Melissa Patton | Dancin' Dog
Co-Owner of Dancin’ Dog
Melissa Patton is the co-owner of Dancin' Dog, a boutique company crafting all-natural treats for dogs, catering to the Greater Tennessee area.
A Passion Project Takes Root
The story started when Melissa’s dog suffered from severe skin allergies. Their vet suggested homemade treats with simple, natural ingredients, and Melissa’s sister jumped in to create recipes that their dogs—and many others—loved. What began as a way to help their furry friends quickly turned into a business rooted in trust and quality.
Honoring Her Sister’s Legacy
When Melissa’s sister unexpectedly passed away last year, it was a devastating loss—but also a call to action. Melissa felt deeply compelled to keep Dance and Dog alive, to honor the passion her sister poured into the company and the love she had for animals. Relaunching the brand has been both a challenge and a healing process, one fueled by memories and the desire to carry on their shared dream.
Growing with Community
For me, growth is about continuing to spread the word about our product while staying true to the values my sister and I had when we started. Dance and Dog isn’t just a business—it’s a labor of love. We’ve been fortunate to partner with local organizations like the Nashville Humane Society, and that’s been a huge part of how we’re expanding our reach. We want people to know that there’s an affordable, healthy option for their pets, and that we’re here in the community, supporting local causes and connecting with other pet lovers.
As I look to the future, I’m focused on building on the foundation my sister and I created. That means continuing to engage with customers, listening to their feedback, and constantly improving our product. I also want to keep partnering with local events and organizations to grow our presence. While it’s important to me that the business thrives financially, it’s equally important that we maintain our connection to the community and the animals we care so deeply about.
“If you really believe in your product, then you can survive that”
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My name is Melissa Patton. I am the co-owner of Dance and Dog, an all-natural dog treats company. I started this business several years ago with my sister. We were both very passionate about animals, and my dog had severe skin allergies. Our vet suggested that we make dog treats at home. So we knew which ingredients to use.
We suspected that he was potentially allergic to something we were feeding him from the store. So my sister jumped the gun on that one and started making some dog treats. He loved them, and her dogs loved them too. All of our neighbors’ and friends’ dogs loved them. So she started a business called Dance and Dog.
Last year, she unexpectedly passed away, and as a tribute to her, I really wanted to keep the company going. In the last several months, we’ve relaunched, and Dance and Dog continues today. My passion and motivation for continuing Dance and Dog comes from wanting to honor my sister and her love for animals.
It’s been a very emotional journey to be able to pick this back up and do it again. But I truly believe it’s something she would’ve wanted. She volunteered a lot and really cared for animals in a way that I think many people do for their best friends. We have a website where you can place orders.
We’re also active in the community. We partnered with the Nashville Humane Society and other local events to get our product out there and let people know there is an affordable solution for all-natural dog treats. I would say it takes a lot of courage to get out there. If you believe in your product, that’s really where the courage comes from.
I think it’s hard to hear criticism of your product because you believe in it so fiercely. But customer feedback is helpful, and learning to go through those types of challenges has been tough. If you really believe in your product, then you can survive that. I think some entrepreneurs fail because they don’t have confidence in themselves.
I definitely didn’t have the courage or confidence to start this, and my partner was able to give me that push to say, “This is something people want.” People have reached out. This is something a lot of people are passionate about. It is a personal journey for me, and I never thought I would be so excited about this.
Even though she’s not here, I know that she is also my cheerleader. I would say the biggest piece of advice I could give is to just get out there and do it. There will never feel like a perfect time, so just get out there. Know your product. Have confidence in yourself. I promise you there will be cheerleaders showing up for you around every corner.
Why We Share These Stories
We believe that celebrating Tennessee’s entrepreneurs will inspire the next generation of bold thinkers, risk-takers, and community builders. Entrepreneurs don’t forget where they come from—and they carry the power to transform not just their businesses, but entire neighborhoods, towns, and local economies. See more entrepreneur stories from the Patton Foundation.
