Happy Dog Barkery A 'Destination' For Pets, Owners

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — Where do you go when you want to order a custom multi-tiered birthday cake, venison fries or a paczki for your dachshund or turtle? Happy Dog Barkery in Downers Grove.

When Beth Staley was a young girl, she loved baking with her mother. Now, Staley spends her days baking custom treats for pups and other pets at Happy Dog Barkery.

Staley told Patch she was working a corporate gig almost two decades ago when she adopted a dog with an allergy. She started baking custom cookies for her dog, and left the corporate world to follow her heart. Four months later, Happy Dog Barkery was born.

“It was kind of a whirlwind just figuring it all out as we went along," Staley told Patch. She started sourcing recipes from cookbooks for dogs and eventually created her own concoctions. 17 years later, she's still serving up custom cakes, cookies and other treats for pets from her charming storefront at 5118 Main St. in downtown Downers Grove.

Staley said being open to change has been one of the strengths of her small business. “That’s what’s nice about being a small business, we can adapt really quickly to what people want.”

Adapting to what people want is one of Happy Dog Barkery's specialties. They cater to animals with allergies and other dietary restrictions. And they make a mean celebration cake for birthdays and other occasions. Yes, the pets can actually eat these amazing creations.

When humans and their four-legged counterparts set foot into Happy Dog Barkery, they are greeted by the smell of freshly baked cookies and cakes. Shoppers can actually peek through a window to see bakers whipping up the treats and decorating them with icing.

Staley said the dogs usually make a beeline to the "magic gate" at the store's counter. It's there where they can snag a liver treat and say a distanced hello to Staley's dogs, who may be in the store at any time.

An obvious animal lover, Staley has a German short-haired pointer and a beagle Jack Russell mix. She also has a foster dog, which she often brings into the store. Staley told Patch she has had many fosters, some of whom have met their forever owners at Happy Dog Barkery.

"We’re a fun store. We’re a destination," Staley said.

Animal lovers and their pets will be heading to that destination for Paczki Day on Feb. 16. Staley and her team have created five paczki flavors (Boston creme, chicken, coconut, maple bacon, sweet potato and peanut butter) so pets can get in on the paczki craze to. Click the link order a paczki for your pup.