Meet Yogi & Coco: The Dog Ambassadors Who Inspired Roots for Tails
- Natalia Wood
- Sep 23
- 4 min read
Every great idea starts with a story — and ours begins with two very special dogs: Yogi and Coco- our Dog Ambassador is. They’re more than just our beloved companions; they’re the heart and soul of Roots for Tails. It was their unique needs, quirks, and challenges that sparked our journey to create Ayurvedic, natural pet care products that truly make a difference.
Here’s a peek into their worlds and how they helped shape our brand.
Yogi – The Spirited Toy Poodle with the Challenging Coat
Yogi is Natalia’s two-year-old red toy poodle — a bundle of energy wrapped in soft curls. He’s hyperactive, endlessly curious, and full of love. One minute he’s racing around the house with lightning speed, the next he’s curled up in Natalia’s lap, ready for a cuddle marathon.
Yogi has one rather unusual obsession: tiny stones. Whether on a walk or in the garden, he will happily hunt for little pebbles, as if they’re his greatest treasures. It’s part of his charming, slightly mischievous personality that keeps everyone entertained.
But as any poodle parent knows, Yogi’s beautiful curly coat is as demanding as it is adorable.
Poodle fur tends to tangle easily, requiring regular brushing.
Mats form quickly, especially around his ears, legs, and chest.
Regular grooming appointments are essential, but they can be stressful and expensive.
Finding gentle, effective products to keep Yogi’s coat soft, tangle-free, and healthy has been a journey of trial and error. Many commercial products were either too harsh on his sensitive skin or didn’t deliver lasting results.
This challenge became one of the driving forces behind our Roots for Tails Ayurvedic Detangling Spray, created to make grooming easier and more comfortable — for both dogs and their humans.
“I wanted something natural and safe for Yogi, but also truly effective. His coat inspired me to create a solution that other dog parents like me could trust.”
— Natalia, Co-Founder
Coco – The Protective, Tick-Prone Water Lover
Coco is Karuna’s five-year-old brown Appenzeller Sennenhund, a Swiss breed known for intelligence, loyalty, and a strong protective instinct.
She is incredibly smart and always on alert, making her the guardian of the family. Coco has a calm, grounded presence at home but is also full of playful energy outdoors — especially when there’s water nearby.
If Coco had her way, she’d swim every single day. Whether it’s a lake, river, or even a kiddie pool, water brings her pure joy.
But Coco has one ongoing struggle that has deeply impacted Karuna as a dog mom: ticks. Living in Switzerland, ticks are a common threat, especially for active dogs like Coco who love to explore forests and fields.
Coco’s thick coat makes it easy for ticks to hide.
She seemed to attract them more than other dogs, no matter how careful Karuna was.
Conventional tick prevention products often came with harsh chemicals or side effects that didn’t sit right with Karuna’s holistic values.
Coco’s battle with ticks led us to develop the Roots for Tails Tick & Flea Protection Line — gentle yet powerful formulations using Ayurvedic botanicals like neem, clove, and cinnamon, carefully balanced for safety and effectiveness.
“Coco’s struggles pushed me to find a natural solution that truly works, without compromising her health. I wanted to protect her in the same way she protects us.”
— Karuna, Co-Founder
From Two Dogs to a Bigger Mission
Yogi and Coco may be very different, a lively little poodle and a wise, water-loving mountain dog, but together, they represent the heart of what Roots for Tails stands for:
Yogi’s delicate, high-maintenance coat inspired us to create grooming products that nurture skin and fur gently yet effectively.
Coco’s ongoing fight with ticks motivated us to craft safe, plant-based protection that gives dog parents peace of mind.
Every product we make is rooted in real-life challenges faced by dogs we love deeply. Our goal is to help other pet parents care for their four-legged companions with natural, Ayurvedic solutions that bring out the best in every dog — healthy, happy, and comfortable.
Why We Chose the Name Roots for Tails
Our name reflects both our philosophy and our formulations:
Roots – symbolizing nature, Ayurveda- a 5000-year-old Indian Holistic approach, and the literal roots we use in our products, such as Ashwagandha and other powerful botanicals. Roots also represent our belief in caring for dogs at the foundation, supporting their health and wellbeing from the inside out.
Tails – celebrating the dogs we love and the happiness they bring to our lives, those joyful, wagging tails that inspire us every day.
Together, Roots for Tails expresses the harmony between natural plant wisdom and the unconditional love we share with our pets. It’s a promise to create products that are deeply connected to nature and thoughtfully designed for the dogs who mean everything to us.
Closing Thoughts
Whenever you see our products, remember that behind every bottle is a story of love and dedication. Yogi and Coco continue to be our daily reminders of why we started this journey.
Because for us, it’s not just about making grooming or tick protection easier — it’s about giving every dog the safe, natural care they deserve, so that they can live their happiest, healthiest lives.
Explore our Roots for Tails range and discover how the love for two very special dogs turned into a mission to care for many more.
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