Bow Wow!
Canines Take Stetson
By Renee Targos
Photos by Morgan Bellinger

Have you witnessed the invasion of downtown doggies? Shoppers crossing Canal Bridge can observe canines stretching with their owners on yoga mats or lapping up Frozen Woofie treats at owner/doggie ice cream socials. Let’s not forget pampered pooches and models parading down catwalks in fashion shows on Stetson Road.

Behind these festivities is Jackie Bacha—a 23-year-old dog-loving owner of Oh, My Dog! boutique, located at 7137 E. Stetson Rd., Ste. 8. Bacha is another example of the smart entrepreneurs establishing successful downtown businesses.

A graduate of Arizona State University, Bacha’s store offers delectable-looking treats, fashions, beds, grooming services, and classes for dogs. She’s created monthly events that are unique and well-attended by Downtowners. “I really wanted to make these events about the community,” says Bacha. “There are a lot of families with pets, who live downtown, and are looking for fun without alcohol.”

Living a half-mile from work, Bacha walks her 10-year-old poodle, Penelope, and standard-sized poodle, Navar, to work at 8 a.m. The clean, colorful store displays a glass case of pet cookies surrounded by dog-carrying bags and fashions in cutting-edge pooch couture. Besides normal grooming services, dogs are offered spa pampering, such as paw massage with butter balm or calming aromatherapy spritzer. With the help of her staff, Bacha manages her business, several community events and charity programs all before opening her doors at 10 a.m.

One of the store’s most successful events has been the Doga (or doggie yoga). Oh, My Dog! boutique and Arizona Yoga, located at 2334 N. Scottsdale Rd., #126, hosts a free outdoor class the first Tuesday of each month at Stetson Plaza from 6-8 p.m. It’s a chance for owners and dogs to give each other undivided attention while getting a good workout.

Bacha, who practices yoga, decided to look into hosting Doga events after “Penelope would come over to me on my mat,” says Bacha. “I researched and found there were classes in New York and L.A., so I looked into a yoga studio here.”

The gist of Doga is for owners to strike yoga positions that incorporate their canine friend into the experience. This is accomplished by reaching a pose (while stepping over a lying dog) or helping a dog to stretch.

The class offers dog lovers time to socialize with their pooches and other Downtowners. “We put up fences on Tuesday night and have people bring their own mats,” says Bacha.
So far, Oh, My Dog! has partnered with six local businesses, such as artspace gallery, Gelato Spot, Kokopelli Dog and Puppy Training and Gems 4 Paws. Oh, My Dog! also provides free classes for pet owners on making dog food, glittery collars or giving the lowdown on pooch behavior techniques.

For her next project, she’s focused on the premier event, Dogathon, scheduled Nov. 1-Nov. 2 (see below).

Working 60-hour work weeks, Bacha can be found during her off-time eating at her favorite restaurant, Mandala Tearoom, or hiking Camelback Mountain carrying Penelope in a pouch nestled on her chest. “People stop me on the mountain because I’m carrying one dog and being dragged up the mountain by another,” says Bacha. “But I don’t care what people think, I just do what I want and have fun.”

OMD! Events
• Oct. 1 – Sale. The boutique is offering a 50 percent sale on clothing, accessories, and bedding. It also offers 40 percent off of Canine Cavia, Eagle Pack and Mulligan’s Stew Dog Foods. Sales are good through Oct. 31.
• Oct. 7 – Doga: Yoga for Your Dog. Sponsered by Lululemon Athletica and Arizona Yoga, please bring your mat.
• Oct. 14 – Does Tricks 4 Treats!  To kick off the Halloween season, the store is giving prizes to the dogs with the best tricks. Please bring your dog to Oh, My Dog! and show off his or her best trick.
• Oct. 21 – Howloween Cookie Decorating. Decorate a Halloween cookie for your dog. All cookies are from the Green Bone Bakery at City North Shopping Center.
• Oct. 28 – Howloween Pawty. Enjoy drinks and appetizers at Oh, My Dog! Your pooch must come in costume. There will be prizes for the most creative costume, the cutest costume, the scariest costume and best overall costume. 

Please, friendly doggies only for events. All events start at 6:30 p.m. and are held at either Oh, My Dog! at 7137 E. Stetson Dr., Suite 8 and 9, or down the street at the fountain. For more information on events, visit www.ohmydogboutique.com. 

Dogathon
Nov. 1-Nov. 2, Downtowners can attend a social and charitable festival called Dogathon. Combining auctions, social mixers, parades, and pet adoptions, Dogathon is hoping to get 100 dogs adopted and increase rescue awareness.

Nov. 1, the charity parade begins at noon at SouthBridge and Scottsdale Waterfront, with registered patrons and their pooches walking for the charity of their choice. A celebrity panel will judge best Howl-O-Ween costume, fashion, and breed.

Nov. 2, at 10 a.m., attendees come back for events, competitions and more dog adoptions. There is also a charity golf tournament at Talking Stick Golf Club in north Scottsdale and a nightclub party at Six Scottsdale, 7310 N. Stetson.

For more information, visit www.dogathon.com.