Pet-a-Porter: Manchester’s best dog shops

Becoming a puppy parent is a big lifestyle adjustment. Once you’ve brought home your little bundle of joy and set up their Instagram account, there are hundreds of choices to make and big responsibilities to take on. Sleepless nights, regular feeds, toilet training and socialisation are just the tip of the iceberg.

Forget the raw/dry food debate. Rather, you should ask yourself whether your pup is more of a knitted bowtie or studded collar kinda guy. Does the colour of their harness reflect your aesthetic seamlessly? Do they need a rainbow Stutterheim raincoat to protect them from the Manchester weather? Well, obviously they do.

It's lucky then that we’re a city of dog lovers. Catering to their every whim, you’ll find countless dog-friendly cafes and restaurants around Manchester serving puppucinos and plenty of stores dedicated to perfect pup accessories.

Make sure you have a pocket full of poo bags because you're coming on a walk with us to visit some of our favourite dog shops in the Manchester area.

The Barkside

Perhaps one of Manchester city centre's most popular and established doggy spots, The Barkside has been kicking about in Piccadilly since 2018 where it fast became a one-stop-shop in the city centre for daycare, dog grooming, and doggy-related products. Sisters Elkie and Leigh Davies quickly saw the potential and opened up shop in Heaton Chapel in 2019. There's also another on the way at the ever-expanding KAMPUS development so going over to The Barkside has never been easier.

The Piccadilly shop houses the brand's doggy daycare and grooming facilities, while the Heaton Chapel store is where you should head if you're looking for the full range of goodies. Eat, sleep, walk, repeat with The Barkside's own grain-free food for sale, alongside stylish beds and teepees, funky harnesses and a lorra lorra leads. 

Get kitted out in hoodies, raincoats and stripy jumpers with a black and white mink faux fur jumper designed for fashion-forward Frenchies and fox terriers alike. We love the pup-sized Hawaiian shirts in a range of colours and can't get over bandanas with slogans like "Bitches love me" and "Needy AF".

Richmond House, Travis St, Manchester M1 2NG / 6a School Lane, Heaton Chapel Stockport SK4 5DG

Betty & Butch

Betty & Butch was established in 2010 by its founders Angel and Paul, inspired by their adopted dog Duke. The brand has two shops across Greater Manchester - one in Chorlton and one in Handforth and is famous UK-wide for its range of natural dog treats, grain-free food and, of course, the "dog deli", filled with tasty treats for you to pick and mix for your furry friend.

You won't find any hoodies or designer knitted jumpers here, but it does however make our Pet-a-Porter list thanks to a small selection of fresh to death harnesses and collars featuring tiny Nike Air Max trainers by Fuzzyard. A cute line-up of rainbow leads and collars also for sale should set your pooch up nicely with all appropriate street credentials required for a weekend stroll down Barlow Moor Road.

253 Barlow Moor Road, Manchester M21 7GJ / 114 Wilmslow Road, Handforth SK9 3ES

B&V Trading

When owner Rob named B&V, it was after his beloved late Labrador, Busta and sweet Mini Dachshund, Vivienne. Another two-shop wonder and another advocate for natural, homemade products, Rob makes and sources products either locally in-house or in the UK from carefully chosen makers and companies. He even offers to make bespoke products if your pet's burning desires aren't currently being met.

B&V is open seven days a week on Stanley Square in Sale and five days at Altrincham Market, where you'll find suave paisley collars, Manchester bee harnesses and stylish leather poop bag holders. Name a pattern or colour and chances are Rob will stock it. Toys are mainly of the leather, suede and sustainable persuasion, but the occasional chewy bottle of "Grrrness", "Paws Light" or "Wagners" has crept into the shop because who could resist that photo opp?

9 The Mall, Stanley square, Sale M33 7XZ / Greenwood St, Altrincham WA14 1SA

Dexter’s Pet Store

All of Manchester's wonderful pet stores are known for their amazing customer service, but if it's a harness fitting, gardening advice or feeding pointers you're in need of, Dexter's really has you covered.  More of a general pet shop with products to treat a whole host of furry and non-furry household pals, find everything from doggy popcorn to hairy goat ears and puffed pig snouts all for your pup's amusement.

Dexter's has hundreds of leads and collars of all shapes, sizes and colours in-store and they're experts ins harness fitting for puppies. In case you're wondering, Dexter's is named after its most famous member of staff who has been working in the store since he was 10 weeks old. They really do start them young these days.

15/16 The Shopping Centre, Cheadle Hulme SK8 5BB

Dog Shop

With the most Google-able name in town and one of the biggest bandana selections, Dog Shop opened in the Northern Quarter in September 2021. Nestled at the Great Ancoats Street end of Tib Street, this stylish store has “everything your dog could desire” from suede bananas to paw salve and even stylish bathrobes.

Find (UK-made gluten-free) treats, lick mats, supplements and slings alongside a colourful selection of collars, harnesses and leads in this store dedicated to working with smaller, independent brands.

Canine clothing includes snappy tartan bowties, stripy knitted jumpers and authentic Stutterheim raincoats in a multitude of colours including rainbow-striped and fisherman's yellow. The store even sells dog pyjamas. So if you’ve ever fancied tucking your pooch up for the night in bacon and eggs printed sleepwear, a trip to the NQ should probably be on the cards.

75 Tib St, Manchester M4 5JJ

Frenchie Fancies

Owner of Frenchie Fancies, Molly is a baker, maker and designer. Her small business (named after her two French bulldogs, Frank and Betty) is based in Chester, but she is a regular trader at the Makers Markets across Greater Manchester. We first met her at her Northern Quarter stand where we stocked up on her homemade baked treats. They are made with oats which are high in protein, wheat-free, a good source of soluble fibre and vitamin B, coconut oil which is good for your dog's skin, coat, immune system, digestive system, eases inflammation and helps reduce bad breath too. 

Molly also works closely with a couple of expert knitters and crocheters who create the cutest doggy snoods. Perfect to keep furry necks cosy in the colder months and can double up as a scarf and hat on winter walks. Also, look out for cable-knit jumpers alongside carob-dipped biscuits and doughnuts. Quite possibly the most Northern Quarter thing ever.

Find Frenchie Fancies at Makers Markets across Greater Manchester and online

Goody Paws

The very definition of a local business, sisters Alex and Charlotte from Radcliffe hand make all of their bespoke dog accessories - collars, leads, bandanas and bow ties - in their spare bedroom. The pair are simply animal mad and when they're not busy making lots of goodies for your pets, they also offer a local dog walking and pet visit service. 

Goody Paws offers the full roster of essentials needed for strutting through town with your pooch. Harness patterns range from leopard print to tartan and bandana styles are endless. Think spring/summer and autumn/winter real couture collections. Leads are all made to coordinate and matching bowties mean that your dog may well be dressed better than you.

Find Goodie Paws at Makers Markets across Greater Manchester and online

Sticks & Socks

Gone are the days of tacky dog products. You won’t find any shrieking rubber chickens or Donald Trump effigies in Sticks & Socks. It’s a serene “dog lifestyle store” focusing on sustainable living for every dog and its human. The store might remind you more of a shopping trip to Cos than Pets at Home as the calming scent of natural sage incense wafts across your nostrils. But it's all part of the holistic, sustainable experience. Every product goes through strict sustainability criteria with a focus on health and wellbeing. And while some people might scoff, there is nothing more important to modern paw-rents than the happiness of their pup. 

Clothes and accessories-wise, you’ll find limited edition cashmere and merino sweaters by The Painter’s Wife, inspired by the American artist John Baldessari’s conceptual artworks. The material is thought to prevent itching and irritation while also maintaining your dog’s body temperature. Leads and harnesses are made from 100% recycled materials, some hardware is even Italian bridle leather. Dog bowls are handmade ceramic, shampoo bars are natural and toys are zero-waste. You’ll leave feeling like you’ve helped the planet as well as scoring some super-healthy organic treat-os for your best mate.

Yado’s Aly, Ancoats, Manchester M4 5BD 

Header image: Betty the Springador and Reuben the Pembroke Corgi

Read next: First look: Yellowhammer, Stockport's new bakery and pottery studio

Read again: Network trail: 10 walks by train from Manchester

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