Our Family

I’m Lauren, the proud mum behind the brand, and let me introduce you to our little crew: my wonderful husband, Ryan, our spirited daughter Evelyn (who’s basically our human puppy!), Poppy (our sweet, retired 17-year-old chihuahua who spends most of her days lounging), and of course, the star of the show, Riva. Riva’s our cheeky, ever-enthusiastic Cavapoo—she’s not only the face of our family business, but also our Chief Executive Pup (CEP) and full-time product tester. We also have a new addition coming in November, Willow—a Toy Blue Merle Cavapoo who’ll be jumping straight into the quality control department.

We’re a big, busy, chaotic, and loving family, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

I think it’s fair to say that 2024 has been a year of unexpected turns for us. Back in September, I found myself in a position I wasn’t ready for. Due to some contract changes at my job, I lost a role I had been in for years. It hit me hard—not just because of the job itself, but because of what it meant for me as a mum. I had always juggled work, life, and family—trying to make it all fit together. But this change made me question everything. Suddenly, I was at a loss, feeling like the pieces of my life had been scattered in ways I couldn’t control.

For weeks, I felt like I was in a fog, unsure of what my next step should be. I’d always been passionate about dog health and wellbeing, especially after seeing how much joy and comfort our pups bring to our family. I’ve spent years learning about dog care, from nutrition to grooming to finding the right products that support their health. But turning that passion into a full-time career? That felt like a leap I wasn’t sure I could make.

But sometimes, when you feel like you’re at your lowest, that’s when the lightbulb moment hits. After some soul-searching (and lots of chats with Ryan, who has always believed in me), I realized that my passion for dogs and my drive to create a better life for our family could become something beautiful. So, here we are—Riva’s Pups was born out of a desire to not only help our own pups live their best lives, but to share that with other dog-loving families too.

It’s more than just a business. It’s my heart, my dream, and my chance to create something for my family. Every product we offer has been tested and approved by Riva (our CEP), and we’ve made sure that everything we sell is made with the love and care that we would want for our own pups. We’re not just here to sell products—we’re here to share a piece of our family with you. We want every dog to feel as loved, spoiled, and cared for as our own little furballs do.

And now, with Willow joining us soon, we’re more excited than ever to keep growing, keep learning, and keep making the world a better place for our pups (and yours).

Thank you for visiting Riva’s Pups, and for being a part of our journey. From our family to yours, we’re so happy to have you along for the ride!

With love,
Lauren (and Riva, our CEP 🐾)