Why Hurtta?
Many dog owners around the world know and are loyal to the Hurtta brand. But for those who don’t, we thought we would share our answers to some of the more common questions that we have received over the years.
Who or what is Hurtta?
Hurtta is the Finnish word for hound, or more specifically, a lovable mutt. Hurtta, the company, also quite lovable, is a dog-loving, adventure-ready, planet-friendly Nordic brand that makes high-quality, well-fitting, weatherproof dog apparel and gear right here in beautiful Finland. The very first products we made way back in 1997 were collars and leashes. But today we make everything that dogs need to play, explore, train, and work in every kind of weather. If you know anything about wintertime in Finland, you will understand why weatherproof apparel is a big deal to us. Fit is equally important to us. It’s why every Hurtta product is carefully designed to provide a comfy fit for dogs of all breeds, shapes, and sizes.
As a company, we strive to be a force for good in the world and that includes being an environmentally conscious manufacturer. We take pride in making dog apparel and gear that is built to last. We also work hard to lessen the impact that our products will leave on our planet. We are so dedicated to sustainable manufacturing that Hurtta was recently chosen to be part of a circular design training programme funded by the Ministry of the Environment of Finland and coordinated by Design Forum Finland and Ethica Ltd. The ultimate goal being for Hurtta to become a circular company that leads by its values and principles.
We also strive to foster online and offline dog-loving communities – as in our Hurtta family, which includes our loyal customers, and our Hurtta Ambassadors and Adventurers who test our products and influence online dialogue – through awareness, conversation, engagement, and strategic partnerships with like-minded organisations that share our love of dogs and concern for the planet.
Do the people behind Hurtta really care about dogs?
Most definitely. We created Hurtta because, like you, we wanted the very best for our dogs. In fact, our love of dogs informs everything we do. We’ve grown quite a bit over the years but we were dog lovers first and that love has only grown. And our growth as a company is a reflection of how much you love your dogs. It inspires us to improve our products, our services, our manufacturing processes, our packaging and logistics – everything that we believe impacts and enhances the lives of dogs.
Why is it important to make dog products with high-quality materials?
Because when dogs play, compete, and work they really play, compete, and work. They need apparel and gear that will perform and that will last. Also, products made with low-quality materials tend to end up in landfills way too soon, something we try to avoid at all costs. Like we say, the longer you love it, the better it is for the planet. And the better it is for the planet, the better it is for dogs.
Why do we put such an emphasis on eco-friendly materials?
Because dogs love this planet more than we do. We knew when we started Hurtta that we couldn't claim to be dog lovers if we didn't commit to protecting their playground. Our goal has always been to become a circular company because it will greatly reduce our dependence on landfills. Simply put, fewer landfills means more dog parks.
Does Hurtta live by any specific company values?
We sure do. At Hurtta, our values guide us and remind us why we as a team do what we do and for whom:
Why is, "Let's go.” your company slogan?
For starters we realised that, Let's go. is how most adventures with our dogs begin. Who hasn't seen a dog jump for joy when they know they are about to go outside? They're usually ready before we are. But once we get our shoes on, and we make sure that our dogs have what they need, then we can say, Let's go. So in one sense it's our invitation to get outside more with our dogs and enjoy life together. But it's also a great call to action that reminds us to live up to our values as a company. It's also a call to change the status quo, and a call to others to be better dog people and better stewards of our planet. Our dogs seem to know that life is for living, they're always ready to go, and we want to pass that message on to others. There is so much beauty and wonder just waiting outside, so many new adventures to be taken, so many new places to be explored, and all we have to do is get up and go. We should all try to connect with that unbridled energy that dogs express whenever they get to go outside with us, just waiting for our call, Let's go.
