Unser Weg

This Kruse family photo is taken three years before Patrick is born. Yet these two dogs, Olin and Rexie, are important family members that Patrick experiences from an early age. Dogs continue to be integral family members, instilling in Patrick a deep appreciation of the bonds four-legged friends have in our lives.

Following his wanderlust, Patrick passes his GED at 16, heads for the Caribbean, and crews on a 72-foot ketch, Taormina. From diving on tropical reefs to experiencing communities in turmoil, Patrick gains a broader world perspective. Living before the mast also requires ingenuity, and Patrick takes on mechanical repairs, woodworking and sewing, inspiring Ruffwear’s belief in doing more with less, being creatively resourceful, and building goods to last.

From mountain biking to windsurfing, Patrick’s passions take him outside. On a Green River trip, friends and family introduce him to whitewater kayaking, and Patrick recognizes that fabrics and techniques from other outdoor gear could make for better kayaking equipment. He sees a need and strives to solve it by starting another business: Salamander Paddle Gear.

An abandoned junkyard dog found in downtown LA becomes the inspiration for the Ruffwear logo. Ursula teaches her guardian, Patrick’s friend Lynne, about responsibility, commitment and unconditional love. Ursula’s story is the inspiration for Ruffwear’s belief in partnering with organizations that support effective adoption campaigns.

Working from his garage, Patrick scrambles to keep up with demand for Ruffwear’s bowl. Industry players like Title Nine and Outside magazine feature Ruffwear, and Patrick does everything from designing products to making sales to fulfilling orders. This learning-by-doing approach allows him to scale up the business while continuing to be Ruffwear’s sole employee.

Patrick moves to Bend, Oregon, drawn by the area’s combination of mountains, rivers and desert. It’s an ideal place for an outdoor lifestyle and to grow an outdoor business. Patrick hires his first employees. Continuing its course of business unusual, Ruffwear reinvests its profits to grow sustainably rather than take on debt. This approach provides the freedom to take chances while focusing on passion and purpose.

Committed to the need to protect wild places where dogs and people play, Ruffwear joins The Conservation Alliance, offering an annual contribution and holding special event sales, with all proceeds going to the organization’s mission to protect public lands. The Ruffwear pack also volunteers in The Conservation Alliance’s Backyard Collective, rolling up obsolete fence, removing invasive weeds and performing other restoration work in the field.

Ruffwear partners with Conservation Canines, a nonprofit that rescues hard-to-home dogs and applies their high energy and skills to sniff out scat for scientific research and resource management. The feedback gained from these hardworking dogs drives home valuable insights about designing gear from a dog’s perspective while contributing to preserving our natural resources.

What started as a one-man shop has grown into 38 dedicated pack members who work hard and play hard, together. Ruffwear has twice been named one of Outside magazine’s 100 Best Places to Work, and our products are found in 53 countries. We’re dog-devoted, outdoor-oriented people who love what we do — and it shows.

Working dogs and their human partners have been part of Ruffwear’s heart and soul since the beginning. In 2019, we focused on the needs of working dogs and their handlers by creating the UniFly™ Guide Dog Harness. We learned that having a vision doesn’t mean being able to see with your eyes.

The new year brought new challenges for the Ruffwear Pack. Our growing team came together to respond to supply chain challenges and the shifting pandemic landscape. Our sustainability focus deepened to include achieving 100% renewable electricity for our U.S. operations. Ruffwear was nominated as one of REI’s 2020 Vendor Partners of the Year. And in December, we honored Will Blount, Ruffwear President of 20 years, as he stepped away to pursue his next adventure.

A commitment to reducing impact is woven into the fabric of Ruffwear — we’ve used recycled materials in our packaging from the start and have been removing PFAS for more than a decade. But in 2023, we met some major sustainability goals. 80% of revamped designs in the Fall/Winter 2023 launch reduced impact compared to their previous versions, and we hit our internal deadline to cease all manufacturing with PFAS-containing materials by the year’s end.