By John Hayden

Tails wag, tongues hang out, and paws proudly strut down the street. Then happy pooches stop in front of a store and tell their human this is where they want to go. They’re in front of WagPride at 2031A Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors, and they are determined to go in and have a look around. 

“Every dog knows this is the place they come,”  WagPride co-founder Mark Winner says. “When they’re passing by, they come right into the alcove by the front door. Sometimes, their parents weren’t planning to stop in, but the dogs pull them in.”

Now in its second year, WagPride has tails wagging up and down the drive. Pet owners know they can find everything from fido fashion to kitty kibble. Once you step inside, there is a cooler with pet-safe ice cream treats. Walk to the counter and doggy cookies, many of which are locally made, sit there waiting for a good boy (or good girl) to come in. To the left are toys and clothes for any sized dog including a five pound teacup or a 100+ pound mastiff. It’s not hard to spot a WagPride customer strutting its stuff on The Drive. Winner and his team are always meeting with vendors and going to conventions to find new, unique merchandise that sets the store apart from others. 

Winner and his partner are dog dads to three dogs – one small, one medium, one large. So, they know what to look for in terms of style, comfort, and ease of use for a dog and their human. 

“The dogs get treated so well. We all have dogs and we love dogs.”

Sudsday Funsday

Since opening in 2021, WagPride has redone the back of their space. Beyond the food, which includes dog and cat food, some of which is made locally and may tempt your tastebuds, is the doggy wash station. It’s designed with pets and their humans in mind. Bigger dogs can jump right in using the door, while smaller dogs are easily lifted in. The tub is at just the right height so you can scrub without hurting your back bending over.

“Everything is temperature controlled for your dog,” Winner explains. “So, the water will not burn your dog, but it’s warm enough that they love it. The dryer is also temperature controlled and there are towels and waterproofed aprons for the humans.” 

It’s $10 for 10 minutes, and you control the cycle. Once you’re done, they do the cleanup. 

“After every wash, we disinfect the tub.”

Our pets are part of our family, and spend two minutes in WagPride and you’ll know they understand that better than other, big box pet stores. For them, it’s a point of Pride. 

“It’s convenient, it’s friendly, you’re going to get more of a personalized touch here. You just really are. That makes me feel good. We know we’re doing something right. The dogs love us. The parents love us too.”