Anyone who has a dog knows the truth. They do not simply live in the house. Before long, they pretty much run it.
They get the best seat on the sofa, know exactly when dinner should be served and somehow manage to cover freshly washed clothes in dog hair within minutes. And most dog owners would not change a thing.
That slightly chaotic but very loving side of dog ownership is at the heart of The Ringo Pack.
Run by Haydn, The Ringo Pack is an independent UK dog lover brand inspired by the funny, messy and meaningful moments that come with sharing life with a dog.
The business sells clothing, mugs, personalised gifts, home products, accessories and practical items for dogs. But the story behind it all starts with one particular four legged character called Ringo.
Here are three reasons The Ringo Pack is worth knowing about.
1. It was inspired by a real dog with a very big personality
There is a proper story behind The Ringo Pack, and that makes a difference.
Ringo is Haydn’s Jackapoo and the dog who inspired the whole idea. Like many dogs, he apparently arrived in the family and wasted very little time working out who was really in charge.
He steals the best seats, supervises what everyone else is doing and turns fairly ordinary moments into funny ones. In other words, he sounds familiar to anyone currently reading this while their dog occupies three quarters of the sofa.
But there is a more personal side to the story too.
Ringo helped inspire the brand because of the simple companionship dogs provide. They are there on the good days and the bad ones. They do not care whether everything has gone perfectly. Usually, they are just pleased somebody has come home.
That feeling comes through in the products sold by The Ringo Pack.
The designs are based on things dog owners actually recognise rather than generic pictures of paws stuck onto random products. Some are funny, some are sentimental and others can be personalised using a photograph or name.
There are designs such as the Dog Glitter range and the I Don’t Just Bark collection, alongside more heartfelt products built around the relationship people have with their pets.
It gives the brand its own personality. And although Ringo is apparently not trusted to physically pack orders, mainly because paws and parcel tape are not the greatest combination, his influence is pretty clear.
2. There is plenty of choice for dog lovers and gift buyers
One of the useful things about The Ringo Pack is the range.
There are products for people who want something funny, something personal or simply something practical for their dog.
The personalised collection is particularly suited to gifts. Customers can turn a favourite dog photo into items including hoodies, pillows, keyrings and canvas prints.
A personalised Dog Mum hoodie, for example, can include a dog’s photograph and name. There are also personalised sweatshirts for Dog Aunties and custom keyrings for anyone who wants something smaller.
For the home, customers can order personalised pet photo canvases or pillows featuring their dog. These are the sort of gifts that feel much more personal than picking something generic from a shelf.
There are also memorial products available. The personalised When You Miss Me Dog Memorial Pillow gives owners a way to remember a dog using their photograph, name and dates.
Alongside the personalised items, The Ringo Pack has plenty of lighter options.
There are T shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, tote bags, mugs and travel mugs featuring dog themed designs. There are also Dog Mum, Dog Dad, Dog Nan, Dog Grandad, Dog Sister and Dog Brother keyrings, which could make simple little gifts without spending a fortune.
And it is not only about products for humans.
The wider range includes dog beds, harnesses and personalised retractable leads. The Balmoral Luxury Herringbone Bolster Dog Bed is one example, while owners looking for walking equipment can find items such as a no pull harness.
That mixture makes The Ringo Pack useful whether someone is buying a birthday present for a dog obsessed friend, treating themselves or shopping for the actual dog who caused all this spending in the first place.
3. The products understand what being a dog owner is actually like
Dog ownership can be lovely. It can also involve muddy footprints, barking at absolutely nothing and finding dog hair in places where dog hair should not logically be able to reach.
The Ringo Pack does not pretend otherwise.
A lot of its appeal comes from celebrating the slightly ridiculous reality of living with dogs.
The business is not built around one particular breed either. The whole idea is that big dogs, small dogs, fluffy dogs and scruffy dogs are all part of the same slightly chaotic club.
Some owners will prefer the funny products. Others will naturally be drawn towards the personalised items.
There are also designs with a more emotional message. The I Thought I Rescued My Dog range reflects something many rescue dog owners understand, the feeling that bringing a dog home can end up changing the owner’s life just as much as the dog’s.
Customers can find that design on products including T shirts, hoodies and phone cases.
Many products from The Ringo Pack are made to order through selected UK and international production and fulfilment partners. Rather than keeping huge quantities of every product sitting in storage, those items are produced for individual orders.
The business also works with selected independent brands and suppliers on additional dog products that fit with the rest of the shop.
It means the range can cover more than clothing and novelty gifts while still keeping the focus firmly on dogs and the people who love them.
And that really sums up The Ringo Pack.
It is a business built around the idea that dogs are rarely just pets. They become part of daily life, family routines and some of the best memories people have.
For anyone who already plans their weekend around dog walks, has conversations with their dog as though a reply might eventually arrive, or accepts that clean black clothing is now a distant memory, there is a good chance something in the range will feel very familiar.
You can browse the full collection through the The Ringo Pack website or follow The Ringo Pack on Facebook to keep up with the brand.