Hipster Dogs

hipster dogs at bubbly paws dog wash in minneapolis, mnSarah, one of our dog wash employees decided it would be a good idea to put her "hipster" sunglasses on Mattie and Roxy... So we turned it into a photo shoot.  I really think one of the things that sets Bubbly Paws apart from other dog businesses is that we LOVE to have fun and we don't take things to seriously!  Hope everyone had a good weekend! Keith

 

Summer Event Season

Summer is my favorite time of year; it’s when the Twin Cites come alive with events and outdoor fun. We had a great time watching the Parktacular parade go by Bubbly Paws last Saturday including the Pawtacular section that we sponsored and raised money for the Golden Valley Humane Society. This weekend we will be at the Pride festival and our booth will feature a doggie lounge with Bowser Beer! June marks the beginning of our summer of Self-Service Baths for a Cause events. On the last Wednesday night of every month from June to September we will be having bubble bath parties to raise money for local pet rescues. Next Wednesday June 27th we will be having our first to raise money for The Pet Project. The Pet Project works with people who may not have the resources to care for the pets they love and want to keep. The Pet Project connects these people with supplies, low-cost veterinary care and other aid that keeps pets in their home where they belong. Join us for $15 self-service baths, $5 nail trims and 15% off retail items at 5:30pm. We recommend reservations that can be made here.

I love to support local events and good causes so I hope to see you at this event or another in the future!

Twin Cities Pride Festival

 

Pampered Pooch Playground and Bubbly Paws Dog Wash are 2 locally owned dog businesses in St Louis Park ready to spoil your pooch.  Click the links below to learn more about each family owned place.

 

Bubbly Paws Dog Wash (dog spa, grooming and self-service baths)

Pampered Pooch Playground (doggy daycare, hotel and training)

Spring Grooming Boom

We have been filling up all of our grooming appointments almost two weeks in advance currently. I know it can be frustrating when your dog really needs to be groomed and you can't get in when you would like but we are doing our best to accommodate everyone. One of the things that makes Bubbly Paws so great is that we have a small staff and know our clients personally, dogs and their humans. We want to take our time and make grooming low stress so the job is done well and to everyone's satisfaction so we don't book too many dogs each day. We allow time for them to get personal attention and so they never have to sit in a kennel before grooming begins. We have also had an influx of clients from other grooming salons so please keep this in mind when you would like to make your next grooming appointment. We hope to see you and your dog soon!

Featured Rescue Dog - Byron

Byron foster dog in minneapolisSay Hello to Byron... He is being fostered by one of the Bubbly Paws employees for Heading Home K9 Rescue in Minneapolis..  Remember if you adopt Byron, you get a free self-service bath. Byron is the sweetest, softest, most eager to please dog we have seen.... he offers his belly up to strangers for a belly rub, loves kids and other dogs ( wants to play with them!), and just goes about life with a happy attitude and a desire to do whatever he can to please his people. At 75 pounds, he's not truly a lap dog, but he sure tries. He walks/runs with you, is mellow inside, well housetrained and minds his manners. No cats for him, please, he likes to chase them too much. He has had basic obedience and loves to show off what he knows.

Why Doggie Life Jackets Are Important

This past weekend, Trycia and I were in wisconsin visiting her family and we spent a good amount of time on the water.  Whenever we have Roxy on a boat, and she LOVES going on the boat, we always have her life jacket on.  We use the jacket because if she ever fell off, getting her back into the boat would be almost impossible without the handle on the back of her jacket.  This past weekend, there was a news story on ABC 7 in Chicago about a dog that fell off the boat in the Chicago River and swam to shore because he had a lifejacket on.  The video from the story is below!  I bring this up, not as a sales pitch for the lifejackets we sell at Bubbly Paws, but to keep dogs safe on all the Minnesota lakes and rivers this summer.  

Memorial Day

I hope everyone had a great day with their dogs on this Memorial Day. Dogs serve and protect us everyday and as we remember those that have fallen in the line of duty today we should remember some of our four-legged service members. Dogs have followed their people into war since ancient history as worked within the American military since the Civil War. During World War I about a million dogs died in action, most working to deliver messages. Cairo, a Belgian Malinois, worked with Nary Seals in the operation that killed Osama bin Laden. From our companions to military service dogs, dogs work hard to please their people everyday. I hope the dogs in your life bring you peace and security today.

Featured Rescue Dog - Aloha

Aloha - available for adoption in Minneapolis, MNMeet Aloha who is available for adoption through MUSHR.  Aloha is a very sweet girl and was being fostered by one of our employees at Pampered Pooch Playground.   She is cream colored with brown eyes and weighs about 40 pounds. The family that adopts Aloha will need to take puppy classes and continuously work on her socialization. While Aloha is extremely timid, with a little patience she can show a lot of affection. She has a very gentle disposition but is a bit shy with strangers. Aloha is crate trained for day and night and is housebroken. She loves carrying around toys and anything else that is left on the ground. You can always find a large collection of toys stashed in her crate. She does extremely well with dogs of all sized and would do well in a multiple pet household. Aloha also does well with cats. On a leash, she does okay walking at your side except when passing people and dogs or if there is too much commotion around. She may do better in a quieter neighborhood. Aloha gets along very well with the resident dog who has helped Aloha learn how to play and just be a dog. Because of the need for Aloha's ongoing socialization and because she has learned so much from the resident dog, we are looking for a home for Aloha that already has a stable dog to help continue to teach Aloha the ropes of being a great dog. We have no doubt she will make a wonderful part of someone's family in time. She has a lot of potential and is making great progress already!  Click here for more pictures on her PetFinder.com profile.  If you adopt Aloha, we will give you a free self-service bath at Bubbly Paws Dog Wash.

My first Beer with your Buddy

Last Saturday was my first time at Beer with your Buddy. I didn’t know quite what to expect and I didn’t know anyone else who was going but I found out quickly that this wouldn’t be a problem. People were so ready to talk with their comrades on the bocce court while the dogs first sniffed and milled around before everyone loosened up and the dogs and their people started the real fun of getting to know each other. I met someone who had just moved from the West coast who came alone and made a few new friends by the end of the night. I ran into Bubbly Paws customers and had a good time chatting and getting to know their dogs outside of the context of the dog spa. When the weather turned stormy we leashed our dogs and brought them inside The Nomad. It was awesome to see more than twenty leashed dogs in a small space behaving so peacefully. I got treated to a great night of Minnesota nice and it seemed like everyone else did too. I am so glad to be a part of such a welcoming and dog loving community!

Trip to Chicago

20120521-152426.jpg As many of you might know, I really love the Chicago White Sox and I grew up in Chicago. So this past weekend, Trycia and I took a short trip Chicago to see the Cubs / White Sox Game. Oh, did you know the White Sox won the series?? (sorry, needed to brag for a moment). Anyway, we also checked out a few dog businesses while we had some time to kill. One place we looked at was described as an upscale dog wash. After walking in and seeing how it worked, there is no doubt in my mind that we are one of the friendlier, nicer dog washes in the country. Their staff was showing us around and it seemed like it was a chore for them. I asked a few questions and they seemed annoyed. Oh, you also have to lift your dog about 4 feet high into a tub. I now have a new respect for our tubs that the dogs can walk into. I think trying to lift Roxy who is over 95 pounds would kill my back. OUCH! As always, we strive to be the best, friendliest, and most fun. If you ever have a comment or suggestion let us know. I want each customer leaving our dog wash saying, "wow, i really had fun there".

Have a good day.

Keith

Featured Rescue Dog

featured rescue dog in minneapolis, mnBubbly Paws Dog Wash believes in giving back to the pet community in the Twin Cities and every few weeks we will feature a new dog that is up for adoption from a local pet rescue.  To help promote adoption, we will donate a free self-service bath to the person that adopts the dog.  Stop back soon to see our first featured rescue dog.

The Joy of Brushing your Dog

It’s shedding season. Franklin (like most labs and lab mixes) sheds so much, no matter how often I brush him it seems like it doesn’t make a difference. But I still brush him every day because it is good for both of us. Brushing your dog will make him more comfortable in hot summer weather, alert you to any skin problems, bumps or scrapes she may have picked up and allow you to check for fleas and ticks. Regular brushing also prevents matting in long coated breeds. Matted hair is not only unsightly; it irritates your dog’s skin and in severe cases causes loss of circulation to the skin. Brushing is best done when your dog is dry; we recommend you thoroughly brush your dog before starting a self-service bath. The best brush to use on your dog depends on coat type, we would be happy to recommend an appropriate brush out of the many types we have here at Bubbly Paws.

 

Grooming your dog should be enjoyable for both of you, so starting to socialize your puppy to getting groomed is vital at a young age. If you have an adult dog that does not care to be brushed positive reinforcement training can greatly improve his or her behavior. First, start slow by asking your dog to stand still while you gently touch the dog with a brush. Reward your dog with small treats. If your dog is doing well, start brushing the body of your dog in the direction her hair grows. If your dog or puppy is squirming, wait for him to relax, then give him a treat and try again later. Gradually increase the time and intensity of your brushing but wait to brush sensitive areas like behind the ears, armpits, belly and rear until your dog is comfortable getting brushed. Try to integrate brushing into times you give your dog affection. The best thing you can give your dog is your time, grooming should be part of the way you and your best buddy bond.

Meet Lill!

minneapolis dog wash managerHi, my name is Lill and if you’ve been to Bubbly Paws recently you have probably seen me. I will be writing our blog posts for a while so I thought I would take a minute to introduce myself and tell you about why I love Bubbly Paws. I grew up in south Minneapolis and have always loved animals. My passion for dogs started in high school when I began volunteering for the Golden Valley Humane Society. Since graduating from college and retuning to Minneapolis I have been fostering and volunteering with Secondhand Hounds. In that time I adopted Franklin. I really love being able to bring Frank to work with me, he is a special dog and enjoys being the shop greeter. It means a lot to me that I can support rescues while at work. Bubbly Paws regularly hosts fundraisers for local rescues and sponsors events like Beer with your Buddy and encourages employees to do the Walk for the Animals and other dog-centric events. I also love that Bubbly Paws tries to be as green as possible from the big things like using natural laundry detergent, high-efficiency washers and driers, and locally made Topline shampoo and conditioner that we buy in bulk and dilute in-house to the little things like recycling receipts, reusing gift cards and not using bottled water. We are always looking for ways to be greener and support our local dog rescues, if you have an idea feel free to email me!

Happy 1 Year Anniversary, Jessica!

Minneapolis dog groomerWow... I can't believe that Jessica, our AMAZING dog groomer has already been with us for a year.  It feels like just yesterday she was impressing us with her test groom.  Finding a dog groomer is such a hard task and one that I never look forward to.  IT is really hard to find a great groomer, that has a good personality and is willing to deal with customers.   It is basically like finding a great hair stylist, but harder!!  Jessica is the total package and we absolutely love having her at Bubbly Paws.  Thanks again for such a great year!!!  For more on our grooming services, visit our dog grooming page. Keith

Project Day

Roxy and Bindi at Bubbly Paws Dog Wash in Minneapolis,mn Sometimes I think small business owners forget how important it is to keep a business looking like it is brand new!  We always work hard at Bubbly Paws Dog wash to make sure thinks are as fresh and clean as the day we opened.  Last sunday, on Easter was the perfect day for us to touch up some of the paint around the tubs and other places around the dog wash.  So on Sunday afternoon we took Roxy and her best friend Bindi to the dog wash and re-painted all the tubs.  We often find going in on a holiday that we are closed is much easier than going in late at night.  So we hope everyone enjoys the updates and know we are always working hard to be the cleanest and freshest dog wash in the Twin Cities.

Have a good night.

Keith