If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that dogs make life infinitely better. They steal our socks, hog our pillows, and somehow convince us that every meal should be shared. (And let’s be real — we usually give in.) We wouldn’t have it any other way!
From our first-ever Puppy Love print to our latest tail-wagging design, Puppy Parade, we’ve been on a mission to bring dog lovers cozy styles that showcase their favorite furry companions.
But how does a dog print go from idea to pajama perfection? We sat down with our designer, Hayley, to fetch the inside scoop on the creative process behind these beloved dog-inspired designs — and dive into the special details in our newest Puppy Parade Collection!
LS has featured a few adorable dog prints over the years! Can you take us back to the very beginning?
Little Sleepies has a fun history of dog prints! Puppy Love was released in 2021 and was one of the first prints our founder, Maradith, and I finalized together when I started my design role in 2020. Then, we refreshed the artwork as part of our Dapper Dog release in 2023 — bringing back a fan-favorite as a fun surprise for our customers.
Furrever Valentines, the first Little Sleepies print I illustrated myself, was part of our 2022 Valentine’s release. The design featured pets from our small team at the time, and it still remains one of my favorites. I’ve loved drawing dogs my whole life, so getting to include my corgi, Bucket, made it extra special.
I associate these earlier prints with fond memories of working one-on-one with Maradith, back when the entire Little Sleepies team was just a handful of people. It’s been amazing to see how both our design team and the company as a whole have grown over the past five years!
Each of Little Sleepies’ dog prints has its own unique style. How did you approach designing Puppy Parade to feel distinct while still fitting the LS aesthetic?
While Puppy Love featured quirky, stylized dogs, I designed Furrever Valentines to tell more of a story. I illustrated heartbeat moments with pets featuring Valentine’s Day details and doodle-inspired linework.
For this year’s Puppy Parade, we wanted a bold, iconic design featuring dog heads in multiple breeds and colors. Whenever we revisit a past theme, we find ways to make it feel fresh — whether it’s through a fun palette, a new layout, or a unique art style.
Last year, Team LS shared their own pups on Instagram for National Puppy Day, which sparked the idea for Puppy Parade. What was it about that moment that made you want to bring their dogs into a print?
I loved the variety of our team’s adorable dogs featured on IG last year. Because we plan concepts about a year in advance, seeing those Team LS dogs sparked the idea for a March 2025 print to celebrate them! Our designer Sarah illustrated this playful yet bold design as a fun new sibling set for fellow dog lovers!
Puppy Parade is extra-special because it features five Little Sleepies team members' real dogs, including Maradith's Bernadoodle, Pretzel! How did you go about choosing which dogs to include?
As our “Chief Executive Dog,” Pretzel is the star of the show. With his cute fluffy face and his sweet markings, he’s always a fan-favorite to spot on Zoom calls. We illustrated him wearing a bow tie, inspired by a photo Maradith shared on Slack when he was just a little puppy.
I also knew I wanted to feature a goldendoodle inspired by Kona, the pup of Lindsay (our VP of Brand Marketing) — since I had featured her on my Furrever Friends print, back in the day. We also included French bulldogs inspired by the pair owned by Alex (our VP of Merchandising). Since several of our team members had a range of doodle and terrier mixes, it was fun to include a variety of few fluffy and spotted dogs.
What was the process like turning real dogs into illustrations? Were there any fun details you wanted to make sure to capture?
Bringing cute creatures to life in print and pattern is always fun. Sarah captured the essence of the specific breeds by referencing photos of them to try to bring out their subtle quirks and personalities.
Our team also loves to include fun textures and cute accessories when designing any sibling set.
Did you run into any challenges while designing this print?
Our goal for this new design was to feature a variety of dog breeds that customers could recognize or connect to. Based on a poll in our Facebook VIP Group, we made sure to include our most dedicated customers’ top breeds!
The challenge was to keep the print bold, yet playful — keeping in mind that, sadly, we couldn’t fit every single breed or mix into the design.
Do you have a favorite pup or favorite detail in the print?
Of course! My favorite pup in the print is my corgi, Bucket. I got him as a puppy shortly after starting my role at Little Sleepies, and it’s hard to believe he’s already over four years old. He’s my favorite co-worker—always sitting (or napping) next to me while I design. Having such a goofy, lovable dog of my own has been a dream.
My favorite Easter egg in the print is the corgi’s placement next to the golden retriever — representing Bucket and Maizey, the dog of my best friend, Emily. Our friendship goes back well over a decade, and working together at Little Sleepies for the past three years has been so special. I wanted our pups to be side by side in the design — BFFs, just like their dog moms.
What do you love most about the final Puppy Parade design?
This print was designed by dog lovers, for dog lovers. Seeing the excitement around our puppy prints over the years has been so rewarding, and I loved helping bring this one to life. I can’t wait to wear it myself! We hope LS fans appreciate the thought and detail behind this design — created in honor of our favorite furry friends.
We want to hear from you! Comment below and tell us your favorite Little Sleepies dog print for a chance to win a $50 LS gift card. One lucky winner will be chosen each month — good luck!
