Salty Dogs Barkery: How a Coastal Couple Turned a Pandemic Problem into a Pawsitively Successful Business
On the windswept shores of Lockeport, Nova Scotia, where sea salt perfumes the air and the rhythm of the tides guides daily life, Derek and Natasha Amalfa have built something both whimsical and wonderfully successful: a bakery for dogs. But don’t be fooled by the pun—Salty Dogs Barkery is as much about entrepreneurship and community as it is about hand-crafted, seaweed-infused dog treats.
Launched in October 2021, the Barkery began not as a grand business plan but as a humble solution to a very specific problem. “We had just gotten a puppy during the pandemic,” Derek recalls. “Living in rural Nova Scotia, we didn’t have access to a pet store nearby—Liverpool and Barrington were both 45 minutes away. We needed good, natural training treats, and couldn’t find anything local.”
So, the couple did what small-town living often requires: they figured it out themselves. Drawing on years of dog ownership and Natasha’s upbringing on Brier Island, they turned to a familiar but unexpected local ingredient. “Our dogs have always been obsessed with the seaweed on Crescent Beach,” says Derek. “They would play with it, toss it around. It felt like they were saying, ‘Hey, this is the ingredient we want.’”
After some experimentation in their home kitchen, they developed a treat recipe that their dogs loved. Then they began sharing them with friends. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and soon they were setting up a booth at the local Shelburne Farmers' Market. That, Derek says, was the turning point: “Stores started approaching us. That’s when we realized we had a business.”
From Seaweed to Shelf
Today, Salty Dogs Barkery’s treats are sold not only in Lockeport, but in pet stores across Nova Scotia—and even nationwide through their online shop. The seaweed remains a staple ingredient, bringing a distinctive coastal flair to their offerings.
Though they have offered as many as 25 different varieties of treats, they are in the process of streamlining production. “We’re pivoting a little to focus on our core treats,” says Derek. “We realized we were stretching ourselves too thin trying to offer everything to everyone.”
Scaling up has its challenges when you’re a three-person team. Derek bakes, Natasha handles packaging and marketing, and their youngest daughter Victoria, 16, is right in the mix. “She’s been involved since day one,” Derek says proudly. “She helps out in the shop, at trade shows, and she’s our head housekeeper for the Lockeport Inn next door. She even sold a tick collar to her friend’s mom at the dinner table!”
The couple’s older daughter, Haley, supports from afar while attending university, but Derek and Natasha are clear-eyed about their hopes: “We created something with our kids in mind. If Victoria wants to stay close to home after high school, we want this to be an option.”
Growing With Community Support
Lockeport has embraced the Barkery as its own. “We were doing the Shelburne market, and locals would say, ‘Why are you there? You’re a Lockporter!’” Derek laughs. “The community has claimed us, and it feels amazing.”
Their shop has become a gathering place for local dog lovers, a place where shy pups get socialized and pet parents seek advice. “We’re not experts, but we’ve spent a lot of time learning about dogs,” Derek says. “We love helping people find what works for them.”
As the Barkery’s reach grew, so did its needs. That’s when CBDC Shelburne stepped in. Natasha was enrolled in their Self-Employment Benefits Program when they launched, and later the couple received a loan for a commercial oven and other production equipment.
“CBDC helped us go from a home-based business to a ‘real’ business,” Derek says. “When no bank would give us a chance, Heidi and the CBDC team listened, believed in us, and gave us the support we needed.”
A line of credit from CBDC also allowed them to fulfill a large wholesale order they wouldn’t otherwise have been able to manage. But for Derek, the impact goes beyond money. “It’s not just the funding—it’s the mentorship. Heidi’s like a motherly figure, reminding us we’ve got this, even when things feel hard.”
When a Bestseller’s Dog Is Your Best Customer
For Derek, one milestone in particular stands out. “There’s this best-selling author, Rodney Habib—he owns Planet Paws in Halifax. He’s huge in the dog world. We gave him some of our treats, and he said, ‘If my picky dog likes them, you’re in.’ Well, she did. And now, our Shoobie Snacks are her favorite.”
He beams. “That dog on the cover of a globally best-selling book eats our treats. That was our proudest moment.”
Looking Forward
The future of Salty Dogs Barkery is bright—and evolving. With talks underway to supply a larger chain of stores, the Barkery is poised for its biggest leap yet. “It’s kind of full circle,” says Derek. “We started because we didn’t have a pet store nearby. Now we might be on the shelves of some of the biggest ones.”
Even so, the couple remains grounded. “We didn’t start this to be millionaires. We wanted a balanced lifestyle, something that worked with Natasha’s health, something that gave us freedom,” Derek explains. “If I could go back, I’d tell my younger self: Don’t say yes to every opportunity. Be strategic.”
As for the name? That, too, came from a place of love. “When our dogs came back from the beach all salty and sandy, Natasha would hug them and say, ‘Oh, my salty dogs,’” Derek says with a smile. “The Barkery part? Well, it’s a bakery for dogs. What else would you call it?”