Posted: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 07:34 PM - 11,842 Readers

By: Tiffany Young

After opening a dog boutique more than two years ago, the Conrad family can claim their retail store as awardwinning. At the Lake Travis Chamber Banquet Feb. 7, Dogadillo won the award for “New Young Business” for one to five employees for 2009, and the January/February issue of Austin Pets Directory awarded it 2010 winner of the “Most Awesome-ist of Austin Pets 2010” in the pet boutique category.

Husband and wife Mike and Lauren Conrad, along with their youngest daughter, Lisa Conrad, moved to Central Texas in 2007 to be nearer to their other daughter and also to begin a new venture in retail.

The couple had moved from Texas to San Diego to work at a startup biotechnology company, and after seven years had enough money to start their own business. Lisa had dreamed of owning a pet boutique, so the family began researching the possibilities.

“Lisa worked at a variety of stores [in San Diego], from high-end stores to some of the bigger pet companies, to learn both specimens,” Lauren said. “That allowed us to decide, ‘What do we like/don’t like?’”

Mike’s prior job as a biochemist gave him a scientific look at the pet industry.

“If someone came in, we wanted to be able to tell them what they could get for their dogs for certain symptoms,” Mike said. “Whenever we bring in a new food, I call to talk to the manufacturers and food scientists to see where the food is coming from and then we educate our customers on why we carry [a certain brand].”

Customers looking to be more informed about taking care of their dogs can also attend Dogadillo’s monthly “yappy hour.” The second Tuesday of the month, a free yappy hour is held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and includes wine, cheese and appetizers for dog owners and treats for dogs. There is also a 20- to 30-minute presentation on different topics ranging from dog nutrition to veterinary care.

Lauren also works in the store at times, but mainly keeps herself busy (when she is not spending time with her granddaughter) organizing many of Dogadillo’s ongoing community events and working with different dog rescue groups. She is on the board of the Austin Dog Alliance and has worked with Hill Country Galleria, where Dogadillo is located, to bring a Halloween Pet Costume Contest. Seventy-five dogs entered last year’s contest, with the entrance fee—gently used dog item donations—distributed to the 14 dog rescue groups that were in attendance.

“It was at the same time as the anniversary of the mall. There was an auto show at the same time, and it brought in a big crowd that was beneficial for everyone,” Lauren said.