Our Story
Every great brand begins with a moment. Ours began with a dog who just wanted to join the celebration.
THE MOMENT THAT STARTED IT ALL
One evening, surrounded by family and friends — laughing, toasting, celebrating life the way people who care about each other do — we saw Journey. Our rescue Australian Shepherd mix, right there by our side the way he always is. Tail wagging. Fully present. Part of everything except the one thing everyone else had in their hand.
It hit us in that moment. Journey deserved to join in on the celebration too. He was always there — he should have something to enjoy, something that complements his daily routine and makes every moment feel special.
That thought became Hound & Harbor.
WHY CLASSIC COVE EXISTS
Dogs are not just pets. They are family. They are travel companions and celebrated members of our daily rituals. They hang out with us at the shore, sit beside us at outdoor restaurants, check into hotels with us, ride along on boat trips, and show up for every moment — the hard ones and the beautiful ones alike.
And yet, when we raise a glass, they don't get the same experience.
Classic Cove was created to close that gap in a healthy way, not novelty. A premium beverage worthy of the dogs who deserve better — formulated with a foundation of carefully chosen, single, clean ingredient sources. The kind of quality we'd demand for ourselves.
Every dog deserves their own toast.
BUILT ON 20 YEARS OF GETTING IT RIGHT
Hound & Harbor was founded by Tracy Williams — a Navy family kid with a lifelong connection to the water, and a 20+ year career bringing new product capabilities to market that led the industries she served - some of the most respected names in her field.
She knows what it takes to build something people trust. She knows that shortcuts show up eventually. And she knows that the difference between good and great is almost always in the details nobody sees.
Those principles are crafted into every can of Classic Cove — from the sourcing of clean ingredients to the veterinary advisory partnership with Dr. Tatty Hodge, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, to the rigorous lab testing and regulatory process that brought Classic Cove to market the right way.
MEET JOURNEY
Chief Tasting Hound. Brand mascot. Very good boy. We celebrate Journey every day.
Journey inspired it all — and the most enthusiastic product tester on the team. Every batch of Classic Cove has earned his approval before it earns yours.
He is the reason Hound & Harbor exists. He is the heart of everything we do.
A TRUSTED VET VOICE IN OUR CORNER
Some of the best input comes from friends who happen to know exactly the right things. Dr. Tatty Hodge, DVM, MPH, DACVPM is one of those people.
Dr. Hodge earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Master of Public Health in Epidemiology and Public Health from Michigan State University and SUNY Albany. Board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, her career has taken her from small animal clinical practice to international veterinary service with the Peace Corps in Niger, to the world's leading animal health company — Zoetis Inc — where she served as Global Director of Pharmacovigilance, working with regulatory agencies to establish rigorous safety and efficacy standards for veterinary products worldwide.
When we shared what we were building with Tatty, she leaned in. She reviewed the Classic Cove formulation, offered her perspective on the areas that matter most for canine wellness, and was comfortable lending her name and support to Hound & Harbor. For a brand built on doing things the right way, having someone with her background in our corner means everything.
"Hound & Harbor delivers a premium product with ingredients including prebiotics. This is functional wellness that doesn't compromise on quality. My dog, Lily, loves it!"
— Dr. Tatty Hodge, DVM, MPH, DACVPM
KALAMAZOO BUILT. COAST INSPIRED.
Hound & Harbor is proudly made in Kalamazoo, Michigan — a community that punches above its weight in entrepreneurship, craft, and community spirit. The brand's soul, though, reaches back to Tracy's childhood spent moving between coastal Navy towns from Maine and Rhode Island to California and Florida and then the lake regions of Michigan and Northern Indiana — harbors, shorelines, and the particular kind of freedom that comes from being near the water.
That spirit lives in the name. In the navy and gold. In the belief that every day with your dog is worth celebrating properly.
Welcome to Hound & Harbor. We're glad Journey led you here.