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Bark 'N Purr Pet Center
Rating Details »
- Hours:
Mon-Sat. 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
48 reviews for Bark 'N Purr Pet Center
Bark 'n Purr evokes a feeling of a mom & pop kind of store where the workers are knowledgeable and stand behind their products. If I have questions about products or even an informed opinion about my dog, I know that the people at Bark 'n Purr are "good people". They stock high quality foods, treats, and toys.
Bonuses: The frequent buyer card is a nice perk for those of us who buy food every month. Parking is never an issue (they have their own lot!).
Bottom Line: Austin-friendly pet store with knowledgeable staff.
I read all the reviews that warned me about the rude staff - I didn' thave that experience the couple of times I've been in the store.
They have great treats for cats like a solid formed catnip ball, and all natural VITAKITTY Chicken Breast treats. No other store in town carries these type of things for cats, and so Bark 'N Purr has become a quarterly pit stop to stock up on all things good for my cat.
i come here to grab gourmet treats to tide my two furry guys over until the online orders come in. this place stocks a good variety of dog treats, food, and toys but at a price. you can definitely find about 80% of everything they carry online for 15-20% less (most sites offer free shipping, promos, and charge no tax).
parking is never a problem and my encounters with the staff are usually satisfactory. no one goes out of their way to offer assistance but the staff is well-informed.
i find their toy selection most-impressive.
They take returns & they are nice about it. So then I go buy more stuff there.
Thank God for Bark n Purr. They're independent, have such an excellent, well-picked selection of organic foods and kitty toys, and the location is great.
We've never experienced the unfriendliness people are always talking about and we've been there at least a hundred times.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/1/2008
We rely on them for our monster bags of organic cat crunchies. They have a great selection of… Read more »
When I moved to Austin, I needed help finding grain-free food for my cat. Bark 'n' Purr not only carried a variety of grain-free cat food, but they were also knowledgeable about the food. Since then, I have had to switch foods a couple of times, due to a new kitten and changing eating habits. They have been great. One week, I had to try three different dry foods until I found one my cat would eat. They let me exchange the bags until my cat chose one.
I also appreciate their willingness to listen to what I need. I probably give more information than is needed, but they listen and consider all the factors. Also, they carry my bags to the car. How awesome is that! (I wish they could also then carry it to my front door and clean the littler box for me.)
They are wonderful.
I love to shop local over the chains whenever I can. But, this place just does not inspire me to do so.
When I lived close by I shopped here for some items I could not find at the chain stores. But, they were often unfriendly and always over priced.
I recently stopped by to see if things had improved. Nope, I did not purchase anything and won't be back.
All I wanted was to see if they would start carrying Azmira dog food. its really good quality for a good price. The guy with the giant scar running across his forehead with two black eyes instead wanted to talk about raw dog food.
WHAT?!?! Look, guy, not everyone wants to feed their dog raw food. I personally think its cool; I LIKE the raw food thing. That doesn't mean I want to deal with that right now: You don't live my life, I DO!! And, Why do you even sell non-raw food if you love it so much? AND how dare you push people to buy it -or scold people for being so stupid to not know that they should be buying it- that weren't even asking you about raw food at all???
Bottom Line:
He belittled me for not knowing as much as him (8 whole years experience, congratulations) about raw food, kept pushing it after I told him multiple times that that is not what I came in for or wanted to talk to him about, and made some other extremely rude unhelpful snarky comments about how good of a pet owner I am.
I know it sucks that they are practically the only place that sells the specialty foods, but people, do yourself a favor and stay away from this guy.
I always enjoy stopping in at this store when I'm in the neighborhood. I love that they encourage natural pet products and everyone always seems very knowledgeable about the products. My only drawback is that they are a bit pricey, but it's worth it to me for the great products they sell.
I love this place, and so does Chuy! They have a great selection of healthy dog foods and treats. Plus, the staff is fantastic about helping - I had a problem with my dog not liking pretty much any healthy-for-her dog food for a while. They definitely worked with me to pick out a dog food that she actually liked... so much that we went a bit overboard at first and may have gotten her a little fat. All fixed now, though.
Thanks Bark n Purr - gotta' love the great local businesses in Austin!
I've been coming here for about 5 years and will admit that the place has its ups and downs with customer service, grooming, or whatever. But the bottom line is they carry stuff that no one else does, they keep a clean/organized shop, and they don't carry garbage. (like the chains)
I will admit their prices to be a tad high, but I put price on being able to get in and out in 60 seconds- and not be ask to joined some frickin' frequent buyer's club.
And to the reviewers looking for some solid advice on food/supplements- not everyone there will be an expert on every animal so do some independent research and see what makes sense for your "kids" and your budget.
It's a shame that I feel badly about Bark N Purr seeing as it's a local business and all.
The establishment itself is nice, but the people that work there could really learn a thing or two about customer service. No one ever says hello or asks if you need help from the minute you walk in. I think the owners choose favourites as well, and completely disreguard any possible new business.
There's usually always a couple of guys working behind the counter that just LOOK like they hate their jobs and never smile. I think they need to rethink their quality of service and snooty attitudes.
The only reason I go back is out of convenience since it is so close to my home and I cannot drive.
Hugely helpful staff, a ton of variety of only the "won't-kill-your-dog-with-crap-ingredients-from-Ch ina" foods, big old water bowl outside for thirsty four-legged customers. My dog Lulu loves it here.
and it goes like a dear john letter...
Dear bark and purr..
I feel we drifted away. Maybe we just grew out of each other.. I mean you were my first natural pet food store.. I was so young, I used to think you were the best. Perhaps it was the lack of service or enthusiasm from your staff. You are becoming overpriced, unhelpful and I don't think I want to go out of my way for this. I think I'm going to stick to my side of town but I'll still smile when I drive by.
Bark N Purr is an Austin staple!! When I was growing up, we always had our poodle groomed here (hey, it was the seventies - poodles were cool)
Staff is extremely knowledgeable and super friendly.
Have a great selection of healthy foods for dogs & cats. I wish they would expand their selection for other creatures - hamsters specifically.
I've had nothing but good experiences with Bark 'N Purr. The staff has always been very helpful.
One day during the dog food recall the food we were feeding our dog (Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance) was nowhere to be found in the store. I asked at the counter and they explained that the flavor we had been feeding was not recalled but because ONE of the flavors in the line was recalled and because the DVP Nat'l. Balance people had been less than honest about their ingredients, B 'N P pulled the whole line off the shelves. I appreciate their high standards. They helped me find another food that worked for our allergy-prone dog.
It is expensive to feed high quality food but they have a program for many of the brands they carry where after you buy 10 bags you get a bag free.
Their squeaky toy selection is good. One toy we bought there - a pink octopus by Ty Bow Wow Beanie with both crinkle and squeak - has proven to be really popular and, so far, has lasted a long time.
They also have beautiful (if a bit spendy) beds.
They know their stuff and they're not afraid to look at you crazy if you suggest something asinine. That quality is hard to find. Others would call it blah blah blah but I like to be told the truth with a dose of personal opinion. My dogs love this store and all that it provides for their basenji 500 plus their chewing/shredding desires. All paws up!
The high quality pet food cannot be beat. They are the only supplier in Austin that sells Flint River Ranch dog food which my dogs are on, and I prefer shopping locally so I purchase the food from them instead of ordering it online. They have a huge selection of unique dog collars, which I like as well. My warning is similar to others, they have no customer service. Do not prepare to go in there and have warm smiling faces, and do not plan on being treated like an appreciated customer. Go in, get your food, and leave. But, because they continue to carry brands you simply cannot get anywhere else in Austin, I shall recommend them for your high quality food needs!!
For all the chain haters, this pet store is for you. Near the corner of Burnet Rd and 45th, come in a peruse the pet merchandise and then drop by the Upper Crust for your iced latte where you can discuss your purchases.
IMO, the best thing about the B&P is the grooming service. We have a Siberian Husky and to say he sheds a little is like saying a bear does you know what in the woods. They have something called a furrinator that helps get to the undercoat of a dog's fur. It really works. It's an extra charge to the regular shampoo but worth it. Total cost for our hairy huskey is about $45 but it's well worth it because we could spend HOURS brushing him and get no where.
If Iiesha is still working there, she is the best groomer. She's come and gone and then come back again so I don't know if she is still employed at the time of this post but she can bring out markings on our dog that we never knew he had before she got her hands on him.
You need to make an appointment for the grooming department and it gets pretty busy in the summertime and sometimes you have to book a week out.
They also carry slabs of meat in refrigerators for those of you who might be hiding that tiger in your back yard.
UPDATE:
The grooming department is no longer a service of bark n purr :( BOO HISS..but you can find the people who ran the department running their own show at Groomingdales around the corner on Koenig Ln. A bit higher in price...just as hard to get an appointment...same great job.
Note: I wanted to give them 0 stars but this system made me give them one but they do not deserve any stars.
Please boycott "Bark 'N Purr Pet Center". I have a Chow Chow that I rescued when she was 3 months old. She had been completely trained by Marcus at Triple Crown. She has the most gentle nature of any dog you would ever meet.
However, "Bark 'N Purr" do not look at individual dogs but BAN CERTAIN BREEDS from their store and grooming area. I even offered to bring her up and let them interview her if they felt uncomfortable. They would not even take a moment to meet her just said NO, SHE IS NOT WELCOME!
We have 2 Maltese dogs that my Chow Chow lives with and has for the past 3 years. She is a loving and wonderful dog that any family would be lucky to have. I am so thankful that Paws found her and took good care of her until we adopted her.
I will never do business with "Bark "N Purr" and their antiquated attitudes towards animals. I was viciously attacked by a Cocker Spaniel who was just a mean dog. However, Cocker Spaniels are WELCOME at "Bark 'N Purr".
Please do not do business with this company. If you need your dog groomed go to Exemoor who LOVES my Chow Chow Berkeley!
My girlfriend (Katrina M) and I buy our animals pet food from Bark N Purr. The service is always great.
I love going inside and seeing what the half baked staff are going to do behind the counter. Last time I was in there one of the guys ate a dog treat to persuade me that humans could eat the freshly baked treats if they desired. Admittedly sometimes the treats smell so good I wonder why I'm giving them to my dog, Milo McStevens.
The price is fair, about the price you pay at PetSmart, with out the corporate feel. It can sometimes smell like a barn, but I like that.
I recommend this to anyone who is looking for specialty food delivered in a very Austin way.
I love this place for one reason: Furminator.
I have a sheddy dog. I love him dearly, but the boy sheds so much that I can make a new dog once a week with the hair that lines the house. So I found out about Ferminator and started taking my precious boy every few weeks to have this done to him.
The results are a much happier dog and mom, with clean floors taboot. Thank you Bark and Purr for making us a happy pair.
Edited to add:
I just read the other reviews and saw that grooming wasn't going to be offered anymore. Oh crap! How did they not tell us this last time we were there? It wasn't that long ago. I'm dropping them to 4 stars because of this. I think I might cry too.
Bark N Purr is your friendly neighborhood pet supply center. The first thing I noticed on my maiden voyage to BNP is the sign on the door that said, "We carry the Pet Odor candle." Great! With two cats in a very small house, I was excited about a product that could tone down the unwanted rank. The irony occured when I opened the door and was met with an overwhelming and unpleasant animal smell. Whew. (Okay, okay, so this is nit-picky. I realize that a place full of animals might smell like...well...animals. But the store is huge. They could at least make an attempt to air it out once in a while.)
Anyway, back to business. Bark N Purr is a full-service grooming center and retail outlet. Cat car washes and dog dust-downs start at $65 and $45, respectively. (I guess it costs more moolah for them to deal with your cat's attitude. Ha.) Of course, if you're the type who thinks your pet is actually a person, they have "spa" treatments and expert grooming available. Flexible pick-up/drop-off times.
As for the merchandise, they sell anything you'd need to keep a happy and healthy pet, plus a few specialty items (designer food dishes and UT Longhorn pet outfits). Food is Bark N Purr's forte. They are experts in nutrition and stock their shelves with chow that's either hand-picked by the owners or suggested by the customers. Very nice.
I give props to BNP for the grooming center and the food. As for the retail..ehh...it's nice. I wasn't overly impressed, but maybe I've become immune from too many visits to super-sized Petcos and Petsmarts.
Bark N Purr is definitely worth a visit. Meow. Ruff.
We stopped going to Petsmart after discovering this place. Sure, there's technically less selection, but they carry anything worth buying for your pet, as in, no crappy dog food. They only carry the stuff you should be feeding your dog or cat.
The staff always offers to carry heavy dog food bags to your car, and are always very knowledgable and helpful with any pet questions you might have.
I visited the store for the first time today. I was tired of being disappointed by Tomlinson's and would rather give my money to a local establishment than Petsmart. I couldn't find what I was looking for, and when I asked the older man who was working behind the counter, he seemed annoyed by my question and directed me to a younger employee.
I ended up buying some different cat food for my kitten to try and the older guy gave me a can of it on the house, telling me his cats love it. I felt a lot better about the experience after that. I'll definitely shop here whenever I can.
This is a great place if you are looking for high-quality pet food. If you are looking for friendly customer service however, be prepared. Otherwise I might give 4 stars. But seriously, these people have not one clue about how to treat customers. It's really quite strange. In spite of this fact, I have gone there for nearly 10 years and will continue to go there as long as I can afford it. (We have five cats, so buying super premium food for all of them can get a bit expensive.) They are not rude exactly, but they definitely are not friendly either. And you would think a long time customer might get at least a "hello, how are you doing?" when walking in the door, but no. If there were another place in town that carried the same stuff but was friendlier, I would gladly go there instead, even if it meant driving farther.
I just feel good knowing that I am giving my pound pup good, wholesome food. We've been buying his food here for the past 5 or 6 years and they could not be a more knowledgeable, nicer bunch of folks. Some of my most memorable occasions include my dog going HAYWIRE when we used to drop him off for grooming and the nice owner just picking him up and placing him in my car without saying what he was really thinking, "Get the hell out of my shop before your 100 pound dog causes damage to my store!" You can tell this store has been in Austin a long time and I just love supporting Austin businesses. Especially when they are as good as Bark N Purr.
They always carry the 40 pound bags of food to my car when I'm in there alone and offer great advice on the dietary needs for my dog. I truly believe my dog will live a healthier life b/c of this place!
Thank you Bark N Purr for never kicking us out (even if you wanted to)
I love it when you read reviews and it makes you feel like, "Oh, it's not just me. That employee was VERY unhelpful." Well my hubby and I just adopted our first puppy and dropped a lot of dough here. The puppy is worth it but we were both saying "Wow, those guys were not helpful!" We were trying to ask lots of questions as new dog owners but the guys working there wouldn't deign to offer opinions when it was clear we were looking for advice. I would think they would hire animal lovers that are looking to help out other dog owners, but not so much! Meh.
"Hi, I need to get some dog food for my new dog"
"We'll sell you some recalled dog food for cheap"
And that's how my interaction with the Bark N Purr staff started out the other day. Of course, the employee was quick to point out that they do not, in fact, sell any of the food that was recalled in that crazy food recall this month (point number one why I love this store - quality, non-lethal food), and I laughed and probably said something I thought was cute and witty.
The two guys working were both extremely helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable about the products. One of the guys asked me a few things about my dog and then pointed out several products that would be good for my shoe-loving dog, showing me a few quality products and clueing me into the value of getting the big ol' 40 pound bag of food.
I learned so much about feeding my dog in five minutes, it was pretty amazing. After deciding on the dog food and finding some toys for my animals, I couldn't help but purchase one of the bright pink glazed (with sprinkes!) flower-shaped dog cookies that sit in a bakery case by the registers. (Note: Get one of these - your pet will love it. C'mon, it's a real cookie...for your dog...amazing)
Two other plusses:
1. They can give you the lowdown on good trainers to fit your specific animal problems (i.e. agressive animals, basic training, etc.)
2. They carry those massive bags of dog food to your car for you. I was going to joke to the guy that he should come home with me and help me unload the bag too, but I thought it might sound a little like a bad pick up line. Which...it really would have been.
Next up at Bark N Purr: Grooming.
I used to absolutely LOVE Bark n Purr. It's in my neighborhood and I love the variety of stuff they carry. Recently with the change in ownership I've become disappointed. The new owners just aren't friendly - people wise or dog wise. When a pet store owner yells at your tiny dog for pee-pee'ing on their CONCRETE floor, something's not right. Either they're in the wrong business or she (the female owner) was having a bad day. Either way, don't take it out on me or my yorkie! I couldn't get out of there fast enough.
4 stars = "Yay! I'm a fan." I guess I am a fan. I went there for a simple need and it was met. They have lots of good dog food. Lots of good bully sticks and the like. If you know what you want and are up north, might as well go here rather than fork over your cash to a big chain.
is it stuffy in here, or is it just me?...oh wait, i just read some of the comments down below and it looks like i'm not the only one.
Whenever possible, I will avoid big box stores and shop only at local, or at the very least, locally responsible stores. Bark 'N Purr is a great local pet shop! My partner and I have taken our pugs there for pet food, baths, and the very important Furminator, since we moved into the neighborhood (Brentwood). They have a very large selections of dog foods of all types, toys and collars, leashes and harnesses.
Yesterday, we stopped by with our pugs to buy a big bag of diet dog food and also ended up with a great harness for our chunky pug. We previously looked for a harness at a pet shop on 2nd street, but didn't find anything that seemed right for under $40! We found the perfect blue harness for less than $20 at Bark 'N Purr. Great find!
I have always had good experience from the guys behind the counter and the groomer. My only complaint is that they close at 7pm! During the spring/summer, 7pm just seems too early! It's still light outside for another hour or so...and I'm in much more of a mood to shop for pet supplies....but that's just me. :)
it seems the customer service at bark n purr is slipping. my last visit was such a disappointment i'm not sure i want to return.
being the only person in the store, i was searching for an automatic water feeder. the two guys working behind the desk (wait they weren't working...they were pre-closing the register) just stared at me, as i wondered around the same isle.
no attempt to assist me was made and i wasn't too pleased to give my business to this store when i know that "just for pets" off far west will special order the same thing for me. i needed it pretty quickly though.
finally as i am checking out, i ask a few questions about the product and get these pathetic, i don't care answers. blarg.
the icing on the cake is the damn feeder is leaking. double blarg.
I discovered Bark N Purr during a visit to Austin before I moved here. They have this amazing wet food that my kitties absolutely love...one of only a couple places here in town that carry it. Anyway, I decided to buy four or five small cans of the food, totalling less than $4. My paychecks come directly deposited, so I hardly ever carry cash. The guy behind the counter hassled me about using my debit card for such a small amount. He said that, "you know, the store doesn't make any money on credit transactions less than $5." I told him it was a debit card and he said that it didn't make a difference. I was upset enough that he just put it on the card, but he wasn't very happy about it. I feel that if they really feel that strongly, that they should post a sign with a minimum credit purchase or something...perhaps they have since then. I haven't been back.
What I love about Bark and Purr is it's locally owned and carries the best variety of high quality and natural pet food in the city. The staff is knowledgeable and will even carry your big bags to your car and load it up.
What I don't like about Bark and Purr is the way I have seen the owner treat his employees. He was verbally abusing them --- and in front of customers to boot! And this happened in front of me not once, but twice. So, although I still shop there, I probably wouldn't if any other local stores carried the food I feed my pups.
My dog had fleas. She had fleas real bad. I had tried washing her, I had tried getting her professionally sudsed up. I had Frontlined her, generic brand smeared her, tried everything! Nothing seemed to help. So, being new to town, I asked my friend Allie, who I met through my precocious mutt liking her well bred Havanese, where I might find some help and products for killing those pesky pests and she recommended Bark 'N Purr .
I found that they were actually really helpful and set me up with some Capstar and some Nematodes. Those totally did the trick. In addition, the lady there suggesting feeding my dog treats with garlic in them to help with keeping my girl flea free.
I also like the range of toys and other products they have. When I needed to get my dog a harness, I found a nice one that was affordable and comfortable for her. I really like how homegrown it feels there and that it's not a megastore.
good selection of good quality food - but inconsistent.
lots of nice natural alternative foods, treats, remedies, grooming items.
they have giant-sized beds for sale (great dane-sized) - which can be hard to find sometimes.
very helpful and polite staff.
Bark 'N Purr has been the place where we get food for our dog for the last year. The reason we stared shopping at Bark 'N Purr is that they carry the raw food diet that my dog requires for the allergies she has. They also carry a wide variety of toys, supplies, and goodies for all kinds of pets. I occasionally buy cat food here as well but its much more pricey than at Sam's or some of the other places you can buy this type of thing in bulk. Overall the people are nice, friendly and helpful. I definitely recommend checking it out!
Bark N Purr is the Whole Foods for my dog. They have organic dog food, healthy treats and (for when I have the extra money to spend) -- a whole section of frozen raw food which I've read is the best of the best to give your pet. Not only that but this store has really competitive prices with the other chain stores in town. The last time I was there we had one of the staff following us around with a calculator helping us determine the price per pound of all the food we were selecting. Great service and a great location. Oh, and we get our dog's nails trimmed there too for a minimal price.
