Our Story
Two guys, three dogs, and a little dream to make a difference.
Hello! We're Martin and Richard, the two Yorkshire lads behind Aurora Paws.
Our story began in 2021 with a shared love of animals, a passion for the natural world, and a simple question: surely there must be a better way to make dog toys?
Like so many dog owners, our dogs are our family.
They're our companions, our inspiration and, quite often, the reason we find ourselves covered in muddy paw prints!
But we were becoming increasingly conscious of just how much plastic and synthetic material goes into everyday pet products, many of which eventually end up in landfill.
We knew we couldn't change the world overnight, but we thought perhaps we could make a small difference. And so, Aurora Paws was born.
What started as a little idea around our kitchen table has grown into something we could never have imagined.
Today, we design our own collection of characterful dog toys, inspired by wildlife, nature and the animals we love.
From the first pencil sketch to the finished product, every design has a little piece of us in it.
Our toys are made using thoughtfully selected materials such as natural suede, jute, cotton and hemp, offering an alternative to many conventional synthetic dog toys.
Each character has its own personality, often a rather ridiculous name, and a story to tell.
Because while we're serious about making more responsible choices, we don't believe life should ever be too serious!
But Aurora Paws has always been about more than simply selling dog toys.
It's about proving that even the smallest businesses can do things differently.
Whether that's reusing packaging, breathing new life into vintage furniture for our displays, supporting independent businesses or continually looking for ways to reduce our environmental impact, we're trying to make better choices wherever we can.
In 2026, we were incredibly proud to receive the Agria Sustainable Exhibitor Award and Best Small Trade Stand at Crufts, followed by Best Stand at Goodwoof.
To receive that recognition as just two ordinary Yorkshire lads with a big dream was something we'll never forget.
Of course, none of this would have been possible without our wonderful dogs. Lawson, Darcey and Brianna have been at the heart of our journey, providing endless inspiration, unconditional love and some very enthusiastic product testing.
We sadly said goodbye to our beautiful boy Lawson in 2026, but he'll always remain part of the Aurora Paws story. After all, this little business was built with love for dogs like him.
We're still a tiny team. We still pack orders ourselves, answer your messages, design our toys, travel the country to events and occasionally wonder how on earth we're going to fit everything into the van!
But we wouldn't have it any other way.
When you choose Aurora Paws, you're not supporting a faceless corporation. You're supporting two people who genuinely care about what they create, the animals who enjoy their products and the world we're all lucky enough to share.
We don't pretend to be perfect. We're learning, growing and trying to do a little better every day.
And if our journey proves anything, we hope it's that you don't have to be big to make a difference. You just have to care enough to try.
From our little family to yours, thank you for being part of our story. It genuinely means the world to us.
With love,
Martin & Richard
And the paws behind it all — Lawson, Darcey & Brianna. 🐾
