North Hound Life
Huntsville's North Hound Life sees growing demand for dog supplements
As more pet owners seek holistic approaches to animal care, one Northern Ontario business is leading the charge with clean-label products that support dogs at every life stage.
Source: Jeff Turl, Baytoday.ca
In the heart of Huntsville, a successful women-led company is transforming canine wellness with natural, research-backed supplements made from simple Canadian ingredients.
Grazyna Szawlowski is the owner of North Hound Life, which aims to give dogs access to the same level of quality, natural wellness that health-conscious humans enjoy.
"We produce natural supplements for dogs, and what makes it special is that we really focus on Canadian ingredients, simple ingredients, and there are no additives or fillers in our products," she told BayToday while at her booth at the Royal Winter Agricultural Fair in Toronto.
"They're all scientifically based in research to show that they improve dogs' health conditions, as sometimes we have simple solutions to complicated health problems."
Before launching North Hound Life, Szawlowski had already built a successful organic dog treat business and spent years immersed in the natural health space. Raised in a family that valued proactive care, she grew up surrounded by holistic remedies, functional nutrition, and the belief that prevention is the best form of care, according to her website.
She has a family history in the field, and that has helped guide the direction of North Hound Life.
"My grandfather was a veterinarian, and my mom had a health food store, so between the two of them, they kind of instilled this idea that sometimes there are great natural health solutions that can help."
As well, the company likes to support "pet parents" in their health journey with their dogs as demand for this kind of product increases. When she looked at the pet wellness market, she saw a critical gap. Premium dog food options were increasing, but there was still a lack of natural, whole-food supplements that could support long-term health in a clean, simple, and effective way.
"We find that a lot of pet parents now are taking their dog's health journey into their own hands. They work with their veterinarians, and they really want to make great health choices for their dogs by adding, like, a natural supplement to their dog's bowl."
Every formula is created with care, backed by science, and made with functional ingredients chosen for their proven health benefits, from organic Canadian Atlantic kelp to Canadian goat milk to New Zealand green-lipped mussels.
From her display at last year's Northern Ontario Pavilion, she had existing customers come by explaining how much the products have changed their dogs, how they are adding a certain product in, and their pet is able to run a little bit further and a little bit faster, or their seasonal allergies have cleared up. just by using a simple natural health solution.
Don't be confused by the name Hound Life; the product is all dogs, all life stages, and all sizes.
"I think we wanted something that people would be able to remember since we're in the north as well. So we have North Hound life."
Szawlowski is proud to say her company is woman-based, "So it's only women, in that we want to support women in business. I think it's important, and I think, being in our area of northern Ontario, like Muskoka, I think we just need to support women who are interested in business."
And she feels that with the Northern Ontario Pavilion, funded by FEDNOR, she is getting the support she needs.
"We really are, yeah, we really are."
Half of the business is e-commerce, so you can buy the products online, and they ship all over the world.
"What sets North Hound Life apart is not just what’s in the jar, it’s the integrity behind it. Every product is made with the same standards Grazyna demands for her own dog. Her mission is simple: to empower pet parents with natural, effective tools for lifelong canine wellness, and to build a community that believes, as she does, that real food can change lives, one scoop at a time."
The 2025 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair starts tomorrow (Friday) in Toronto and runs until November 16.
