I’ve always been a little different. At 26, while most of my friends were focused on building their careers, I’ve been focused on building something bigger than me — something I could be proud of, something that would make a difference and outlast me.
I’ve had the entrepreneurial drive for as long as I can remember. I started out with paper routes as a kid, moved on to odd jobs, side hustles, and eventually bigger ventures. I’ve tried pressure washing, dropshipping, and other small businesses, each one teaching me something about people, persistence, and how to turn ideas into action. Eventually, I built and ran my own refrigeration company in Canberra for a couple of years, which gave me not just business experience but also a deep technical understanding of refrigeration and HVAC systems.
Then life threw me a challenge only a handful of people with my trade could solve. When I moved from Canberra’s freezing winters to Queensland’s relentless heat, I saw the impact the climate had on my two dogs — Pepper, my Rottweiler, thrived, but Teddy, my Tibetan Mastiff, really struggled. Shaving his coat wasn’t an option, and there was nothing on the market that could give him the comfort and protection he needed.
So I did what I do best: I designed a solution. With nearly a decade of refrigeration experience, I set out to create something that didn’t exist — a climate-controlled, insulated, reverse-cycle kennel that could keep dogs comfortable year-round, even in extreme Aussie heat.
What started as a sketch and a rough prototype in my garage became an obsession. I refined every detail — making it more efficient, lighter, better looking, and easier to manufacture. That obsession became K9CRIBS.
K9CRIBS isn’t just a product; it’s the result of years of experimentation, business lessons, and technical skill all coming together. It’s my way of raising the bar for how we care for dogs — giving them the same level of comfort we expect for ourselves.
K9CRIBS — A little luxury for the ones who love you unconditionally.
— Ben Hogan, Founder & Designer
