Mesa woman’s dog bed invention wins kudos | Business

Red Mountain Ranch resident Leena Chitnis and her dog, Kashi, recently received top honors for  RuffRest, the dog bed she invented, in the Best Upgrade Outdoor Dog Bed category from Forbes magazine.

Chitnis founded Timberdog, which specializes in a multi-functional pet bed called RuffRest as perfect for individuals who travel with their canine companions. 

The distinction is one of many kudos she has received from reviewers from the New York Times, Wirecutter, Men’s Journal, Startup Pill, Rover, Gear Junkie, Field & Stream, and We Rate Dogs.

 Last year, Field & Stream named RuffRest “Travel Dog Bed of the Year.”

Bailey Berg of Forbes called RuffRest “the Swiss Army Knife of dog beds.”

“It’s packed with unique and helpful features,” Berg said. “The bottom is made from durable 900-denier nylon and has a soft fleece top and a built-in pillow.  The pillow can deploy and turn into a three-season sleeping bag.

“Then a zipper opens the bed like a clamshell, revealing a removable organizer with four plastic, zippered pockets (two small, two large) where you can stash treats, toys, leashes and more,” Berg added, noting its built-in mesh pocket that can hold a large water bottle, reflective loops on the corners so it’s easy to find at night and a strap that can double as a leash in a pinch.

Berg added, “Unlike other travel beds for dogs, which tend to be light and thin, this option has some serious cushion.”

Originally from California, Chitnis, and her dog, Kashi, now call Mesa their home.

“But when the weather is too hot to play outside, Kashi, my neighbors and I love to get away to Payson, Show Low, Prescott, Flagstaff, and Pinetop,” she said.

 “RuffRest helps us keep our dogs warm, rested, organized and comfortable. I personally created this so I wouldn’t have to lug all my dog’s things piecemeal. RuffRest makes packing for Kashi a breeze.”

Information: timberdog.com.