Business of the Week: Dogville

Entering Dogville, you are greeted by its four-legged city council members. Basil, a distinguished English Bull Terrier, is Mayor and three delightful dachshunds are city officals. Morton, red with two different colored eyes, is Sheriff; black and tan Dino Martini is Tax Collector; and Tuesday, the dappled one, is Chief of Police.

Behind the doors to Dogville, you'll enter a small town for four-legged canines and their two-legged counterparts.

Color is what you see first on the shelves and walls. Dogville carries the widest selection in Marin County of brightly hued and patterned dog collars, harnesses, and leashes, many from Bella Bean, Ella Dish and Gwen Gear.  

In Dogville's Deli there is no junk food. Everything is natural, organic, or human-grade. Bags of Grammy's Pot Pie stand next to healthy dog treats: beef wishbones, pork snoozles, turkey patties, beef wizzlers, breath bones, and organic biscuits. Bubba Rose biscuit company has delicious sounding barbeque chicken and "I Smell Bacon" flavors. In the "restaurant" section, there are shelves of large dry dog food bags and cases of wet food.

Doggie fashions for fall include vests, winter jackets, waterproof trench rain coats, and "the fuzzie" in polar fleece.

Dog beds, in various shapes, sizes, and colors, are made of eco-friendly or recycled materials. Zip-off covers are upholstery-grade fabric. If you want to special order, check the samples. Beds can be made to order in ten days to three weeks.

Travel carriers are airline industry approved for ventilation and sized to fit under your seat.

The selection of eco-friendly and organic toys includes Boomer the Squirrel and Larry the Lion. Squeakers, Nobbly Wobbly, and Kong Ball are some of Dogville's most popular fetch balls.

Bathing and grooming products include herbal and green tea, and sulfate-free shea butter shampoo, plus brushes, nail trimmers, ear cleaners, toothpaste, and dental kits.

Dogville's home section includes a variety of bowls and placemats, as well as pet stain and odor removers.

The store also sells apparel for humans, including the Dogville and Alpha Bitch lines, in t-shirts, bags and hats.

An artist in residence can even turn your favorite snapshot into a great little oil painting. And Dogville also stocks pet-themed cards and id tags.  

There is a Catville too, albeit a smaller town, with toys, catnip treats -- have a cigar? -- and cat food.  

Who are they?

Friends since birth, because their parents and grandparents all knew each other, owners Staysea Colteaux and Kristy Dykman both grew up in San Anselmo and still live in Marin.

Always a horse and dog lover, Colteaux used to own a vintage Vespa place in San Francisco (talk scooters with her sometime) and Dykman was a legal secretary, who took time off to raise her daughter. Colteaux's husband built the fence, which cordons off their upstairs office, from reclaimed wood at their Fairfax home.  

Currently, Colteaux has four dogs and two horses, but Dykman bests the paw and hoof count with three dogs, two cats, and two hamsters.    

How long have they been here?

Colteaux presented this unique business opportunity to Dykman and the two of them purchased the store two and a half years ago, taking turns behind the counter. The place is user-friendly for customers of two or four legs. Many clients -- like Hana, the golden retriever, who headed immediately for the correct glass cannister -- stop by for daily treats  

Why are they Business of the Week? 

Their business card says, "Dogville, where every canine is a citizen."

Colteaux and Dykman are a real part of the community, well-known and friendly on San Anselmo Avenue, where they have made their store a fun place to shop and visit.  

The windows are always charming. Currently a doggie teacher sits in the window, wearing glasses, points to a detention board, and one of the dog students sits in a corner, wearing a pointed dunce cap.

During their annual costume contest on Oct. 30 from 1-4 p.m., Dogville plans to award prizes of toys, treats, and bumper stickers. The categories are: scariest, funniest, and most original costume. Bedeck your pooch and join the fun.  

After you have shopped 'til you drop, outside Dogville you can crash in comfortable directors chairs banked by quarter candy machines, which dispense doggie treats by Barkstix. And there's a water bowl nearby. 

Dogville

554 San Anselmo Avenue, San Anselmo

454-2090; www.dogvilleonline.com