My favorite local pet shop
Dharma Dog carries high quality dog foods that you can't find in the big pet stores like Petsmart. That's why I started going there. At the time, I was feeding Rookie Canidae and when I searched online this was one of the local places that carried it. They specialize in dogs and cats (mostly dogs!) Dharma Dog also has a pet wash service. Their Web site has some pictures.
Here's what I like to see in a small independent pet shop:
- high quality foods and treats that you can't get at the big pet stores
- better, cooler, more stylish collars, leashes, harnesses, etc. I'm willing to pay more for them as long as they are high quality and a little unique.
- natural dog treats, Rookie doesn't do well on corn or wheat so I look for treats that don't include them. That can be hard to find.
- seminars or events that bring people in. For instance, a local pet store had a pug party when I went in one day. The place was full of pug owners. They haven't had a golden retriever day yet, but I watch their event calendar in case they do. It's just something fun to do.
Good luck!