The Urban Dog Lounge & Snack Bar idea has been generating a few questions and definitely some curiosity!

The PUP GoFundMe campaign will help to create this new to Halifax dog lover centred concept. We have been listening to our clients and friends of PUP and people love to be around dogs - whether their own or just to be in their presence.  

There is evidence to support that time with a pet is therapeutic, calming, and healing. Puppy kisses just have to reduce stress and Nikki and I both think that puppy breath should be bottled we love it so much. In our "work" with dogs each day we laugh, smile and giggle with delight a 100 times a day.  We want to share this with others.

The Lounge idea is forming into a mission of providing people who enjoy the company of dogs a chance to experience it. Similar to outside dog parks, owners can get together to socialize with their pups - create playdates or just connect with others while their dogs play.

There are other opportunities too. People that, for many reasons, cannot own their own dog but would benefit from an hour of playtime with dogs. A time to sit on the floor and get smothered with love or throw a ball or a game of tug or just sit still while a puppy takes a nap on their lap.

Thanks to a group of women entrepreneurs I am currently working with through Frances Leary, the great idea of creating a few remote workstations was born. We will create a space so that business owners who work from home have a place to come and bring their pooch and laptop.

The design of the front of the shop will include a one-way viewing window so anyone can see the pups in action. Health & Safety does not permit people food to be served but we can provide our pooches with treats and refreshments from the Snack Bar menu. Our signature "Hair of the Dog" beer will be served that can be paired with the Littlest Pet Bakery donair, pizza, burger & fries, or taco shaped organic treats. Not to leave the humans out we hope to install a coffee machine and if you happen to have a picnic in your backpack well...

Our new 900 square foot location on Agricola Street will have new safety flooring and comfy lounging and seating furniture (pee proof this time) decorated with an Urban flair. If funding allows in Phase 1, we want to include some climbing structures, tunnels, hideyholes, comfy curl up spots and other play structures that we know our pups will enjoy. The outside run will include real grass and more seating inside a fenced-in area.

There are lots of questions still to be answered on the operating side and plenty of experimenting in the early stages to figure out the right mix. Since 2014, our primary client has been small dogs under 30lbs and we will continue to cater to their unique needs through our PUP Daycare and Sleepover service. Outside of regular operating hours, the Lounge & Snack Bar may open up for dogs over 30lbs once we have the bugs worked out. 

There are a few examples similar to the PUP concept with a mission to assist in connecting rescue pets with new homes. In Dartmouth, the Lily Pad Cat Lounge  opened this winter. Nikki and I met with Jody to see her operation and to talk through some operational tactics. Le Doggy Cafe in Montreal inspired ideas for special events and breed specific socials. And internationally, the dog cafe business is more common like in Tokyo at the ABC Dog Cafe. Ultimately, this would be Cindy & Nikki's dream business - Monty's Dog Beach & Bar in Croatia and the inspiration for the Dog Beer idea!

The original Petite Urban Pooch is not going anywhere! We will continue to offer customized, client-centred care for our small urban pooches. Owners will small pups who do not use our daycare or overnight service will now have another option to spoil their pooch with the addition of the Urban Dog Lounge & Snack Bar.

If you are interested in experiencing the Lounge we have a time-limited offer to purchase a 10 x 1 hour membership pass. Go to the Urban Dog Lounge tab on this website and purchase before the end of May.