When you’re putting together your holiday gift lists, don’t forget the four-legged members of your household. Just remember that grabbing a random bag of chewies from a register line isn’t your only option for pets.
Your first stop for the food-hound should be Wag N’ Wash Natural Food and Bakery. Known for a wide range of meal options for canines and felines as well as self-service dog washes, Wag N’ Wash also offers house-made baked goods ranging from crunchy Moose Head and Cheezie Delight biscuits to beefloaves and custom cakes. Staff members say they’ve recently replaced all vegetable oil and margarine with coconut oil in their baked goods, so you know you’re getting the best made fresh.
If your furry friend prefers a different kind of pampering, perhaps a trip to Republic of Paws Salon and Day Spa in Old Colorado City will be right up their alley.
“We try to be a little bit different with our grooming salon because our push has been for holistic and integrative wellness, so we’re really picky about the products that we use,” says owner Molly Smith. “The lines we’ve chosen—Aroma Paws, Espree and Earthbath—all of them are soap- and alcohol-free. They’re really meant to be extremely hydrating for the skin.”
Like any spa worth its bath salt, ROP offers lots of add-on services, including deep-sea mineral mud baths and lavender relaxation massages. And seasonal specials include scented shampoo and conditioning spritz—“if people want their dogs leaving smelling like pumpkin spice or sugar cookies,” Smith says.
Prefer your dog with the scent of hops? Prioritize a trip to Pub Dog Colorado, which will be fun for you and them. It’s the only restaurant in the state where you can dine and imbibe adult beverages indoors with your pup, so you don’t need to worry about being relegated to a patio in colder weather (unless you want to be—they have one of those too).
If you’ve got felines in your family, you can upgrade your kitty’s crunchy treats to freeze-dried ahi tuna or wild-caught salmon at Republic of Paws. Or plan to board them in luxury at Catagonia Cat Hotel when you need to travel. Even the pickiest of kitties will enjoy her private condo, with cat shelves, towers and hidey holes. And if they seem cranky when you pick them up, pick up a little “Meowijuana,” aka 100% organic, hand-trimmed catnip, from what Catagonia says is the largest selection of the herb in the city.
Pets of Instagram
Want to see how others pamper their pets? Follow these local furry friends on Instagram.
@kodi_thecoloradopup An Australian shepherd who hikes—a lot.
@explorewithollie A furry rescue mutt who climbs Colorado’s 14ers—and has been on the cover of this magazine.
@theluciegoose A rescued border collie-pit bull mix, who is in her fourth year at Colorado College (with her owner of course).
@coppersgoldendays Born in January, this golden retriever has lots of adventures and awww factor.
@exploringbecider A 1-year-old rescue and adventure-cat-in-training.
@rocky_themountaindog An Australian shepherd mix loves snowy winters in Colorado Springs.
Got an Adventure Dog?
Read about MuttRuk, a Colorado Springs company that equips you and your adventure dog.
