Dee-Oh-Gee is bringing a community feel to local pet supplies

Longmont’s latest pet supply store, Dee-Oh-Gee, is taking a holistic approach to pet needs. Located at 110 Emery Street behind the South Main Station apartments, owner Rachel Shannon wants Dee-Oh-Gee to be the one-stop-shop for cat and dog owners in Longmont.

“You can get your grooming done, drop your dog off for a playdate and then there’s the food and the toys, it's all in one spot,” Shannon said. “The staff is well trained on nutrition, it's easy to come in and ask questions.”

The retail section of Dee-Oh-Gee is filled with toys, healthy food, vitamins, supplements and an array of supplies to give pets their best furry lives. Shannon said the end goal is to source as much of the products they offer locally where they can. 

Not content to just offer food and pet sweaters, Dee-Oh-Gee also offers grooming either by a professional groomer or with the hand do-it-yourself sinks for dogs of all sizes. The groomer and DIY use only all-natural shampoos and conditioners to keep pets healthy, Shannon explained. The grooming also features aromatherapy and optional mud baths, teeth brushing and custom nail painting to help dogs look their best. 

An indoor dog park rounds out the space, part of Dee-Oh-Gee’s Day Camp. Visiting pups need a reservation, Shannon explained, but even in the first couple weeks of the store opening locals have taken advantage. 

Older or smaller dogs have a separate area where they can feel safe and free from more energetic and rambunctious dogs, though Shannon said all dogs should be well-socialized. To ensure that, Dee-Oh-Gee asks all owners to bring their furry companions in for a meet-and-greet appointment before dropping them off.

“We’re a small group, it's not a very big daycare so we want to get a nice pack together and have them all mesh well,” Shannon said.

Shannon, who has a golden retriever, a mixed Chihuahua and a rescue cat at home, got into the pet business when she developed a dog bed a few years back. Realizing she needed to understand the industry more, Shannon started researching pet supply companies while attending conventions and supply expos. That research led her to Dee-Oh-Gee, a Montana-based company with franchise options.

Shannon said she’d always wanted to start a business with her husband, Tim, and helping Dee-Oh-Gee expand to Colorado was a great place to start. After talking with company founders Josh and Holly Allen, Shannon said everything just fell into place. The founders help navigate stocking stores and finding a location when a franchise launches and leaves the rest up to the new owners, though Shannon said they have been great at answering any questions she’s had while still giving her the freedom to build the store her own way.

“It’s your store, you get to choose what to put into it and it has a really great community feel,” Shannon explained.

Dee-Oh-Gee officially opened the doors on Nov. 28, but Shannon and her family have plans for a big grand opening at the end of February.