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Retailer Highlight: Downtown Dogs Daycare & Boarding / Dog’s Day Out Bathing & Grooming

  • Writer: IndiePet
    IndiePet
  • Jan 21
  • 3 min read

As IndiePet begins to get ready for another Neighborhood Pet Store Day celebration, we are happy to introduce IndiePet member and Neighborhood Pet Store Day celebrators, Downtown Dogs and Dog's Day out, and let them share their story.

Ralph Bernstein and dog

For 21 years, Downtown Dogs Daycare & Boarding has been trusted by Minneapolis dog lovers. In 2020, owner Ralph Bernstein expanded with Dog’s Day Out Bathing & Grooming. In 2023, he took his vision of being a one-stop shop for dog parents one step further with Change Unleashed! Barktique — dog-centric retail boutiques at each business.


What inspired you to add retail to your existing dog service businesses? 

Says Bernstein, “Our customers have lots of demands on their time. We knew they’d love the ease of picking up a high-quality toy for their pup after a boarding stay, a nutritious treat after a groom, or a unique gift for a dog lover in their life.”

The Barktique offers toys, treats, and trinkets that celebrate canine friends and those who love them. Bernstein says, “We don’t try to carry everything under the sun. Instead, we choose items carefully, with an eye toward form and function. We look for merchandise that makes dogs’ tails wag and pup parents smile — and products you often won’t find elsewhere in the Twin Cities. When you walk into Downtown Dogs and Dog’s Day Out, the marquee element is the Barktique. You can’t help but smile when greeted by vibrantly colored displays of whimsical products.”


And the Barktique helps pets in need, a core value going back to Downtown Dogs’ beginning in 2004. Every product comes from vendors that “give back” to pets, people or the planet — and many are women-, minority-, or LGBTQ+-owned. Bernstein also donates 3% of retail sales to local animal welfare nonprofits and invites customers to support these organizations by rounding up at check out.

This ongoing giving back initiative is called “Change Unleashed!”


In addition to the Change Unleashed! program and retail Barktique, what makes your businesses unique?


In addition to having doggy daycare boarding, bathing, grooming, and retail under one “woof,” Bernstein describes what distinguishes his businesses:


Downtown Dogs

  1. Expertise and experience — With over two decades in business and 25 employees, our team has, literally, hundreds of years of combined experience in caring for dogs.

  2. Commitment to treating every dog as an individual — We embrace each dog’s unique personality, play style, and temperament. Some daycares only want “good dogs.” We believe all dogs are good and happily welcome all sizes, breeds (including bully breeds), and ages.

  3. No memberships or minimums — We love seeing dogs for an hour, all day or an overnight stay. Unlike others in town, no reservations are required for daycare after a pup’s initial evaluation.

  4. Support of local animal rescues — Each year we provide over 100 nights of free and discounted boarding to local foster and rescue organizations.


Dog’s Day Out

  1. Our space — At 2,500 square feet, our bright and modern spa gives each dog plenty of space for comfort. Our private Groom Rooms help ease the stress some dogs feel when being groomed with other dogs. Our special “Zen Den” provides a private bathing and drying room for dogs who prefer a space away from other dogs and people.

  2. Our pay structure — Groomers receive an hourly wage plus commissions (grooming industry standard is commission-only), letting them focus on what’s best for each dog, instead of feeling pressure to “up sell” for more commission. Our groomers — and all employees across both businesses — receive above industry standard pay and benefits including FULLY PAID HEALTH INSURANCE.


Being a neighborhood pet business (and an IndiePet member!) means a great deal to us — and to our customers. Says Bernstein, “Our customers are amazing! They are open and generous and choose to support our businesses because they value what we do. We want them to feel good about where they shop and what they buy. When they choose us, they’re supporting local jobs, local nonprofits, and a happier, healthier future for pets."

Would you like your IndiePet member retail business story shared on our Neighborhood Pet Store Day site? Please reach out to info@indiepet.org.

 
 
 

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