Meet Aisha Byrd | CEO and Baker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aisha Byrd and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aisha, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I chose to bake dog treats because it allows me to express my creativity by developing my recipes, designing custom dog cakes and unique treat delicacies, all while ensuring that I provide healthy options for dogs. Dogs are part of the family, and like most pet parents, I want to ensure that I offer a high-quality diet. I enjoy making custom dog cakes and cupcakes because they enable families to come together and create lasting memories with their furry companions. Our custom cakes feature the ability to choose from various cake flavors, frostings, colors, and shapes. We offer small cakes that serve individual dogs, as well as larger cakes that are perfect for parties. I always welcome the challenge of custom cake designs that clients present to me. I have had the pleasure of designing some extraordinary cake themes, including Mermaid, Custom Dog Faces, Winter Wonderland, Superhero, Gender Reveal, and more. What makes my creativity unique is that I use frosting that contains no sugars or high fructose corn syrup, which can make decorating challenging since most frostings contain sugar. As a self-taught baker, I have spent countless hours practicing and mastering different piping techniques, designs, and color blending. My creativity has also led me to write my very first recipe book, “Baking with R&B Dog Bakery,” a natural dog treat recipe book that allows families to spend quality time together while having fun making easy, dog-friendly treats. I look forward to continuing to use my creative skills to build my business with healthy dog treat options.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
R&B Dog Bakery officially opened in January 2018, starting as an e-commerce and home-based business. We began attending various craft fairs, farmers markets, and dog events throughout the DFW area, which allowed us to build our brand. I dedicated countless hours to research and development over the past 18 years to formulate recipes that ensure I provide high-quality and nutritious treats for dogs. The idea for the bakery originated after I purchased Benjamin’s first birthday cake. I was thrilled to celebrate his birthday; however, he became very ill afterward and had to be taken to the vet. We discovered that Benjamin had developed pancreatitis. He had a sensitive stomach and allergies. This prompted me to research how to make dog treats, and most importantly, I wanted to create his 2nd birthday cake. By the time Benjamin turned 2, I was overjoyed to make his birthday cake. As a self-taught baker, it took years of practice to produce the cakes we offer today. Our dog bakery is unique because all of our cakes contain no added sugar, which is quite rare, as most dog cake frostings are made with dextrose (sugar) and maltodextrin, which can lead to diarrhea if consumed in excess. I created a way for dogs and their families to celebrate their pups’ special days while providing a healthy and nutritious option. In August 2021, we opened our very first brick-and-mortar store in Arlington, Texas. Our expansion to a physical location has allowed our clients convenient access to shop for our products, place online orders, and schedule pickups, as well as host seasonal events for the pups to attend. Growing the business has not been an easy task. As a small business owner, I have often been responsible for website development and maintenance, payroll, product design, marketing, networking, and much more. While these tasks require extensive research, reading, and dedication, it has all been worth it to witness my brand’s growth. I am very proud of the brand I have built to date. We are committed to client excellence, high-quality treats, and community involvement. Our goal is to provide our clients with a superior experience by ensuring that orders are promptly fulfilled, maintaining clear communication, and engaging with our clients’ dogs. We aim to offer dogs high-quality nutritional treats, which is why we develop our own recipes and use fresh, natural ingredients. We continue to expand our product line to offer a diverse range of treat flavors and textures. Our latest offerings, which we are particularly excited about, include Pup-Nolis, Turkey Pup-Pie, Fruit & Veggie Topper, and Whitefish Veggie Topper. Community involvement is very important to us; we actively participate by making monetary donations, providing Thanksgiving meals at local shelters, participating in North Texas Giving Day Gift Match, and donating treats and toys to local shelters during Christmas. Some of our favorite dog reascues that we partner with for donations and community events include Recycled Pomeranians and Schipperkes Rescue, The Happy Pet Project, Love & Paws Rescue, DFW Pug Rescue, and Fort Worth Animal Care and Control. Over the years, I have successfully built our brand, which has led to numerous interview opportunities, including features in VoyageDallas Magazine, Shoutout DFW, Biz TV, and ABC Localish. R&B Dog Bakery has expanded over the years to make our treats more accessible to clients. In addition to ordering online and shopping in-store, our treats are available at Pixee Paws Pet Palace, Daisy & Dog Barktique, and online through Walmart. We will continue to build our brand and expand our reach to make it easy for clients to shop with us in the years to come.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Having my best friend in town is always a good time! Our week will be filled with shopping, delicious food, and laughter. Some of my favorite dining spots that I want to show her include Chef Point in Colleyville, Holy Rollie Pastry Shop in Irving, BREWED in Fort Worth, Aladdin’s Café in Crowley, and Lockwood Distillery in Fort Worth, just to name a few. I would also book a tour at the Trinity Distillery, where we can explore the rich history and sample some of their fine spirits. Since we will be so close to Magnolia Street, we could visit Gus’s Fried Chicken for dinner. Additionally, we must check out some farmers’ markets on Saturday and Sunday, as we both love supporting local small businesses. Another stop on our agenda will be Worldsprings in The Colony for a day of fun and relaxation. Spending time with my best friend is always enjoyable, especially since we live in different states. Whether we are relaxing at my home or exploring the city, it will always be a delightful time filled with laughter.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to shoutout and recognize my mom, Camille Golden. She has supported me tremendously throughout my life, especially in my business. I recall the very first event we attended together in 2018; she was so excited to talk to clients about the quality of our products. My mother plays various roles in the bakery, including baking, marketing, and working at numerous events throughout the DFW area. I would say her favorite role is marketing because she genuinely enjoys engaging with people and asking about their dogs. My mom has a remarkable personality that allows her to easily connect with others. She strikes up conversations in places like the doctor’s office, dental office, grocery store, and restaurants about the dog bakery, particularly our custom cakes. She also loves attending various events, where you can find her handing out treats to dogs and recommending products for them. As a part-time baker, she ensures that we maintain an adequate supply of treats and prepares for our larger orders. My mom and grandmother greatly influenced me from an early age, teaching me how to cook and bake. I spent a significant amount of time learning to make homemade dough, various recipes, and how to incorporate herbs and vegetables into meals. Although I applied these skills in a different business context, they provided me with a solid foundation in baking, measuring, and cooking. I am truly grateful for all the love, support, and time that my mom contributes to R&B Dog Bakery.

Website: https://www.rbdogbakery.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rbdogbakery

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rbdogbakery

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/r-and-b-dog-bakery-arlington

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@rbdogbakery9076