About 4Kyon
Sometimes you just know when something is going to be a success. That’s exactly what I felt when I saw a personalised dog collar. And it all started with – how could it be any other way – the arrival of a very special dog: Scotty. The story of 4Kyon!
Scotty
One sunny autumn day in 2011, our young family was strolling around when my husband suddenly asked, 'Why not getting a dog?'
Well… he didn’t have to say that twice! We settled on an Australian
Shepherd and found a lovely breeder in Czech Republic – the country
where we had lived in our younger years and where we got married (in beautiful Prague). Not long after, little Scotty came into our lives.
This is what I want to do – making personalised collars
At dog training we saw a dog wearing an embroidered name collar. You hardly ever saw that at the time, but I loved the idea straight away. On holidays I also noticed that personalised collars were especially common in the Czech Republic, Germany and Austria.
My entrepreneurial heart (I’d previously run a toy webshop) immediately started racing. This looked fun! And why wasn’t anything like this already available online? With my background as a seamstress and my experience with webshops, I decided to just go for it.
I learned about embroidery and searched for the best padding material. That’s how I discovered neoprene for soft lining, started searching for strong and durable hardware, and – less than a year after Scotty arrived – my webshop went live under the name www.my-k9.eu. Things took off quickly and within 3 months we had 20,000 followers on Facebook.
From My K9 to 4Kyon
Of course, running a business also brings challenges. In 2023 another company felt that My K9 was too similar to their name. It was disappointing, because we had just built a strong reputation and loyal customer base. But we had to move on.
Kyon is ancient Greek for “dog”, and with number 4 in front, it felt unique, personal and completely ours. And so, My K9 became 4Kyon.
Dogs all over the world are wearing a 4Kyon collar, lead or name tag!
4Kyon has become a worldwide known brand. We receive many orders from the United Kingdom, but also from Ireland, the USA, Spain, Sweden, Latvia, Asia…
It still fills me with joy every time I spot a dog wearing a 4Kyon collar. The very first time I saw one was in—believe it or not—Czech Republic! At a holiday park, I met Dutch people with a dog wearing one of my collars 🥰
Anny X harnesses in the UK
One day, a customer asked me whether I could make harnesses similar to Anny X. She used to order harnesses straight from Anny X company, because at that time their harnesses were only available in Germany. Out of curiosity, I made a similar harness for that customer, and soon more customers started requesting the same. That was allowed, as the Y-model harness is not protected by copyright.
Still, I realised how much time it took to make harnesses like this, and I’ve always wanted to keep my handmade products affordable. So I decided to contact Anny X to propose a collaboration.
And that’s how 4Kyon became the very first Anny X webshop in English! Something I’m still proud of — especially because so many dog owners have been absolutely delighted ever since. Combined with our personalised name tags, you'll get a high-quality, affordable and customised product.
4Kyon for Assistance Dogs, Police Dogs and Search Dogs
4Kyon collars, leads and Anny X Y-harnesses are perfect for “working dogs” — such as assistance dogs, police dogs and rescue dogs. Not long after 4Kyon became the first Anny X retail partner for the UK and the Netherlands, we started creating our handmade text labels. Making the harnesses more personal and more practical. And in some situations, a personalised label is even essential.
In 2023, we made name collars for the Dutch rescue team that travelled to Turkey (Hatay) to search for earthquake survivors. Their collars featured the dogs’ names and the Dutch flag, ensuring they were recognisable to other international rescue teams. ©Photo by Megin Zondervan.
Personalised text labels are incredibly useful for assistance dogs, with texts such as “assistance dog”, “do not pet” or “do not distract”. Our fabric nametags make no noise, come in different sizes and are available in a wide range of bright colours.
NEW: 10-metre Longline dog lead
We’re always developing and improving — and that’s exactly what makes my job so enjoyable. I’m alwasy keeping an eye on what dog owners need. Early 2025, we added waterproof longline dog leads to our webshop. 4Kyon longlines are water-resistant, comfortable to hold and can withstand a pulling force of up to 400 kg. Available in many bright colours.
Looking for a unique personalised collar, a dog lead or an Anny X harness?
Thousands of dog owners in the UK and beyond have already chosen 4Kyon. Many found us online, through friends, or by spotting our collars, leads and Anny X harnesses out on the street. Our products are our calling card – and we’re proud of that!
Want to explore the collection or need advice on what suits your dog?
Have a browse or get in touch – I’m happy to help.
Warm regards,
Carla (and in loving memory Scotty)