This Company LEGALLY Made a Dog Their CEO 😅
Yes — that Matt Nelson, the founder of WeRateDogs, sits down with Rocky and Kelly for a hilarious, warm, and surprisingly heartfelt episode of Dogs & Coffee.
From the childhood struggles that shaped him, to the lightning-in-a-bottle moment that launched the internet’s most joyful dog brand, Matt opens up about how rating dogs became a global movement rooted in compassion. He shares how his golden retrievers helped him navigate big emotions as a kid, why only about 60 dogs in 10 years have ever earned a perfect 15/10, and what truly qualifies a pup for the highest rating.
And of course… we meet Javier, the newly adopted dog who has been LEGALLY appointed the company’s CEO. Calm, unbothered, and effortlessly cool — the “Low Rider Scruff Muffin” might just be the most perfect executive in existence. PLUS: Rocky and Kelly get deputized to rate dogs… and yes, Rocky immediately breaks the rules.
🎙️ Matt’s Coffee & Canine Stats
☕ Order: Decaf vanilla latte with oat milk
🐶 Dog: Javier, the official Low Rider Scruff Muffin CEO
❤️ Adoptable Dog Feature: Pumpkin
Meet Pumpkin, a 2-year-old Husky/Chow Chow mix currently at Flip Farms in San Diego County.
Please share to help him find his forever home!
🔗 Adopt Pumpkin: https://rockykanaka.com/adoption/pumpkin-for-adoption/
📘 Links & Extras
Get New York Times Best Seller Sitting With Dogs: https://amzn.to/4hE9qxx
Follow Matt: @WeRateDogs & @thedogsweregoodagain
Support the 15/10 Foundation: 15outof10.org
🕒 Episode Highlights
00:00 — Introduction
03:34 — Meet Matt & Javier
09:30 — Why Javier is the “perfect CEO”
17:15 — The moment WeRateDogs went viral
31:00 — What truly earns a dog a 15/10
32:30 — Inside the WeRateDogs “office”
34:15 — The 15/10 Foundation
43:30 — Doug: the soul dog who shaped Matt’s worldview
45:45 — Rating your dogs in real time
47:15 — The art (and science) of rating dogs
🎧 About the Show
The Dogs & Coffee Podcast by Rocky and Kelly Kanaka blends comedy, heartfelt rescue stories, and honest conversations about dog welfare — all while Rocky attempts to be a barista. Flip Coffee is served at local cafés, with plans to bring it nationwide.
