Baking, doggie style

Bakery owner Jo Wardle knows humans are not the only ones who love treats and parties. Her Midtown bakery, Bogy’s Barkery, offers tasty and healthy goodies for hounds. She makes snacks and cakes with natural products that all kinds of dogs can eat, and the store even offers gifts and toys for when they want to have some fun. Located at 1014 24th Street, the bakery has a bright, pooch-oriented decor that welcomes both man and his best friend; just make sure to wipe your paws.

When did you start the business?

I started it about two-and-a-half years ago, essentially for my dog Bogy. She has really bad allergies, and I was having trouble finding food that she could snack on. Most of the doggie treats have corn and wheat products, and it came to a point where she wouldn’t even eat them. I thought that baking with natural foods could help. I started baking my own snacks for her and thought, ‘This could be something great.’ I figured other dogs may have the same problem, and how fun it would be to provide them with things they could enjoy. It was a matter of coming up with something good and natural without all the bad stuff.

What is the bad stuff, and how did you know what to make?

Well, it’s the sugar, preservatives or any kind of additives that are bad. I just bake using natural ingredients, like things you would find in a natural store. I use things like unsweetened carrots, yogurt and bananas. A lot of the time, I even use these things to decorate the cake. I try to make it just look just like a regular cake. That’s mostly for the humans, though.

What did you do prior to this?

Well, I’m from Southern California, and I worked there as an interior decorator. I only moved to Sacramento about five years ago because my husband was transferred. I wasn’t really doing anything once we got here, but I had been thinking about opening up my own business for dogs. I was baking for Bogy but didn’t do anything about the idea for a while. It actually took my daughter’s help for me to finally go out and do it. She had a business Downtown and ended up moving it to another place with more space than she needed, so there was my chance to open up. We share the space now, and it’s working out great. The space is used, and I get to do the business I had been wanting to do.

What kind of dog is Bogy?

Bogy is a Chihuahua and Jack Russell mix. Of course, I just love her. She’s great, and luckily the mixture keeps her kind of calm. She’s not as hyper as a full Jack Russell. I keep her picture here on the wall. The business was started because of her.

Is there a demand for dog bakeries?

Yes, a big demand. There are a couple of others in the area, but I get a lot of business in spite of it. We’re pretty much all different. I offer things that the others don’t. I have a variety of things in this store, which is good because people are really into their pets these days. I think that it’s a good thing when they want to go all out for their animals. They come in for many occasions or just to buy their dog something special. I actually just did a doggie wedding yesterday. It was so cute. It’s amazing to me what people are doing with their pets. I’ve got a friend who works here with me, and it’s really a big help. I’m actually looking to expand. I’d like a larger place, with like a lounge area with a place for people to sit and have coffee with ample space for dogs to just hang out. I am happy to provide a place for them, and I love what I’m doing. I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. I am doing something that I enjoy, and it’s a great service for dogs. This is something I intend to do for a long time.