The dog behind PuzzlePup

Normie changed my life. Caring for him changed my work.

This is the story of the service dog who helped me move through the world again, and why every PuzzlePup product has to be good enough for him first.

Find my dog's match → Read Normie's story
Helping Paws service dog Vet-formulated supplements 30-day guarantee
Mike O'Brien sitting outdoors with his Golden Retriever service dog Normie in a Helping Paws vest
Mike and Normie, the partnership behind PuzzlePup.
PuzzlePup founder Mike O'Brien during a hospital stay before Normie became his service dog
Before Normie, hospital stays and mobility challenges were a regular part of my life.

The transformation

Before Normie, every step came with a risk.

I was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. The left side of my heart never fully formed, and I do not have a functioning left lung. For years, mobility meant weighing every step against the risk of falling.

Then Helping Paws matched me with Normie in October 2024.

Normie retrieves dropped items, helps when I am unsteady, and gives me the confidence to move through everyday life. I went from relying on a wheelchair and barely walking to reaching thousands of steps in a day.

He did not erase the hard parts. He gave me a trained partner for them.

That partnership became the reason PuzzlePup exists.

Caring for the dog who helps care for me made his routine deeply personal. I wanted practical products I would feel good using with Normie, from daily enrichment to targeted supplements. Every product now has to pass one simple test: would I give this to him?

Every day he gives me his best. PuzzlePup is my way of giving him mine.

Mike O'Brien, PuzzlePup founder
PuzzlePup Enrichment Bundle with the current blue Snuffle Mat and handmade pumpkin dog treats

Start with Normie's favorite kind of routine

Turn treat time into ten calmer minutes of nose work.

The Enrichment Bundle pairs the current PuzzlePup Snuffle Mat with handmade Pumpkin and Peanut Butter treats. Hide the treats, let your dog sniff and search, and give their brain a job.

  • The current blue PuzzlePup Snuffle Mat
  • One bag of handmade Pumpkin and Peanut Butter treats
  • A simple enrichment ritual for boredom, fast eating, and busy energy
  • Free shipping at the current $39.99 bundle price
$39.99bundle price
See bundle details

One-time purchase. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Need targeted daily support?

Find the PuzzlePup supplement that fits your dog.

Tell us what you are noticing, how often it happens, and your dog's age and weight. The quiz will show a recommended match, an exact weight-based serving, and your quiz offer.

About 60 seconds No diagnosis claims 15% quiz offer
Question 1 of 520%

We use their name only to personalize the quiz.

Normie the Golden Retriever service dog with Mike in a preview for their story Play Normie's 3-minute story

The full story

See how Normie and I became a team.

Watch the moment Helping Paws, dedicated volunteer trainers, and one remarkable Golden Retriever brought our lives together.

  • How Normie was trained and matched with me
  • What our partnership changed in everyday life
  • Why caring for him became PuzzlePup
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Normie at the PuzzlePup office beside the daily products he inspired

Start your dog's routine

Tell us what your dog needs. We will help with the next step.

Take the 60-second product selector for a recommended supplement match, exact weight-based serving, and 15% quiz offer.

Start with your dog's name See the Enrichment Bundle

About 60 seconds · Free shipping on orders $39.99+