Hike Doggie, a premier dog hiking service based in Golden, Colorado, is hoping a recent customer review submitted by one of their canine clients is about to go viral. Gunnar, a four-year-old Black Labrador Retriever whose owner is Denver resident Kristi Gacke, left an epic five-star Yelp review about his daylong hiking adventure on June 16. Written from Gunnar’s perspective, the review describes the experience as “the greatest adventure of my life,” narrowly beating the time he found a half a chicken nugget in a parking lot.
Kath Allen, founder of Hike Doggie, expressed delight at the unexpected testimonial. “The moment we spotted the post, we just knew we had to share Gunnar’s five-star review with as many people as possible,” she said. “What he wrote in his awesome Yelp review perfectly encapsulates what makes our full-service hiking adventures so special for dogs.” The company’s mission is to “make dogs as happy as they make us,” and Gunnar’s review embodies that spirit.
In his review, Gunnar shared details of his adventure, including discovering 17 sticks, cataloguing 43 different smells, and encountering numerous squirrels. After hours of stimulating fun, he returned home, “collapsed face-first on the floor, slept for six hours, barked once in his sleep, dreamed about chasing a squirrel, and woke up with a leaf still stuck to his butt.” He signed off as “Founder & CEO of Barkshire Hathaway” and “Director of Sniff Operations/Lead Squirrel Intelligence Officer, Good Boy, First Class.”
Gunnar’s owner, Kristi Gacke, director of sales and marketing for HHM Hotels, was not surprised by the viral attention. “Gunnar has always been a very expressive doggie, quite vocal, even back when he was just a puppy,” she said. “Honestly, I’m really not all that surprised he’s gone and done something viral – he’s kind of been destined for greatness from the day we got him.”
For business leaders, this story underscores the power of authentic, customer-generated content in marketing. Hike Doggie, which serves over 800 dogs monthly in the Denver area and has completed over 60,000 hikes, operates 10 franchises across six states: Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Tennessee, Georgia, and Delaware. The company offers round-trip excursions to the outdoors, complete with professional hiking services, snacks, social media snaps, and branded gear, concluding with baths. Its franchise model, supported by Loyalty Brands, emphasizes low barrier to entry and strong retention rates.
Gunnar’s review not only entertains but also highlights how businesses can leverage unique customer experiences to build brand loyalty and attract new clients. For the pet services industry, the viral moment demonstrates the value of creating memorable, shareable experiences that resonate emotionally with customers—both human and canine.
