourne & The Birth of Bark with Buster
For over a decade, Jeannene and Reza have run Pet Stays Melbourne — an in-home dog boarding and care service where dogs are welcomed into their home as part of the family. Not a kennel. Not a facility. Their actual home.
When you care for hundreds of dogs in a real home environment — different breeds, ages, temperaments and needs — you learn things about dogs that you simply cannot learn any other way. You see how they respond to different foods. You notice the difference that simple, honest ingredients make in energy, digestion, coat condition and behaviour.
Jeannene also volunteered at an Elephant Rescue Centre in Thailand, and spent over 15 years working for Qantas — travelling the world and observing animal welfare across cultures. Those experiences deepened the values that sit at the heart of everything Bark with Buster does.
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. That reflection became Bark with Buster. Not a pivot. An evolution.
Why Dog Owners Trust Our Advice
Unlike many pet brands, our understanding of dogs comes from daily hands-on experience. We have cared for puppies, seniors, anxious dogs, working dogs, rescue dogs and dogs with special dietary requirements.
That experience influences everything we do — from selecting products to writing educational content and helping customers choose the right treats for their dogs.
Why Bark with Buster Exists
Most dog treat brands are built on marketing. A nice logo, a friendly name, a bag that looks premium on a shelf. Bark with Buster was built differently — from years of actually living with dogs, caring for them, learning from them, and watching what they respond to and what they don't.
- ✔ 100% natural ingredients — nothing hidden, nothing unnecessary
- ✔ Australian made — full traceability, higher welfare standards
- ✔ Single ingredient treats — read the label in under three seconds
- ✔ Air dehydrated — preserves natural flavour, texture and nutrition
- ✔ Built from real dog care experience — not a marketing exercise
That is why we only sell treats we would genuinely give to dogs in our own care. Because we have. Every single day.
Meeting Thousands of Australian Dogs In Person
A significant part of what shaped Bark with Buster happened not online, but in person — at markets, festivals and community events where we meet dog owners face to face, watch dogs try our treats for the first time, and have real conversations about what people actually want 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.
Helpful Reading For Dog Owners
Learn more about natural dog nutrition, air dehydrated treats and why ingredient quality matters.
Dog Nutrition
Are Air Dehydrated Dog Treats Healthy?
What Australian dog owners should know →
Natural Treats
Natural Dog Treats Australia Guide
Browse our full advice library →
Protein Guide
Why Kangaroo Dog Treats Are Great For Dogs
Lean, single-ingredient, uniquely Australian →
Healthy Treats
What Makes A Dog Treat Healthy?
Browse healthy treat options →
Recognition & Awards
Since launching in 2022, Bark with Buster has received recognition through Australian and international industry awards for product quality, innovation, customer trust and community impact. While we are proud of the awards, we are even prouder of the thousands of dogs and dog owners who continue to support our journey.
- 🏆Best Premium Dog Treat Brand 2026 Australia — LUXlife Pet Products & Services Awards
- 🏆Best Natural Dog Treat Company 2025 Victoria
- 🏆Best Dog Treat Business 2025
- 🏆Best for Nutritional Dog Treats 2024
These awards support the story. The story is what we are most proud of. View our full Awards & Recognition page.
Bark with Buster By The Numbers
Behind every number is a real dog, a real customer and a real story. These milestones reflect years of hands on dog care, community support and a commitment to creating treats we would proudly give to our own dogs.
🏆
13
Industry Awards
🐕
1000s
Dogs Served
⭐
100+
Five Star Reviews
100%
Australian Made & Owned
🐾
10+
Years Hands-On Experience
🌏
Australia-Wide
Customers Across Australia
“Bark with Buster was never just about dog treats. It was built from years of experiences, relationships and lessons shared with dogs who changed our lives forever. Every treat we create carries a little piece of those journeys with it.”
— Jeannene & Reza, Bark with Buster
Shop Natural Dog TreatsMore From Bark with Buster
Explore Our Natural Dog Treat Range
Discover premium Australian made natural dog treats created by real dog lovers with years of hands-on experience.