‘The Barkery’ dog treat business teaches students job skills

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — A dog biscuit business called The Barkery is run by special education students from the Community Campus in Sioux Falls. This unique business isn’t meant to make money, its meant to make lives better.

We first caught up with the class in the lobby of the School District’s Instructional Planning Center. Students were selling their dog biscuits. Even Ted, the class mascot, was on hand to help with the marketing efforts.

They invited us to join them at Axtell Park School where they make the treats. They work at stations, where they roll out the dough to the right thickness, then use special cookie cutters to shape the biscuits. Then they bake the biscuits and once cooled they are sized, bagged and ready for sale.

“We are working on vocational skills for students who either haven’t had a work experience or had a successful work experience. So part of that is working here, following directions, staying on task teamwork, asking for help is a big one, the other part is the sales and customer service,” said Kati Pudwill, Special Education Teacher at the Community Campus.

“It prepares them for life after 21, so we have the student for a short time from 18 to 21, then they transition out to adult services, so these students may be looking for a job or volunteering opportunities which we can prep them for, ” said Soyna Lyons, Special Education Teacher

“We learn how to tie bags, we learn how to bake stuff and make stuff happen,” said student, Cole Frasier

One of the goals of a program like this is to help the students gain some confidence, for instance, some are nonverbal. But Ev Buskohl jumped in front of our camera, wanting to tell us about something special in her life.

Tom: What is your dog’s name?

“Daisy”, Ev replied

Tom: That’s your dog’s name?

“Daisy”, Ev said.

And Dax HuezoVargas wanted to show me how to say dog treat.

Tom: This is dog?

“Yeah dog,” said Dax

Tom: Eat?

“Eat,” said Dax.

Tom: I learned something new today. Good job!

And Kaza Chancarde wanted to ensure we knew about the ingredients in the dog biscuits.

“Peanut butter, four eggs, water, and some flour,” Kaza said.

Tom: Flour, did you taste one yet?

“No, I’m not a dog!” Kaza said.

Tom: That was a silly question on my part, wasn’t it?

“Yeah,” she said with a laugh.

“Building confidence is I think a big part of it. And a lot of them are very proud to be a part of The Barkery. They are very excited to come over here and work and obviously very excited to come over here and talk about it too,” said Pudwill.

Tom: Were you surprised some of them wanted to be in front of the camera? “I was very surprised by a few that popped up on camera,” said Pudwill.

Just more proof that The Barkery is making a difference in the lives of these young people, getting them ready for the challenges they will face as young adults making there way in this world.

They sell the treats for 3 dollars for a bag of ten.

The Barkery’s long-term goal is to set up an online ordering system, but that is probably a few years away.

Next year they hope to sell the dog biscuits at high school sporting events.