Meet Alec Mastovich | Owner

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

Hi Alec, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The idea for The Downhill Dog came during frequent walks in Downtown Breckenridge with our dog, Penny. For years, we were frustrated because there wasn’t a dedicated shop in the heart of town and became motivated to solve this issue. We began looking into the possibility of opening a store and learned that Summit County is a haven for canines with an average of 2 dogs per household locally. We began looking for a storefront convenient to both locals and tourists alike. It was important to launch our concept in a hot spot, yet we knew that finding a place to park is a problem anywhere in town. With our location in Main Street Station, customers have 2 hours of free garage parking! You’ll find us open 6 days a week in-between Teton Gravity Research and LoLo Juice, while only a few steps away from Lululemon.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
We’re an independent mountain town retailer exclusively offering canine products. We uphold the highest standards for canine retailers with a one-of-a-kind shopping experience. You’ll only find items we provide to our dogs and we keep it local, as more than half of the companies we work with are based right here in Colorado. The Downhill Dog has over 750 products, with nearly 10 thousand items in stock to ensure you find what you’re looking for. Our core offerings are accessories, toys, and treats, but we have a wide variety of care products and fresh food as well. We strive to make a dog’s day, so bring your furry friends in to see our arcade, photo booth, tennis ball dispenser, and much more all designed specifically for them. Stop in to discover why we’re the region’s premier canine retailer!

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?
First, visit The Downhill Dog, and then leisurely venture around Downtown Breckenridge. Our town is world renowned for its restaurants and shops on Main Street. Take a trip over to the Gondola, as you don’t want to miss an opportunity for a free ride to the base of the mountain. If you’re looking for an unforgettable hike, our favorite in the county is Mount Royal, and promises the best views. If you want all the thrill without the work, a scenic drive across Summit is unmatched. Start on Swan Mountain road, and drive to Loveland Pass, and you won’t be disappointed! If you’re visiting in the winter, it’s a bucket list item to ski the 5 peaks of Breckenridge. If that’s too challenging, a snowmobile tour will get you in the spirit. If you’re here in the summer, you must take the dogs for a swim! Then if you have time, go fish in Blue River, get a round of golf in, or see a show at the Dillon Amphitheater to cap off the trip.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The Downhill Dog would have never come to fruition without our Employee of The Month, Penny! She’s a 4 year-old Red Fox Labrador Retriever who taught us the importance of maximizing the most of our time together. We’re incredibly blessed to have such an excellent support system of family behind our entrepreneurial adventures. My mother-in-law was pivotal in springing our business to life, and my father’s marketing firm was key in setting us apart from the competition. Our friend Nicole was instrumental to networking us with the right contacts to move forward. She’s an industry expert in the pet world and brought us as her guest to the Global Pet Expo years ago. This annual conference is important for us to remain up to date with what’s current in the industry and stay ahead of the curve. Lastly, our friend Glenn is the reason we have a prime location right on Main Street. He worked to uncover opportunities that weren’t on the market yet and secured an old office space which was converted to The Downhill Dog. We opened on January 19 after a lot of hurdles, and we couldn’t have done it without everyone closest to us.

Website: www.thedownhilldog.com

Instagram: instagram.com/thedownhilldog

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-downhill-dog

Twitter: twitter.com/thedownhilldog

Facebook: facebook.com/thedownhilldog