Our full name is “Blue Door Flowers and beautiful things” which means we’re pretty much bound by law to stock a huge range “beautiful things” and, in our eyes, there is little more beautiful than a faithful hound by one’s side.
The huge number of dog owners in the Heatons is a testament to the many glorious green spaces we enjoy. But there are two very special reasons why we decided to include a mini dog boutique in our little shop. Their names are Tilda and Maxim.
Here they are photographed outside The Lamppost Cafe in Hebden Bridge which is one of their very favourite places in the whole world. It’s a cafe, but for hounds! They serve “pupcakes” made of dog-friendly ingredients (no gluten or sugar) and you can even order a doggy beer or a (non-dairy) ice-cream! Humans can order rather delicious food too. If you haven’t ventured to Hebden before, I can only urge you to do so. Combined with a dog walk round the fantastic Hardcastle Crags, it’s the perfect doggy day out.
The corner stone of Blue Door Dogs is, importantly enough for almost every dog, food. We stock a range of doggie treats from Pooch and Mutt which are ethical, natural, low-calorie, wheat-free and hand baked. Slightly more fragrant, but all the more enticing to canines for it, is our range of Fish Snacks all the way from Iceland (the country, not the supermarket…) Their Fish Cubes are made only of baked fish skin which is a natural source of omega 3 – important for healthy joints and a nice shiny coat – and their mildly abrasive crunchiness also cleans your dog’s teeth. There’s always a box of Fish Cookies underneath the counter for our visiting Blue Door Dogs to enjoy. Several clever dogs have worked out that a daily walk down Heaton Moor Road means snacks from Thom’s Bar, Back’s Deli and Blue Door – yum!
Every dog needs a smart collar and lead and we have two ranges to choose from. Blossom and Co make beautiful matching sets in a huge range of fabrics from elegantly plain to beautiful floral, finished with a nickel buckle. Each design is available in small, medium and large with a matching lead, and we encourage your dog to come in to try a few designs on and see what size is best for them.
The hugely talented Eluned Taylor at Urban Paw makes a range of highly distinctive collars using vintage fabrics, so your pet’s collar will be truly unique. For those who don’t like buckled collars, Urban Paw designs are finished with a snap fastener. Even more gorgeously, for every two collars Eluned makes, she makes one to donate to the Manchester Dogs’ Home.
Here’s the stately Lazlo modelling one of Eluned’s vintage sets at our opening party
If it’s been a while since bath time, we even have a range of perfumes to scent a stinky dog. Perfectly pH balanced to suit canine skin, the range includes Kennel No. 5 and Old Spike. You’ve got to love a pun as bad as this!
So next time you’re passing the Blue Door, don’t just stop outside so your pooch can have a drink of fresh water from the dog bowl by our front door, pop inside – dogs are always welcome inside too – and discover what treats are waiting for your pup behind the Blue Door.
