[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 142 (Tuesday, September 5, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S3891]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RECOGNIZING BLUE-9 PET PRODUCTS

 Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, as ranking member of the Senate 
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize 
an outstanding Iowa small business that exemplifies the American 
entrepreneurial spirit. This week it is my privilege to recognize Blue-
9 Pet Products of Maquoketa, IA, as the Senate Small Business of the 
Week.
  Blue-9 Pet Products was founded by David Blake in 2014, specializing 
in creating high-quality dog training accessories for canines and their 
owners. David and the Blue-9 Pet Products team gathered input from 
respected trainers, veterinarians, and animal behaviorists before 
designing The KLIMB, Blue-9 Pet Products' flagship product for 
training. To develop his first product, The KLIMB, David collaborated 
with Iowa State University, the University of Iowa, and the Iowa 
Economic Development Authority. The KLIMB is a training platform used 
to give dogs an elevated surface to learn commands faster, exercise, 
and gain obedience skills. Since it hit the market, The KLIMB has 
quickly become one of the most popular tools for dog trainers around 
the country, being named the 2015 Editor's Choice by Pet Product News. 
Another one of Blue-9 Pet Products' best-selling products is the 
Balance Harness, which is an adjustable harness that is flexible for 
dogs that ease their use for both canines and their owners. These 
premium solution-based features were important in the Balance Harness 
receiving a top-rated feature by Whole Dog Journal in 2017.
  Blue-9 Pet Products proudly manufactures all of its dog training 
accessories in the United States. Additionally, David passionately 
advocates to make Iowa a more dog-friendly place. He hosts an annual 
canine athlete competition at the Jackson County Fairgrounds to 
fundraise for the Jackson County Humane Society. He also supports the 
Association of Professional Dog Trainers Foundation. David is active in 
his local business community through the Jackson County Economic 
Alliance, volunteering to share his experience in entrepreneurship and 
building a new business.
  Blue-9 Pet Products commitment to providing quality pet-training 
products in Maquoketa, IA, is clear. I want to congratulate David Blake 
and the entire team at Blue-9 Pet Products for their continued 
dedication to providing dog training products to Iowans. I look forward 
to seeing their continued growth and success in Iowa.

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