Our Story

At SLEASH, the founders set out to create The World’s 1st Complete Dog Outing System. Those involved… Just a couple of regular guys—one a creative type, and the other an ex-junior rocket scientist—both looking for a fun problem to solve that would help many people—and their pets—more fully enjoy experiences with one another.

So the founders of SLEASH LLC started dreaming up ideas, and after a lot of hard work, grit, trial, and error (many in fact), ultimately released the patent pending SLEASH product line…one based on simplicity, interchangeability, and elegance…to market in May 2011.

SLEASH is honored to participate in something as special as time spent between owner and pet, and will continue to work tirelessly to develop new products that further enhance the owner/pet relationship and experience.

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The SLEASH Story (so far)…

Chapter 1: An Idea Is Born

Everyone should have the pleasure of inventing something in their lifetime. It is good for the soul and takes one back to being a kid again (ever heard of the book: “Everything I needed to know in life I learned in Kindergarten”?). So, like a couple of mad scientists, the founders of SLEASH set out to build a better dog toy slinging device, and then combine that with all the other things they used while out with their dogs to make the system. Using a variety of items one would find in/around their home – broom handles, ice scrapers, wood, foam, plumbing fixtures, metal bars, fence posts, etc. – the founders explored many (and often strange) avenues. And after a lot of tries…and more often errors (some of which were downright hilarious)…the founders developed a mechanism that would actually sling a disc toy HANDS FREE. An idea had been born, and the founders knew they were on to something! (skipping ahead a bit)

Chapter 5: The SLEASH System (and Company) Starts to Come Together

After much patience—and countless additional design iterations—the founders closed in on pulling the entire of the SLEASH System together. The system was crude – held together in some places with glue, duct tape (which really does fix everything), and thread – but it worked, and it held a great deal of promise. With advanced prototypes in hand, it was time to form a company, get accounts set up, and apply for patent protection. Three applications were filed in all – something not for the faint of heart, but a worthy accomplishment nevertheless. But how many good ideas get dreamt up that never make it to market?? Would SLEASH be one of these??? Although it seemed that much had already been done (and it had), the product development lifecycle had actually just begun…

Chapter 8: Working Through the Challenges

Developing a product, and then taking it to market, is much like raising a child. A child is born, and for a few brief hours (very brief) one thinks it might actually get easier. But reality sets in, and one quickly realizes the adventure is just beginning. Now our intent is not to scare any would be parents or parents of toddlers but it does not get easier. A very wise older woman advised one of the partners and his wife: “oh darling, never wish your child will grow out of this phase or that, enjoy them in each phase as the next phase brings a whole new set of challenges that you have not even thought of yet” as she sat there with a big grin on her face. Readying SLEASH for market release was similar in many respects; and reflecting back now – the founders often laugh at what was then thought difficult, but is now considered trivial. The challenges…and questions…just keep coming – Can this really be done? Do we have enough money? What should we do next? Who would know????? All the founders could do was to keep working, and turning the page…

Chapter 16: Taking Next Steps

After working through patent applications (and virtually thousands of other things), the SLEASH founders rendered products in CAD and began working with various companies to transform working prototypes into producible parts. The founders also found investors who shared the same confidence and zeal in SLEASH. But the reality was, only more questions… What about packaging? How should the web site work? What should the products be named? Etc. Sure there was doubt, but the confidence shown through, next steps were taken, and market release came more and more into reach…

Chapter 22: Market Debut

SLEASH’s debut of The World’s 1st Complete Dog Outing System occurred on May 7th, 2011 at a wonderful fundraising event for the Denver humane society called “Furry Scurry”. The SLEASH founders barely made it to this self-imposed finish line, but made it they did, and discovered the excitement around SLEASH products was in fact real!! SLEASH was well received at the event, and SLEASH LLC’s first sales ever were logged on May 7th.

As of this writing (still May of 2011), SLEASH is actively working to move into small pet stores in several states. Online, SLEASH is tracking progress, and finding that more interest is building every day. So, if you’re interested in seeing SLEASH products in a store near you…or you’re a store owner yourself…send us an email. We’ll get back to you as soon as we can. And be sure to check back often, as future chapters have yet to be written.

SLEASH…. The Seriously Snap-able, Sling-able, Schlep-able Dog Outing System!!