Fox 9 stopped out at Bubbly Paws Dog Wash to talk about the 5th annual Woof 'n Treat dog Halloween Party. Check out the 4 segments below.
Halloween Safety
I am so excited for our Halloween party Woof N’ Treat! I hope to see all of our friends and their dogs in costume and having a great time but Halloween can be a dangerous time for pet so I thought I would take a moment to remind everyone of a few safety tips before our big party.
It is common knowledge that chocolate is bad for dogs and cats so keep candy out of their reach. Even non-chocolate candy can be dangerous to pets, Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that is very toxic to animals and wrappers can cause choking or intestinal blockage. Pumpkins are non-toxic to pets (pumpkin is actually a great treat for dogs) but make sure carved pumpkins with candles are out of the way so they can’t be knocked over by your pet.
Trick or treater’s can scare pets, from the constant doorbell ringing to the scary costumes so on the night of Halloween is it best to keep your pets in a separate room away from the front door. Make sure your pets have current tags on in case they get spooked and escape.
I am so excited to see all the dog costumes on Saturday but make sure to try on your pet’s costume before the costume contest to make sure they will tolerate wearing it. The costume should not restrict your dog’s movement, block their vision or obstruct their hearing or breathing. Keep an eye on your pet to make sure they don’t chew or eat parts of their costume.
I wish you all a safe and happy Halloween and hope to see you and your dog at Woof N’ Treat!
Here are a few links to more pet safety tips:
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-care-tips/halloween-safety-tips.aspx
http://vetmedicine.about.com/cs/winterinfo/a/halloweensafety.htm
Why we don't sell the coolest pet product of 2012
One thing that we try really hard to do at Bubbly Paws Dog Wash is find unique products that are not sold in big box stores and products that we really believe in. Last weekend we were at a pet expo for retailers and found a great product that I was so excited to sell. It was basically a poop bag holder, but you can roll the poop bags back in rather than jamming and stuffing them back into the unit. This was honestly the one product that we found that I was most excited to try to sell. When we got back from the pet expo, I was telling all of our dog wash staff about how great this product is and everyone was really excited to try it. I very rarely get this excited over something I found at a trade show! The product is made by a small, start up company, which was another reason that we were excited to sell them. They called me last Monday and we talked on the phone for about 10 minutes, and I let them know how great their product was. We placed our order, and they told us that we did not order enough of the product (we ordered 12 of them which is 2 cases), after all it is a new product and we were not even sure of it was going to sell. They sent the order back and said that we needed to order more!! I am honestly not sure why a small, start up company is trying to up-sell and make us order more on a product that is brand new. They should honestly be happy that someone is placing an order no matter how big or small it is. If it took off and sold great, we would have come back and ordered more. I guess the moral of the story is not every small business is as small business minded as we are. We try to support as many small or local companies as we can. I honestly don't like to carry products that you can find in one of the huge stores.
So sorry that this was such a negative post, but I felt we should tell everyone why we are not carrying it. Oh, as you will notice, I never mentioned the company by ;)
Have a great weekend!
Keith
Pet Expo Fun
Every fall there is an industry pet expo in Chicago that Trycia and I like to go to. Honestly I am not always a huge fan of these events, you have all the big companies there trying to sell you on why their product is the best. What we really love to see is the small businesses that are there, because we enjoy supporting them (since we are also a small business). We found a few really cool products that you will start to see at the dog wash in the next few weeks.
While in Chicago, we also visited a few dog washes and doggy daycares. I am still convinced that Bubbly Paws is one of the nicest and most upscale dog washes in the country and that our customer service is always great! As always, if you ever have feedback please let us know!
I am originally from the Chicago area, and it was great to see my family and friends while we were in town!
Have a good night!
Keith
The best new dog toy
Today we got a very interesting email at the dog wash telling us about how this guy created the best new dog toy every made. He went on and talked about how he designed it, and all the work and money he put into the product and why we need to blog about it. I believe that our integrity is the best thing we have going for us at Bubbly Paws Dog Wash... So I asked him to send us a sample of his "amazing" product, and if our dog Roxy and some of the shop dogs like the toy, then we can review it.. I can't say something is the best without actually trying it out! He said that he would not send out sample products without a minimum 20 toy order.. So I quickly responded saying that we refuse to review and sell the product... I mean seriously, I am not going to lie on the blog and say something really is the best when I have never even touched it!
With almost every retail product we sell at Bubbly Paws Dog Wash, there is a story behind it, or a reason we sell it. If you want to know why something is great, just ask our staff.
Have a great night!
Keith
Beer With Your Buddy
Last night was the final Beer With Your Buddy of the season, and it was a great night despite the colder weather! Bubbly Paws Dog Wash has been part of this event for the past 2 summers, and we love it! Roxy had lots of fun watching everyone make s'mores and walking from table to table begging fir treats. This might be one of her favorite events! People often ask why we do so many events, and I always say they are fun and I love to sport anything that makes Minneapolis a dog friendly city and we like to support businesses that support local pet rescues. Don't worry, just because Beer With Your Buddy is over for the season, that does not mean everything is over! I am working on putting together a great event with one of our favorite Micro Brewery's. Hopefully we will have everything worked out soon and we can give you the details! Until then, get excited for our 5th annual Woof 'n Treat Dog Halloween Party!
Have a great day!
Keith
Social Media Done Right
It is no secret that we LOVE to use Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at the dog wash. Seriously, we have so much fun putting pictures up and interacting with our customers on there. I get really annoyed with businesses that don't understand how to use it correctly. I think my biggest problem is when a company put up "Like this picture if ____" or when companies try to sell products. Social media should be fun and interactive! Trycia and I were in Kauai for the past few days and we had a blast there and I was very impressed with how well our hotel responded to social media. As some of you might know I love coffee and I found out that our hotel was importing Settle's Best coffee rather than using the amazing Kona coffee which is gown locally! Why would they order coffee that is mass produced over 2000 miles away and then have to ship it for people to enjoy OK coffee. I asked them this question on their facebook page, and within about 3 hours I had a response saying that they have a coffee cart that brews Kona coffee... But to make it even better, they delivered 2 bags of coffee and coffee mugs direct to our hotel room so we could brew it in our room. I mean seriously, what company does that? I was just so impressed by them. The trip was great and it is always hard to go away when you have 2 small businesses that you worry about. Thankfully we have Lill who is an amazing manager, Jess who is an amazing groomer and out wonderful staff of Cat, Ashley and Kalyn. If you want to read more about our trip, visit the Pampered Pooch Playground Blog.
So if you run a small business, there is your social media lesson for the day... Go to Kauai, and learn how to facebook!
Have a great night!
Keith
Roxy's Uptown Minneapolis Adventure
Trycia, Roxy and I had lots of fun shopping in Uptown yesterday... I know I always say this, but Minneapolis really is a dog friendly city! Our first stop was the Apple Store, which LOVES having dogs come in. All the staff flock to you, but not to help, just to pet your dog! We both got the new iPhone 5 on Friday and wanted to get a case, but guess what... The Apple Store does not have cases in stock yet. Call me crazy, but I just assumed they would have cases for their hottest new product.
When we were done playing with all the toys, we walked down the street and I had to wait outside while Trycia was shopping (they were not dog friendly, sad!). While waiting on Hennepin Ave, lots of people would pet Roxy as they walked by and she loved it! Our final stop was at the new CB2 store. I walk talking to one of the employees there and he said "how could we not be dog friendly, I love to meet them all". There is something that just feels cool about taking your dog with you! I am always surprised more stores are not dog friendly!
Where are some of the places that you like to take your pooch?
Have a good day!
Keith
Halloween is in the air!
The past 2 weeks, I have been working hard to get everything lined up for our 5th annual Woof 'n Treat dog Halloween party which will be outside Bubbly Paws Dog Wash! Each year it keeps getting bigger and better and this year will be no different. I think back to the first year that we had the party at Pampered Pooch Playground, our doggy daycare because it was the first real event that we had! We learned a few things and then made it even better and more fun for customers and dogs each year. Last year was the first time we had the doggy party at Excelsior and Grand and it was a huge hit!!. All of the businesses in the area were so impressed with how well it ran, that everyone wanted to be part of it this year! Earlier this week, I had a great meeting with all the business owners and managers from the area and everyone is VERY excited for the event. This year the event benefits Homeward Bound Rescue. You can see all the details on the Woof 'n Treat website and facebook page.
Below are just a few things that will happen this year.
- Local Beer tasting
- Hay rides (for dogs and people)
- DJ
- Amy James from K102 hosting the costume contest
- And so much more!!
If you have any ideas or suggestions, just let us know!
Keith
A fun day at Woofstock!
This past Saturday was one of my favorite dog events of the year... Linden Hills Woofstock! Everyone always asks why it is my favorite event, and it is because we live in the Linden Hills area and it is our way of giving back to the community in which we live! Both our businesses have so much in common with those of Linden Hills Businesses (we are small, local, community minded and try hard to be as green as possible). For the past 4 years Pampered Pooch Playground has been a presenting sponsor, and Bubbly Paws has been a sponsor for the past 2 years. All the products that we had for sale were either made by a local company or a green product! People that stopped out got to have fun in the Photo Booth and sample the doggy beer. Jessica, our groomer at Bubbly Paws left the booth for a few minutes to grab something to eat, and her fan club must have stopped out! In a 10 minute period, about 3 people were talking about how much they love her grooming style, and how we groom dogs at Bubbly Paws. I really enjoyed getting this type of feedback! We never wanted to groom a bunch of dogs each day, but focus more on the quality of the groom and the stress free setting!
Have a great day!
Keith
Ear Cleaning 101
There’s a reason ear cleaning is always included in our spa services and I try to encourage people who are doing self-service baths to clean out their dog’s ears when they are finished. This prevents infection that could be caused by any moisture that gets in a dog's ears during a bath. Dogs with drop ears (ears that hang down to cover the ear canal as opposed to ears that stand up and expose the ear) are especially prone to bacterial or yeast infections because air does not circulate to dry the ears naturally. Regular cleaning is a great way to prevent this.
Ear cleaning is pretty simple and like any grooming routine your dog will be a willing partner if you use positive reinforcement and repetition so your dog is used to having his or her ears handled. First wet a cotton ball with ear cleaner. Hold your dog’s ear and push the cotton ball into his ear while maintaining a hold of your dog’s ear and the cotton ball. Pull the cotton outward, taking dirt, debris and buildup out of his ear. Alternately, you can squirt ear cleaner into your dog's ear, massage into the ear and ear canal and use a cotton ball to remove excess cleaner and loosened dirt and debris. Repeat with a fresh cotton ball until the ear is clean, then do the other ear. Be careful not to put your finger or the cotton ball into your dog’s ear canal. Allowing your dog to shake after a bath will also help remove any water or ear cleaner left in his ear. Always clean your dog’s ears after a bath, swimming or getting wet. For dogs with infection prone ears, you can clean them once a week or as often as twice a day as a preventative measure.
We have a variety of products for ear care at home. Cain & Able and AromaPaws both make a great natural ear cleanser. HappyTails makes Ear Clear, a serum to ease itchy, smelly or exceptionally dirty ears. It uses arnica, a widely used analgesic and anti-inflammatory herb and is naturally anti-microbial and anti-bacterial. If you have any questions or need a demonstration on how to clean your dog’s ears, please let us know!
Weekend Coffee Service
At Bubbly Paws Dog Wash, we always try to go the extra mile to make sure our customers are always well taken care of while washing their dogs. Starting this Saturday, we will be starting our new Bubbly Paws Coffee Service on Weekends from 10am-noon. This is not just your run of the mill, store bought coffee! We feature locally roasted coffee and and brew it to perfection. Stop in, and grab a free cup!
Franklin's Fashion Story
Franklin is comfortable and casual in this subtle floral print bandanna.
Whether getting away for a weekend in the country or vacationing at the cabin, Franklin keeps it clean while getting dirty in this Stunt Puppy dry collar, and Roundabout leash.
Keys at the ready and styled to a T, Frank is always dapper in his Newport collar and leash, by Harry Barker, day or night wear for the city life.
When feeling festive Frank dons his holiday sweater, warm in a crisp autumn evening.
All clothes are model's own. Styling by Lill, on location at Bubbly Paws.
Bubbly Paws - Always a Good Time
Roxy's cousin Roman was visiting for the weekend and we took them to the Minnehaha Falls Dog Park. Check out all the fun they had!
Back from Denver
The past few days, Trycia and I were in Denver to check out a Jack White at Red Rocks. As many of our blog readers know, whenever we travel we always love to check out other dog businesses to see what we can improve on or do things better... We checked out a dog wash in Denver and wow, it was very "functional" over being cute and looking clean. It was nothing more than a few elevated bath tubs with plywood around the tubs. I also noticed that they closed at 6pm on weekdays. We also checked out a few pet boutiques and found some pretty neat products that we want to start carrying. Expect a few new things in the next couple of weeks. After visiting, I am pretty sure that we have built one of the nicest dog washes in the country (and I am not just saying that because we own Bubbly Paws). If there is ever anything we can do to improve, please feel free to reach out and contact me; some of the best things we have done have come from our customers. We also checked out a few doggy daycares in the area, you can read more about our visit on the Pampered Pooch Playground Blog.
As for Denver, I really like the city and how dog friendly it is! It really reminds me of Minneapolis just with more hills and hiking trails!
Have a great weekend!
Featured Rescue Dog: Max
Max is being fostered by one of our friends and would make a great addition to a home that is ready for a dog that has a little energy.
Here is what his foster family said about him....
He is a lover of love! When he's left alone for hours on end, he can get into some trouble with digging and chasing chipmunks but what Wirehair wouldn't when left to their own devices for that long? I think he'd do best crated, in the house and then being exercised with a ball, a dummy throwing session or going for a swim. He adores people, does well with other dogs but has growled and nipped at a child- but only when they were trying to ride him like a horse. He is so gentle and really would be a terrific pet for someone who has the time. For more information on Max, send us an email.
Thanks Mattie
Today was a sad day at Bubbly Paws because it was Sarah's last day working for us before she moves away for college. Sarah, better known as Mattie the airedale's mom, was one of our first employees and Mattie was just a puppy. It is now 1.5 years later and Mattie is all grown up and loves to greet everyone when they come in to Bubbly Paws! You might remember Mattie from some of her crazy Facebook pictures (wearing sunglasses, a snowsuit, or a homemade rain jacket), and Sarah was a great employee because she loved taking these random pictures. I could text her and say "can you put a new picture of _____ on our Facebook page" and Sarah would have a complete photo shoot with Mattie and then put the best picture up. This past Friday, we did film some more clips of Mattie and the video should be out soon.
We are going to miss Sarah and wish her the best of luck in the future. We know she will keep stopping in to say yellow to everyone!
Have a good night.
Keith
Summer Fun!
I hope everyone is making the most of our hot and heavy summer! Lots of our regular clients have gone out to the lake or cabins in the past month and we are so lucky to have two more months of summer left to enjoy. Franklin and I are getting ready to get away as well and as much dog stuff as I have I think there are a few more things I have to pick up before we head out of town.
A stink proof collar is a must for dogs who like to swim, hunt, dock-dive or dogs that just like to roll in stinky stuff. We carry Stunt Puppy’s Stink Proof collar, RuffWear’s Headwater collar and OllyDog’s Tilden collar (and leashes). All are made of BioThane which wipes clean and dry, no need to wash it. The Headwater collar has a nice reflective pattern for added visibility and the Stink Proof collar has StuntPuppy’s classic double D –rings, one for a leash and one for tags. If your dog is a questionable swimmer, a life-jacket might also be something to pick up.
Summer is a buggy time of year and happytails dog spa products help prevent and treat itches. Their Flea the Scene is a dog safe bug repellant. It also sooths the skin and has UV protection. Itchin’ for Relief helps sooth hot-spots, bug bites and irritated skin. All happytails products are all natural, eco-friendly and cruelty free.
Frank and I would love to wish you a safe and fun summer!
Twin Cities Pride
This was the 2nd year that Bubbly Paws Dog Wash and Dog Spa was at the Twin Cities Pride Festival and I personally think it was our most fun year! We had our doggy lounge which was complete with our doggy bar, our cool new Minnepawpolis shirts, and a fun staff that really wanted to be there! Seriously, it was such a grew time and loved seeing all of our customers stopping over. We had our good friend Amber from Modern Life Photo at our booth taking pictures of people and their dogs. You can see and download the pictures she took on her website. Thanks again for making it such a fun and successful event!
Featured Rescue Dog: Lilly!
There are a lot of reasons why I like Lilly (even though we have never met): we have the same name, she is a little stubborn and a little silly, and has spent a long time waiting for the right family or person to find her (AND she has a lucky ear!)
She is a four year old, spayed female bull terrier up for adoption through Secondhand Hounds. She has that goofy bull terrier forehead and squinty eyes that just can't be beat. She needs a home without other dogs but is good with cats and older kids. She does get along with some other dogs but needs proper and slow introductions. Lilly is looking for someone who understands that she needs love and support to be the best dog she can. Like most bull terriers Lilly can be stubborn but is willing to listen to her person and loves to play. Once you have her love, Lilly will be your loyal and steadfast companion for life. Her profile can be viewed here. Remember that the lucky person who adopts Lilly gets a free self-service bath at Bubbly Paws!