How did Gerty Pet’s Best Friend fare on Shark Tank? Details explored

Shark Tank Season 17 continued its October 1, 2025 episode with entrepreneur Todd Schram presenting an unconventional solution to canine separation anxiety. His company, Gerty Pet's Best Friend, offers a human-shaped inflatable companion designed to comfort dogs when their owners leave home. The product immediately sparked reactions from the panel, some amused, others skeptical about investing in what Robert Herjavec bluntly called "the rubber-blow-up-doll business."

Shark Tank invites aspiring business owners to pitch their products to five wealthy investors, hoping to secure funding in exchange for equity stakes. Entrepreneurs face tough questions about sales figures, production costs, and growth potential. The Sharks, who were Kevin O'Leary, Barbara Corcoran, Lori Greiner, Robert Herjavec, and guest Michael Strahan, decide whether concepts warrant investment or dismissal.

Schram entered seeking $50,000 for 20% equity in his company. Despite initial laughter and concerns about limited sales, one Shark saw potential. Kevin O'Leary, known for identifying quirky products with scaling possibilities, ultimately struck a deal, though at a steeper price than Schram initially offered.

What is Gerty Pet’s Best Friend and how did its Shark Tank pitch go?

Todd Schram introduced Gerty as a vinyl companion standing in for absent owners. The doll features large eyes and a bright smile, which Schram claimed were "scientifically" designed to soothe anxious pets.

"She has the emotional warmth of a human and the maintenance of a beach ball," Schram explained.

Elaborating:

"But Sharks, the most important thing about Gerty is she actually works."

The presentation drew immediate reactions. Herjavec called the doll "scary," while others struggled to contain laughter. Despite the humor, Schram emphasized Gerty's practical purpose, addressing genuine behavioral issues many dog owners face. Schram created Gerty out of personal necessity. He owned a rescue dog that howled constantly when left alone. Traditional products failed to help, leading him to develop his own solution.

Once introduced to Gerty, Schram's dog would rest quietly beside the inflatable companion. This transformation demonstrated the concept's effectiveness, though the Sharks remained cautious about broader market appeal.

The familiarization process requires owners to dress Gerty in their clothing, allowing dogs to recognize familiar scents. Owners must also introduce the doll as a "real person" so dogs don't perceive it as an unknown intruder. Each Gerty unit retails for $39.99 and costs $7.50 to manufacture. The dolls feature custom designs with three air valves, for which Schram has a patent pending.

He plans to expand the product line with customized versions featuring different faces instead of a single standard design. These personalized models currently sell for $64.99 on the official website and Amazon. The Sharks' enthusiasm dimmed when Schram revealed modest sales numbers. Since launching on Amazon, he'd sold only 200 units, a figure that worried investors about market demand and business viability.

Herjavec immediately declined, uncomfortable with the concept's niche appeal. Michael Strahan, Lori Greiner, and Barbara Corcoran followed suit, citing the company's early stage despite appreciating the product's creativity.

What did Kevin O’ Leary think about the product?

Only Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary remained interested. He referenced previous successes with unconventional products like Potato Parcel and Pop It Pals, believing Gerty possessed similar scaling potential.

Kevin O’Leary didn’t waste time, he offered the $50,000 but wanted 30% of the company, way more than the 20% Schram had hoped to give away on Shark Tank. That extra slice made Schram pause. Was the cash and “Mr. Wonderful” worth the bigger bite of ownership? After a moment of thinking and probably a deep breath, he said yes. One handshake later, the deal was done, giving Gerty a chance to grow with O’Leary’s sharp business brain and powerful retail reach.

Today, Gerty’s still up for grabs on its website and Amazon, $39.99 for the regular version, $64.99 if you want something custom. Whether this new partnership will turn the quirky little pet gadget into a household name is still a mystery, but one thing’s clear, Schram’s got the money, the mentor, and a shot at turning his clever idea into something way bigger than a Shark Tank pitch.

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Shark Tank airs Fridays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and is available for streaming the next day on Hulu.

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