Walking a dog is often so much more than just a walk in the park—between all the distractions and smells and excitement, many pet parents have a tough time keeping their pet’s attention. Add two, three or more dogs to the mix at once, and it’s easy to see how staying on-track, hydrated and happy with even the best-behaved dogs can be very difficult.
That’s what inspired Kerry Cook to create the innovative dog walking solution she called Spleash®. Here’s the story behind this fascinating new dog-walking gadget.
Kerry and her daughter, Katherine, came up with the idea for Spleash out of necessity. The family had rescued three new pups in quick succession, and the mother-daughter team found that their pack of pooches—at one time as many as five dogs walking simultaneously—was having a tough time sticking together out on the trail.
To make matters more difficult, there was the problem of keeping them all hydrated—especially one Lab-Weimaraner mix with thick black fur who got mighty thirsty in the Southern California sun. Holding back the other pups while setting up a water bowl or carrying a bottle to hydrate the pups just wasn’t feasible. They needed a leash that could wrangle all the dogs when in motion, while also handling hydration for the dogs whenever they needed it.
So, Kerry did what any enterprising dog mom would do—she attached a squirt gun to her dogs’ leash. With that, Spleash was born.
Kerry and Katherine quickly saw the potential for their hydration leash prototype. Almost immediately they experienced how effective it was for keeping everyone in her pack hydrated. Most of all, it added a fun new feature that made daily walks even more enjoyable.
The duo started working through ideas, eventually landing on a design that provides pups with a spray nozzle and built-in drinking bowl that can be filled easily in seconds. No heavy water bottle and separate bowl to carry along. Spleash also features a patented leash attachment design that connects with standard size nylon leashes—so pet parents spend less time hooking their pups up and more time outside enjoying a walk.
Kerry's relationship with dogs goes beyond just being a devoted dog mom. Having grown up as the youngest of five children in a military family that moved constantly, she found solace and a sense of belonging in the unconditional love offered by dogs. She understood how that connection with our pets can offer comfort to people who experience trauma, as well as mental or physical health challenges.
It’s why Kerry and Katherine decided to support Pet Partners, a leading therapy animal organization who provides animal-assisted interactions to veterans with PTSD, seniors living with Alzheimer’s, patients in recovery, victims in court and children with disabilities (to name a few). Spleash also created an opportunity to give back to programs that train dogs to comfort and protect victims of domestic violence.
Want to try Spleash for yourself? Nationwide pet insurance members save 15% on your first order with code NW1523 at spleash.com.