From picky eater to ‘Good Boy’: Oahu canine inspires local gourmet dog food line

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – When owners Kenyon Sparks and Forrest Franzose first adopted Oscar, a three-year-old Goldendoodle, they found it nearly impossible to find dog food she would eat.

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“We went through all these different kibble brands, and eventually we kind of landed on fresh home-cooked food being the thing for her,” Sparks said.

But cooking at home presented its own challenges. The couple quickly realized how difficult it was to source locally made fresh foods in Hawaii, with most national fresh brands manufactured on the mainland and refusing to ship to the islands.

Faced with a picky pup and limited local options, Sparks and Franzose decided to take matters into their own hands. They began experimenting with different recipes in their kitchen, hoping to find a blend that would meet Oscar’s strict standards.

Once they discovered the perfect mix, they knew they couldn’t keep it to themselves. Driven by their own frustrating search for quality pet food, the couple officially launched “Good Boy Food for Dogs,” a fresh, human-grade dog food brand made right on Oʻahu.

Growing their business in Wahiawa

As demand grew, the dads moved operations from their home kitchen into a commercial kitchen in Wahiawa. There, they prep, cook, package, and store their gourmet canine meals.

Using high-quality, local ingredients is a core part of the business.

“We like to use as many local ingredients as we can find,” said Franzose. “So for our meat, we use all local beef heart, local beef liver. We also use local ahi in our surf and turf, and we use as many local veggies as we can find as well.”

To ensure the food is as healthy as it is delicious, every recipe is developed in collaboration with a veterinary nutritionist, guaranteeing perfectly balanced nutrition for dogs of all sizes.

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Currently, Good Boy offers three distinct flavor combinations:

In a nod to their founding inspiration, each package features a picture of Oscar at the bottom.

Island-wide delivery and overwhelming response

For Oahu dog owners looking to spoil their furry companions, Good Boy makes it easy. The company offers delivery to practically every neighborhood on the island.

Since launching, the feedback from local pet parents has been nothing short of overwhelming.

“The thing that we love the most is how many photos and videos we get when people try the food for the first time,” Franzose said. “They say things like, ‘Oh, my dog is so picky, I can never get them to eat but the first time we gave them a spoon of your food, they just ate the whole bowl.’ It’s really, really amazing.”

What started as a desperate attempt to feed a stubborn Goldendoodle has blossomed into a thriving local business dedicated to keeping Hawaiʻi’s dogs healthy and happy.

Good Boy will make its debut at the Made in Hawaii Festival this weekend, running through Sunday at booth 2217. To learn more or to order a meal plan, dog owners can visit Good Boy’s website or Instagram account.

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