Gastro-pup

Canine cuisine

Some area dog groomers now offer gourmet treats and baked goods as well as spa treatments. With pupcakes, liver treats, pumpkin drops, and garlic chicken bones, pets can savor local foodie delicacies these days.

NIKKI BEALL, founder and owner of VON BARKEE’S DOG SPA and BAKERY, is one expert who has combined her dog grooming and baking skills.

“It was a natural progression for me to add my baking experience into the business,” says Beall, who bakes and ships about thirty dozen Christmas cookies every year to friends and family.

Now she serves up a spread of canine-geared baked goods to the Wilmington area.

In addition to her homemade goodies for pups, Von Barkee’s brings in treats from a Boston-based pet bakery, whose proceeds directly benefit the Boston Marathon bombing victims.

As for the recipes of her own treats, she says she’s perfected them through trial and error.

“We use ingredients that are less likely to cause allergy issues, and almost all of our treats are corn, wheat, and soy-free,” she says.

ALLIX SNYDER, manager of the Wilmington branch of WOOF GANG BAKERY and GROOMING, which is based in Florida, says they offer a wide range of dog-approved delicacies, from coconut rounds to peppermint bones, meant to calm pups’ stomachs.

“The ‘icing’ used on the decorated treats is carob with yogurt powder and vegetable dye for natural coloring,” she says. “And they are all human-grade and quite tasty. We know from personal taste-testing!”

Snyder notes now that its grooming department has been completed, Woof Gang will soon do some of its baking locally. As of now, most of the treats are made to order from a bakery in Illinois and shipped overnight.

But these doggie goodies aren’t the only things these two area businesses offer. Specialized grooming services and a personalized, experienced touch are also on the menu.

Beall says she has been grooming dogs since 1993, and has since worked as an apprentice, managed shops, and now has opened her own. 

“We provide a calmer, nicer environment for the dogs,” she says. “We do not do cage-drying. We hand dry them and groom them straight through. Most of the time, we allow them to run around and play rather than sit in a crate until their owners come. I really try to make it a fun experience for them.”

Snyder says that she and store owner Erskine Smith took their time in finding an experienced, credible groomer for Woof Gang.

“We finally found that in our new groomer Alyssa Gore,” she says. “She has been grooming in Wilmington for over fifteen years, and she has an amazing way with animals, possessing the ability to make them feel calm and comfortable with their experience.”

“We like to offer shorter appointments, with pin-pointed time frames,” she says. “Lots of places do all-day appointments, but in that situation, the dogs might be anxious, and the time frame may not work out for the owner. At Von Barkee’s, you can drop your dog off in the morning, then be able to pick them up around noon or on your lunch break. Or you can drop them off, go eat, shop, then pick them up. We still allow people to leave them all day if needed, but that is rarely the case.”

Both locations offer customizable packages with fun alternatives like nail polish.

Von Barkee’s also boasts the services of Susan Waterstone, a masseur and Reiki master, who offers canine massage.

“The energy is fabulous,” Beall says. “It’s great for pain management and anxiety.”

Snyder says that Woof Gang is unique because its employees genuinely care about the well-being of the pets they come into contact with daily.

“We’re not a big box store, filled top to bottom with products we can’t tell you about,” she says. “We carefully select the range of products we offer, and I could talk for hours about their health benefits.”

Beall adds, “This is the best job in the world. I got to take my hobbies and skillset and turn them into a business − a true Wilmington-based business.”

To view more of photographer Katherine Clark’s work, go to www.katherineclarkphotography.com.