Woman holding a small white dog with a blurred green outdoor background

How a Westie named Fika inspired me to create as therapy.

By Elizabeth, the founder

Fika's Freaky Friends isn't a dog toy company. It's an emotional support brand for pet parents, disguised as dog toys.

May 2023

When Fika came home

Fika came home in 2023 and within a week I'd given her at least a dozen ridiculous nicknames. Pickle Pig. Pineapple Monkey. Sugar Nugget... None of them made any sense and all of them stuck.

She was a tiny zoomies machine, constantly wanting to play. She loved all sorts of toys. Enrichment toys, tennis balls, rope toys, and especially plushies. She always had one nearby to cuddle, play tug-of-war with, or violently rip apart at a moment's notice.

Watching her obsession with plush toys got me thinking about what it was that she loved about each one. Why did she choose to cuddle with her big dog plushy, but she only wanted to rip apart Lamby as fast as she could? I also began thinking about why I chose certain toys for her. What was it about a particular toy that made me reach for it on the shelf?

October 2023

When I had to hit pause

I was working full-time at a startup and doing my MBA at the same time. Plus I was still potty-training my soon-to-be co-founder when everything became too much for me.

For six months straight, I wasn't taking care of myself. I wasn't sleeping well, I was eating only junk and I found it very hard to step away from my computer for something as simple as a glass of water. One day it all became too much and I completely broke down.

The year before, I had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and I was fortunately able to recognize that I was going through a manic episode and needed to get help. I'm proud of myself for finally choosing to take care of my mental health, but I admit that it had to get so bad for me to finally take action.

I pressed pause on everything. I quit the job, put the MBA on hold, and finally sat with the question I'd been avoiding for years: what do I actually want my life to look like? And how can I make that life a reality without harming my mental health?

"I'm proud of myself for choosing to take care of my mental health, but it had to get so bad for me to take action"

July 2024

A family of characters, not just toys

After quitting my job, I started looking around for other opportunties by talking to old colleagues and my MBA classmates. But when I was given the opportunity to interview, I found I couldn't go through with it.

The idea of trying to impress another person felt so wrong. I didn't want to filter myself. And I definitely didn't want to put on my work persona again because that wasn't 100% me.

That's when the idea for Fika's Freaky Friends came to me. I wanted to make these weird little dog toys because I too am weird. And that's wonderful. Starting my own business gave me the opportunity to move through life simply as myself.

After designing the first collection, I had Fika start testing them. While playing together, I started giving each character its own personality. Pickle Pig didn't fit in as kid, Pineapple Monkey is disaster prone but always smiling, and Blueberry Pig feels like she going to explode every now and then!

The stories aren't random. They come from things I've actually felt and experienced. And I know others have felt the same way before too. Each unique story is for anyone who has ever felt different, or weird, or like they don't quite fit in. These toys are about being ourselves and loving ourselves just the way we are.

There are 18 characters so far, and my hope is that you find yourself in one of them. Maybe in a few. That's the whole reason Fika's Freaky Friends exists.

"Fika's Freaky Friends is all about loving ourselves exactly they way we are, not filtering ourselves for anyone."

What's happened so far

12,000+

toys sold

200+

indie pet shops carry us

1,850+

followers

1

dog co-founder

Meet the Freaky Friends

Pickle Pig

the queen

Cookie Pig

the strong-willed

Pineapple Monkey

the hot mess

Strawberry Pig

the optimist

Blueberry Bunny

the insomniac

Mushroom Bunny

the secret introvert

Muffin Monkey

the perfectly imperfect

Cupcake Bunny

the singular

Shop the whole family →

What we believe in

Weirdness is what makes us wonderful!
Everyone deserves to be loved for exactly who they are.
You're kind to others. Now it's time to be kind to yourself.