Disney-Style Pet Portraits and Pup-Centric Fashion from Barkshire Dog Trading Co.
The Husband and Wife team behind the brand are celebrating both pooches and place.
When Reuben and Amber Lara finally adopted their first dog after years of longing and apartment living, they did what most new dog parents do—they fell in love. So madly in love they’ve now launched a full-fledged creative business dedicated to celebrating the bond between dogs and their human companions.
Based in Dalton, Massachusetts, Barkshire Dog Trading Co. is the couple’s lovingly illustrated, dog-themed lifestyle brand. It’s an online shop and local pop-up vendor offering original art, apparel, gifts, and custom pet caricatures.
Reuben Lara with a collection of his dog caricatures.
“We saw an opportunity in the market,” Amber says. “Reuben and I love dogs and we love how much there is to do in the Berkshires with your dog. And while we would come across the occasional throw pillow or T-shirt that pays homage to ‘The Barkshires,’ we felt that there were enough dog lovers who live in and visit the Berkshires to support an entire brand dedicated to the concept.”
A New Adventure for a Seasoned Illustrator
Straight out of high school, Ruben landed in the prop department at Universal Studios in California, cutting his teeth among scenic artists painting enormous backdrops. “I was a kid from Burbank who was hired because they needed an artist who knew how to use this new program called Photoshop,” he recalls. That digital dexterity paired with foundational art skills propelled him through a career that includes freelance animation, motion design, and a recent series of collectible trading cards for Disney’s Space 220 Restaurant at Epcot.
Reuben and Amber Lara with Millie in an organic cotton bandana.
The couple’s journey took them from California, to South America, to New York and ultimately to the Berkshires in 2015. By then, Reuben had cultivated a robust remote creative business and Amber, a longtime dental hygienist, was contemplating a shift. “Dental hygiene is rough on your body,” she says. “I just didn’t see myself doing it forever.” When a friend visiting in late 2022 joked that Reuben should do something with the “Barkshires” idea, the spark ignited. By March 2023, the company was official.
Art First, Dogs Always
“Barkshire Dog Trading Co. is a mash-up of our love of dogs, our love of vintage art, and our love of living in beautiful Berkshire County,” Reuben says. While the name grounds the company in a specific place, its aesthetic is based on universally beloved art styles.
The products range from eco-friendly apparel and humorous “Doody Calls” leather poop bag holders to intricate playing cards and hand-drawn caricatures. Their T-shirts—with designs like a doodle skiing black diamond trails or a paddle-boarding dachshund—are especially popular. “People come in and say, ‘My niece paddleboards with her dog. I have to get this for her,’” Amber says.
Barkshire Dog playing cards.
The collectible Barkshire playing cards, designed by Reuben in vintage Bicycle style with nods to Art Nouveau, are a standout success. “They look traditional at first, but when you look again, the characters are all dogs. One’s holding bacon. Another is a Queen Victoria-inspired Pomeranian,” Reuben says. “It’s that element of surprise we love—layers of cleverness baked into the art.”
Pro Pup Portraits
Beyond merchandise, Reuben’s caricatures and portraits of dogs, cats, chameleons, rats, and any other pet you might want to immortalize are filled with whimsical expressiveness recognizable to any mainstream animation lover. “They’re not just silly. Sometimes people come into our tent and open up,” Amber says. “They tell us how their dog helped them get through cancer, or divorce. These animals are companions, therapy, family.”
The hand-drawn works are deeply personal. “In an age of AI, I love doing them by hand,” Reuben says. “I talk to the person, ask what makes their dog unique. I want to capture that. That’s something AI can’t replicate.”
At $40 for a black-and-white caricature, it’s also an accessible luxury. “Artists probably never charge enough,” Reuben jokes, “but we want these to be for everybody.”
For pet owners looking for a more involved image he also offers color illustrations and bespoke paintings, which obviously cost a bit more.
Bark Local, Think Global
Though based in the Berkshires, Barkshire Dog Trading Co.’s appeal travels well. The Laras have become a familiar sight at the Copake Hillsdale Farmers Markets and cultural events, drawing fans from both sides of the Berkshires-New York border. “We don’t have a brick and mortar,” Amber says, “but we pop up everywhere.”
The brand has also begun building wholesale relationships, with their items being sold at Berkcheers in Stockbridge and the Jacob’s Pillow gift shop. The Laras are particularly excited to announce that their brand will soon be represented at the Norman Rockwell Museum gift shop. “We’re working on a new piece as a tribute to Rockwell,” Amber reveals. “That’s a full-circle moment for us. His style has always been an inspiration.”
The business also reflects the couple’s values and is committed to sustainability. “There’s no Planet B,” Amber said. “Even though using ethical, eco-friendly materials can drive up costs, we want our products to be kind to the planet.”
To the couple’s surprise, the Barkshire Dog Trading Co. tent has also become a gathering place for dogs and owners, literally and figuratively. “It’s something we didn’t expect,” Amber says. “But in a time when so much divides people, dogs unite us. Every age, ethnicity, belief system. Everyone who loves their dog has something in common.”
You can find Barkshire Dog Trading Co. at barkshiredog.com and at pop-up markets across the region. They will be at the Copake Hillsdale Farmers Market September 6 and November 1, from 9am-1pm, the Apple Squeeze in Lenox September 27, from 10am-5pm and the Cooper’s Daughter Spieits Anniversary Party and Fundraiser in Claverack, October 13.
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