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| Pup Stack Shark Tank Update: Where Are They Now and How the Pet Brand Is Doing? |
Pup Stack’s pitch on ABC’s “Shark Tank” put a very ordinary pet-owner headache under the spotlight: what do you do when a lively puppy wants to roam, but its lead seems determined to tie itself into a knot? Created by Brian Zibricky, Pup Stack is a portable anchored leash system designed to give dogs more room to move while keeping treats, toys and water close at hand. The product’s appearance in “Shark Tank” Season 18, Episode 3 brought attention to a family-built idea that grew out of everyday life rather than a glossy business plan.
The story behind Pup Stack is closely tied to Brian’s family. After his wife, Sue, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and eventually became wheelchair-bound, Brian changed his working arrangements so he could spend more time caring for her. In 2019, the family added Cooper, an unexpected Christmas puppy who would end up becoming more than just a companion. The little dog also became the reason Brian started looking for a better way to manage everyday pet routines.
Cooper had plenty of energy and the family’s backyard was not fully fenced, leaving Brian with a fairly familiar choice: keep hold of the lead or attach it to something and hope the dog did not turn the whole arrangement into a furry game of telephone cord. Neither option was particularly convenient. Brian wanted Cooper to have some freedom outside while still being safely managed, and that practical problem eventually became the starting point for Pup Stack.
Brian’s professional background also gave him plenty of experience with technology, training and product development. He studied English Education at Western Illinois University before building a career in technology training and marketing. His previous roles included positions at New Horizons Computer Learning Centers and United Training, followed by work at Pearson VUE as a Marketing Manager for Learning Products. Pup Stack, however, came from a much more personal problem than anything he had encountered in an office.
The early concept went through multiple prototypes before becoming the product seen today. Pup Stack combines a 10-pound base with a retractable 20-foot tie-out line, allowing the lead to lock at different lengths while rotating through 360 degrees. That rotation is intended to reduce the tangling that can make outdoor pet time unnecessarily chaotic. The system also includes space for treats and toys, along with a removable water bowl, meaning owners have somewhere to stash the small essentials they inevitably forget until they are already halfway across the garden.
For owners who need additional stability, the base can be expanded to up to 40 pounds with an additional weight. That gives the system more flexibility for longer outdoor use, although Pup Stack also provides size and weight guidance so owners can choose the setup appropriate for their dog. In other words, it is not quite a magic button that tells a puppy to behave, but at least it tries to make the human side of the equation less exhausting.
Since its development, Pup Stack has grown beyond the original product. The standard Pup Stack is priced at $124.99 and is available in pink, white and black, with an extra Pup Stack weight sold separately for $19.99. The company has also added products aimed at making the brand more of a broader pet-care range rather than a one-product operation.
Among those additions is Pup Stack Plush, a soft dog toy based on the original product’s shape, with prices ranging from $14.99 to $29.98. The range also includes a Dog Seat Belt at $15.99, a Pup Stick Holder at $22.99, a Pup Sticks and BullyLock Mini bundle priced at $37.98, and a six-pack of Pup Sticks for $14.99. It is a fairly substantial expansion from the original idea of simply stopping Cooper from turning his lead into a knot.
Brian’s daughter, Kayla Zibricky, has also become an important part of the business, particularly through direct relationships with customers. That gives Pup Stack a more personal side, with customer feedback helping the company understand the everyday situations pet owners are trying to solve. For a small pet brand, those conversations can be just as useful as another round of product testing.
What makes Pup Stack interesting is that its appeal does not rely on pretending pet ownership is complicated science. Anyone who has tried to walk or supervise an enthusiastic puppy knows that the animal usually has its own plans, and those plans rarely involve keeping the lead neatly arranged. The product takes a simple frustration and tries to build several practical fixes around it. The storage compartments and water bowl are particularly sensible because pet owners somehow always remember the dog but forget the things the dog actually needs.
My take is that Pup Stack works best as a convenience product rather than a complete answer to pet management. The rotating line and adjustable base make sense, especially for homes without fully enclosed outdoor space, while the added storage is the sort of small feature that becomes useful precisely because it saves owners from making another trip indoors.
The price, however, is not exactly pocket change for a pet accessory, so buyers will probably want to think about how often they would actually use it. Still, the underlying idea is refreshingly straightforward. Brian saw a problem caused by Cooper, experimented until he found something workable, and turned that solution into a business. Not every Shark Tank product needs to reinvent the wheel; sometimes it just needs to stop the puppy from wrapping the lead around it.
As Pup Stack continues building its pet-care range, its next challenge is turning that personal origin story and practical design into lasting demand. Whether the product becomes a regular fixture for pet owners or remains a niche solution will depend on how well it performs in everyday homes. For viewers who watched the Shark Tank appearance, the bigger question is perhaps whether they would actually spend $124.99 to make outdoor dog time a little less chaotic. Would you use Pup Stack for your own dog, or does your pet already have enough ways to keep you busy?