The idea for Trooper Supply Co. came from my beloved dog, the eponymous Trooper.  My path crossed with this lovable old Plott Hound mix when I came across him at the county shelter in San Luis Obispo, CA some years ago. He had been turned into the shelter twice, but the third time was a charm when I found him. He has been with me ever since.

Trooper is a top-shelf kind of guy. Of course I’m partial because he's my dog (we all are, right?) but in many ways he is the best of every dog: loyal, loving, and always up for whatever comes along, whether it’s a walk before dawn, a multi-day road trip, or any table scrap he can pry from me by putting on the full-court press with his doleful eyes.

I can’t recall exactly what prompted me to name him Trooper, but he wears the name well. When we call someone a “trooper,” we’re talking about a person who shows up, pushes through, and gets the job done. Dogs embody these qualities (perhaps better than many of us humans do) with their unwavering companionship. They are always there, ready with a wagging tail and a hopeful look (and in Trooper’s case, he never misses an opportunity to offer a paw in a handshake). When dogs have a job to do, they finish it—whether that’s pulling a sled in the wilds of Alaska, seeking out survivors in earthquake rubble, or simply sitting in silence and nuzzling an owner who’s going through a rough time.

There’s an old Latin saying "Amicus fidelis protectio fortis," which translates to "A faithful friend is a strong protection." In the end, I believe this is what it means to be a trooper.  Because while anyone can work hard in pursuit of a goal, a real trooper is driven by the same loyalty and protective instincts that we prize so highly in dogs.

Trooper Supply Company aims to put a little bit of this positivity out there in the world through vintage-inspired designs freshly created for our modern times.

- Chris (Founder)