We had the good fortune of connecting with David Lopez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi David, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most important factor behind our success and brand is authenticity. RunBuddy Mobile was originally created out of my direct experience rehabilitating and training shelter dogs over the past nearly twenty years now. Every detail of the business, from methods to culture to establishing relationships, is from a place that is unique to that experience, passion, and mission to help dogs not only get adopted but to happily remain in their homes. I’m sure some people may look at RunBuddy Mobile as some quick ploy to put treadmills in a van and you suddenly have a business, but there is so much more than goes into it and you can’t fake passion and experience. We love what we do and spend all our efforts to do whats best for every single dog we have the pleasure to work with.

What should our readers know about your business?
RunBuddy Mobile as a mobile dog gym started as an idea over fifteen years ago while I was rehabilitating and training shelter dogs, mostly working with aggressive pit bulls. I knew that so much of their reactivity or destructive behavior stemmed from lack of proper exercise. I’m not talking about walks around the block or playtime in the backyard, but focused, serious “work” that gave them a job to do and allowed them to let go some of those inner instinctual needs to focus, find, smell, and push forward with a task. Hence, RunBuddy Mobile was born and has evolved into what it is today. Through the workouts we do, we provide a deeper sense of purpose for a dog which spills over into their everyday life and more content behavior that people get to enjoy. This helps reduce “bad dog” behavior which is the main reason why dogs get sent to (or sent back to) shelters, and it is our focus to prevent that. Additionally is has great physical benefits on top of the mental work and exercise. Creating RunBuddy was by no means easy to create from scratch. There has previously been not many options like it in existence so there was no template to refer to, but looking back it took the right people involved with the right motives and passion behind the project, and it seemed to have easily fallen into place. For us, as long as we keep our focus on our mission, what’s best for the dogs, and how we can make a difference, our culture and brand remain centered and we get to see the direct reward of helping so many dogs live longer, better lives.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
With the world in it’s current state, adventuring too far outside the home is a tricky business. My time is spent with family and with the business. For friends who come in from out to town who are the outdoors type, hiking and lake adventures are a great way to see some beautiful desert scenery. Whether it’s mountain biking down South Mountain, hiking Camelback, or taking some kayaks out to one of the many lakes just outside of town; it is a unique experience away from city life. Food and nightlife are always fun around downtown Scottsdale because there is no many options in a close location, but newer areas like downtown Gilbert and Chandler has really grown and offer fantastic options as well.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
AZSearch Dogs is an amazing organization that I truly enjoyed getting involved with.

Website: runbuddymobile.com
Instagram: @runbuddymobile
Facebook: facebook.com/runbuddymobile
Yelp: RunBuddy Mobile
Other: TikTok @runbuddy

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