About Us

One cold winter’s night then 12 year old Kendra Duncan was visiting her aunt, Sheila Duncan. Kendra had experienced a number of cancer losses in her young life – her Nonnie, dad and family dog, a Golden Retriever named Irish – so she was very tuned into the word cancer. Kendra was quietly drawing that evening when the St. Jude Telethon came on television. Kendra looked up and said “I have to help those kids” She then quickly drew a simple yet compelling little dog. She said, “his name is going to be Trouble and he’s going to help kids.”  That moment in her aunt’s  eyes was absolutely divinely inspired. Kendra then wrote a comic strip telling Trouble’s story about being abandoned as a scared little pup in New York City and then being adopted by a kindly Nonnie. Trouble then goes on to rescue other pups “in trouble” and so the journey began. Trouble is now a global childrens’ character travelling the world comforting kids of all ages, whether their “troubles” are big or small, one hug at a time.

 Once upon a time, childhood was simple. Children just played. Not anymore.

Today’s kids are under pressure from school, from screens, from a world that often feels too big and too fast. Many are quietly navigating anxiety, grief, bullying, illness, or family upheaval. It’s just not easy to be a kid anymore.

So we created Trouble.

Trouble the Dog® is more than a plush. He’s a therapeutic tool for children facing big feelings, from anxious nights to overwhelming days. Trouble’s iconic, expressive face draws kids in instantly. Children feel something in him. They hold him close and don’t want to let go. Amazingly, Trouble helps kids hope, believe, and dream. He touches their souls. He absorbs worry and makes children smile.

Trouble is intentionally designed to support emotional regulation and self-soothing. His sensory-friendly texture, gentle weight, and grounded expression help calm the nervous system without screens, batteries, or noise. He’s a steady presence in moments of stress, transition, or sadness. Whether a child is afraid to sleep alone, overwhelmed at school, or working through something they can’t quite explain, Trouble helps them feel safe.

Trouble has also earned the trust of therapists, school counselors, and first responders who use him in professional settings as a comforting, grounding tool in times of acute stress. He’s one of the few plush companions equally at home in a child’s bedroom and a counselor’s office.

The Trouble proposition is simple: he’s a comforting companion for children growing up in a complicated world. Made in America. Crafted with care. Designed to comfort. Built to last.