Lots of dog toys, food and bedding. Can take dogs instore. A good place to visit…read more Staff are friendly.

This pet shop is an example of what I think other pet stores should strive to be like. They don't…read moresell puppies or kittens which I think is the most important way of judging a pet store because pet stores that sell puppies and kittens not only support puppy farms and dodgy breeders, but also encourage the impulse purchase of an animal that requires a great deal of commitment. The staff at Petbarn are knowledgeable and helpful, and are all animal lovers with lots of experience in pet care. The range of fish and aquarium products here is excellent and they have staff dedicated specifically to helping you establish and maintain your own aquarium. Another thing I like about Petbarn is that pets on leads are welcome, so if you need to get your dog a new collar for example, you can actually bring them in to see what fits (and you can count on them getting cuddles and treats from the staff as well!). Petbarn has a wide variety of pet products including foods, grooming products, accessories, toys, and treats. They also sell some medications such as worming and flea treatments. The staff here are happy to consult with you about whatever pet advice you need. Many times I've come into Petbarn to seek advice about my fish tank and have had a long, helpful conversation with a staff member and then gone home without needing to buy anything because the staff don't push you to buy things in return for their help. For this reason, whenever I need to buy anything for my dogs or aquarium, I head to Petbarn. They also have a customer loyalty card and lots of information about obedience, puppy pre-school, and other pet activities.

Store with a late amout of pet food options. Staff have always been very friendly and helpful…read morewhenever I have visited.

This is the kind of place I might come if I was a hobby Llama farmer or just had a pet Llama. You…read moresee, they're not quite the lifestyle pet store where you can purchase every gadget and trinket for Rover or Puss In Boots. They're more of a all-range-of-pet supplier. From hay bales to poultry feed, they cater not only for the pampered domestic pooch (with a small range of Kongs, treats and such) but also for the suburban chicken coop. I stopped in here on a whim whilst on the search for a warm dog jacket for my pooch as they were conveniently located along Waterworks Road enroute to another appointment. While they have a range of dog and animal products, jackets were not one of them. Yet, if it's treats and bulk food that you're seeking, Mooey's will do the trick.

Before I start my review, there's quite an amazing and sentimental backstory here. So this will be…read moreabout a five minute read. Imagine this: over 20 years ago a teenage Teagin Henderson applied for, and was selected to fill, a position we had for a receptionist and general office duties. She lived at Paddington with her parents, which was a bonus, as our office, Lape & Partners, was located in Petrie Terrace, about five minutes away. We loved Teagin's energy, warmth and genuine nature. Then, one day, she told of us her desire to be a dog trainer and was moving to Melbourne to pursue a course degree in it, with an optimal view of working with our border patrol and customs declarations. But, and there's always a but, that didn't quite work out and she relocated back to Brisbane opening a dog grooming salon in Bardon. And while I admired the move and success she was achieving, my wife was the one who chose the groomer for our Westies, until recently. With her away overseas, along with our usual groomer, and our Westie Pippa in need of serious stripping, I had the liberty of booking her in with Four Paw. And, so, it's become full circle. We had Pippa in today for a stripping and she looks fabulous. The amount of hair removed is quite remarkable and she looks sleeker and fitter than ever, which she was but hidden under a thick coat of fur. It's a pleasure to see someone truly achieving their goals and dreams and then to reconnect with them to experience it personally. It is truly a humbling and awesome feeling and to think we were there, at the inception of Teagin's future thinking, and then to experience it today, was a fulfilling experience few will ever have. Well-done!

I swear the pooch of the household has more salon and spa visits than I do. Lucky he's cute. He was…read moremost recently booked into Four Paw in Bardon on the recommendation of friends who's Schnauzer always looks dapper and well coiffed. In between groomers, our four-legged charge had nothing to loose. I was lucky to be able to get a free spot. Let it be know these guys are popular and are, for example, already booked out for December. I took that as the sign of a good dog groomer. The second sign was how happy the furball was when he was picked up. He'd been able to wander the salon while he waited for us to collect him, and the cut was one of the best I've seen him have. And when they ask you to re-book for 8 weeks take it - they book out mighty fast.

This has become one of about three pet shops on our regular rotation for the pampered pooch in the…read morehouse. As a member, we often get credit back from past purchases at Petstock which can then be deducted from future purchases. This combined with regular sales on Master Canine's food of choice mean it is a conveniently located and value for money store. Much like most pet shop chains these days, their warehouse style shops are full with toys, food, coats, fish, cat goods and all that jazz. The staff here are ever helpful and it does make a difference.

My dog is too busy keeping up with his napping schedule to tell me how his morning at Paddington…read morePups went, but as his dutiful owner and payer of all his bills, I suppose I can justify telling you how pleased I was with the result. Finding Paddington Pups was the result of a google search and a telephone call where a pleasant young man on the other end told me, "If you can bring him in this morning we can see him." I'd been searching for a new groomer for our pampered pooch after a less than desirable cut just before Winter. All I wanted this visit was a general tidy up, wash and dry (his visits to the salon sound all too much like mine!). Paddington Pups were able to see Dutch that day and it worked out cheaper than our usual salon. Cheaper doesn't always equal better but upon being reunited with my pup a few hours later it sure was in this case. The groomer had heard everything I said and trimmed his face without making him look like a dog without any facial hair. His feet were tidied and there was no great length taken off the rest of his coat. And while I'm yet to make use of it, they also have doggy-day care on site as well as a small range of pet food and toys.

My dog goes to day care here once a week and he absolutely LOVES it! He cannot get in the building…read morefast enough and is reluctant to leave at the end of the day. The staff are always really nice and they sell BARF (food) which is handy and it's cheaper here then the other two options I have near my home. Some people think it's strange that my dog goes to daycare but it's important for his socialisation being a young dog. Also when you buy bulk you get a discount which makes it more affordable.

Consensus among historians states that the biblical Garden of Eden was probably somewhere in modern…read moreday Iraq. I think Mappin's on Montague Rd has a legitimate claim to being a contender for God's original garden. Hey, they even have the infamous snake/s there, plus a number of fruit trees (which you are probably forbidden from tasting too, unless you're willing to buy it ;) These guys are water plant specialists, with their massive aqua-filled terracotta pots home to oodles of different aquatic plants, like water lilies and edible water chestnuts. I bought one of the latter once and put it in a water feature in my yard. After a few months we yielded a few delicious chestnuts. They also have an impressive range of cacti and succulents, which are easy to care for, decorative and make a great gift. The innovative decorative pieces designed by local artists are also good present fodder, but be prepared to pay in the hundreds for some (they are after all 'art').

A green thumb I am not but I read a mythical legend that Zanzibar Gems are house plants that are…read moreincredibly hard to kill. They only require watering once a month! And thus begins the journey that led me to the West End wonderland that is Mappin's Nursery. And can I end that train of thought by pointing out that it is a freakin' nursery less than 4kms from the CBD?!?! Okay. Now that I've got that out of the way. Mappin's is a green haven on Montague Road that have a range of plants and not to mention helpful staff willing to answer my silly questions such as, "What make great house plants? Can you show me your suggestions?" and I didn't dare tell my helper that I kind of like plates as saucers when she handed me a plastic saucer for my newly acquired plant saying, "I don't understand kids these days using plates as saucers. I can't let you do that." Did I spray myself with "Psuedo Hipster" this morning? How did she know?!? I'd looked for this particular plant at a household name hardware chain (it rhymes with running), and while I paid a fraction more for the same size plant at Mappin's, the plant itself looks healthier and you bet your bottom dollar I feel better (okay, maybe a little smug) that my money went towards a fantastic local business. Plus I feel like the extra coin went towards the handful of advice I was given about caring for the plant. When I enter the home owner game I'll be back at Mappin's asking them for their green thumb advice on a range of gardening 101. Oh and finally nabbing one of the beautiful Magnolia trees they sell!

Ashgrove Avenue Vet is pretty decent. The vets themselves are nice (though the counter staff tend…read moreto be a quieter crew) and you always leave your appointment feeling like you've accomplished your goal. And if the issue is a small one, chances are you have. If it's not, chances are major pet issues will cost you, both here or somewhere else. The sort-of-family-dog Bubbles, currently chasing possums on a full-time basis at my abode, has been through a string of issues relating to a knee joint displacement issue. We had one leg operated on at Ashgrove Vet after a series of appointments at the same place. The surgery seemed to be fairly successful in that the dog was no longer hopping about. Unfortunately, two years later, Bubbles is still refusing to use the leg that was operated on except when strictly necessary, and will not use it when urinating. (This is not the fault of the surgeon or the vet, but of the spread inherent in Bubbles' condition.) Her second leg succumbed to the same condition, as we were warned it likely would. As the leg has worsened and vet visits ramped up, the clinic recently took an x-ray of the leg to look for issues. Except they x-rayed the wrong leg. With the communication issue out of the way, Bubbles is now recovering from her second surgery on her other leg. A few days have passed and her health has soared. Ashgrove Avenue Vet is perfect for people with fairly healthy dogs who just need check-ups. If your dog is bothered by a more major or long-term affliction, get ready to save. It'll cost you.

Having a pet that's been sick can be a bit of an ordeal. When we lived in Ashgrove our little cat…read moreAshie had to visit the vets a couple of times and each time we went to the Ashgrove Veterinary clinic the staff were always helpful and caring. If I had a question and was at home they were always obliged to help best they could answers any questions over the phone. In comparison to other clinics they are a bit more expensive but their love and concern for animal health is second to none.