Pet Store Hosts Shopping Spree for Misunderstood Canine

Quick Smiles:

• A New York pet store owner treats a “misunderstood” dog to a private shopping spree.
• The dog, named Raven, who struggles with being around other canines, was able to enjoy a stress-free birthday shopping trip.
• The store owner, Cait Cassagne, hopes to spread awareness about reactive dogs through videos of these private shopping experiences.

@spoiledbitchdogboutique

Lucys private shopping experience ❤️❤️❤️🐾🐾🐾 #reactivedog

♬ Until I Found You – francis greg

In the heart of New York, a pet store owner is going above and beyond to ensure every dog feels special. Cait Cassagne, who opened Spoiled B**** Dog Boutique in Nesconset last December, has a simple yet profound mission: “spoiling each and every dog.”

“I started it as a little side business because I am just a typical dog mama who is obsessed with her American Bully,” Cassagne shared. “People loved what I sold, but loved how I treated their dog even more.”

Cassagne noticed a regular customer who would always shop without their dog. “One of my loyal customers always came in without their dog,” she noted. “They shop around every time but never with their pup.”

The customer’s dog, a labradane named Raven, was reactive, meaning she would respond excessively to common occurrences such as the appearance of a stranger or another dog. As Raven’s 11th birthday was nearing, Cassagne was determined to make it special. “I knew I had to get her in the store somehow,” she expressed.

“So I went in early one day when the store was closed, and I privately opened it for Raven to shop for her birthday with no other dogs around.” The private shopping spree was a hit with Raven, and Cassagne found the experience so rewarding that she decided to offer it as a regular service at her store.

This unique service caught the attention of another dog owner, who reached out to Cassagne to arrange a private shopping experience for her dog, Lucy. “Lucy’s mom reached out to me to set up a private shopping experience for her,” Cassagne said.

Cassagne posted a video of Lucy’s visit to the store on TikTok to raise awareness about reactive dogs. “A lot of people don’t even know what a reactive dog is. They aren’t bad dogs, just misunderstood,” she explained.

Reactive behavior in dogs can be triggered by various emotions, including fear, excitement, and frustration. A study published in 2020 found that around 73 percent of dogs exhibit behaviors such as aggression and fearfulness. Cassagne hopes that videos of dogs like Lucy visiting her shop can help dispel some of the misconceptions about reactive dogs.

“When people hear reactive, they think it means the dog is going to bite them,” she said. “But a reactive dog could also be a very nervous dog.”

In the video, Lucy can be seen happily exploring the store, choosing a soft toy to play with, and enjoying a “pup cup” – a small cup of whipped cream. While Cassagne loves seeing dogs like Lucy feel at home in her store, she finds it even more rewarding to see the stress-free experience for the handler or owner.

Cassagne has posted several videos of these private visits involving reactive dogs with various behaviors. Lucy’s video has garnered over 1.3 million views on TikTok, but Cassagne’s ultimate goal is to spread awareness about the realities of life with a reactive dog.

“More people have to understand that reactive dogs are not bad dogs,” Cassagne said. “They just need some extra help and love along life’s journey!”

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