Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen D Baggott.
Hi Karen, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I moved to Summerville, South Carolina during a time of major transition in my life. I had just become an empty nester and was adjusting to a quieter home and a new chapter. Everything changed when I adopted three rescue dogs. They brought comfort, purpose, and joy into my life, and caring for them helped me heal in ways I never expected.
I am a trained chef, and I naturally began preparing simple and nourishing treats for my dogs using lean meats and clean ingredients. It started as a way to support their health and give them something real. Friends noticed how much their dogs loved the treats and began asking for them as well. That was the moment A Chef and Her Dogs truly began.
Today every treat is handcrafted with intention. Each piece is sliced by hand, air dried in small batches, and packaged with care. All of my products are tested at Clemson University and registered with the South Carolina Department of Agriculture because trust and transparency matter. This business is a thank you to the rescue dogs who changed my life and a promise to the dogs who enjoy my treats today.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a completely smooth road. Building this business on my own means juggling a lot every single day. I had to learn how to create and manage my website, which took time and patience. I also handle production, packaging, customer messages, social media, and market prep on my own, so staying organized can be a challenge.
Another struggle has been the South Carolina heat. High temperatures slow down sales at outdoor markets and make it harder to plan consistent events. Balancing all of these moving parts while keeping everything small batch and intentional has definitely been a learning process, but it has also made me stronger and more committed to what I am building.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a mature woman who is finally confident enough to put her art out into the world. I have always been a creative person and I come from a family of artists, so creating has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. Sixteen years ago I went to culinary school and worked in catering, and later I returned to school to earn degrees in teaching and psychology. I spent years working with special needs children in the behavior sector, but cooking remained my creative outlet through every chapter of my life.
When I adopted my three rescue dogs, everything shifted. Creating these one of a kind treats became a new form of expression for me. It took time to develop the products, and I am still creating and refining new ideas every day. I am an idea person by nature, and when I commit to something, I give it everything I have. I have always leaned toward creative work and creative business, and I am grateful to be using my culinary degree again in a way that supports dogs with simple and honest nutrition.
I am especially proud of how I have helped my own dogs heal. All three were abused and abandoned before coming to me, and watching them grow with good nutrition, love, and trust has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. Seeing their transformation reminds me why I do this and inspires every new product I create.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My advice is to start small and give yourself room to learn. Nothing is perfect at the beginning, and that is completely normal. I wish I had known how much trial and error goes into building something on your own.
Stay consistent, trust your ideas, and do not be afraid to ask questions. You will juggle a lot, and some days will feel overwhelming, but keep going. The right people will support you and the right customers will find you.
Most of all, stay connected to why you started. When your work comes from a place of love and intention, it will grow in the way it is meant to.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://achefandherdogs.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/achefandherdogs/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/achefandherdogs
