Local Dog-Lover’s Guide for Gainesville, Georgia

Life in Gainesville is rapidly changing and it seems like a new place to go opens weekly lately. But it’s not just us humans who can have adventures around town. Our community is so pet-friendly and makes it easy to venture out with dogs.

There are tons of things to do together around here, so I’ve put together a quick list of my absolute favorite dog-friendly places around Gainesville so you two can adventure out together!

1. Juke N’ Jive Creamery in Braselton (https://www.jukenjivebraselton.com)

I’m not sure if you’ve ever checked this place out but—it’s a MUST. The theme is a 1950’s soda shop and creamery. Their homemade ice cream is heavenly! My favorite human menu item is the Lemonis Cheesecake ice cream. There are DOZENS of flavors for everyone, including dairy-free varieties. They also have other goodies like cakes and fudge too! Leave a comment with your favorite flavor after your visit. Pups are welcome on the outside patio and my pups ADORE the unique paw-shaped pupsicles made just for doggos so definitely give it a try!

2. Pet Pleasers Bakery (https://www.petpleasersbakery.com)

Shopping is so much better when you can bring your dog. Pet Pleasers Bakery in Gainesville is great because they sell the best homemade treats by the pound as well as foods and other toys and treats. Their handcrafted treats are all made with human-grade ingredients with nothing artificial added. My pups (and mom here) love that they are drool-worthy and healthy to boot! The staff is incredible with dogs too and makes all shoppers feel welcome.

3. Best Buddies Dog Training (https://www.bestbuddiesdt.com/home)

Trying to teach an old dog new tricks? Or do you have a new pup in the house you need to train? I have the person for you! Christy Morrison, owner of Best Buddies Dog Training in Hoschton is paws-down one of the best trainers I’ve ever met. She solely uses positive, bond-based training- no yelling, punishment, or other practices that could harm your relationship with your dog. She offers training in very small groups for more personalized attention as well as private training sessions. Even if you don’t need a trainer right now, keep Best Buddies Dog Training in mind because you never know when you might need the savvy guidance of an experienced dog trainer...

4. Dr. Summer Andersen for acupuncture, laser therapy, and herbal medicine consultations. (https://vetamc.com/)

If you know me, you know I’m a huge fan of non-traditional, alternative medicine for my dogs. Medications can cause damage to organs, especially during long-term use. There are so many benefits such as pain relief, treatment for allergies and skin issues as well as digestive issues. I take my dog to see Dr. Summer Andersen at Animal Medical Care in Gainesville. I highly recommend her for traditional vet services also. She has a true desire to keep pets healthy and happy for as long as possible and she deeply cares for both her patients and their people. If you are interested in exploring some alternative therapies contact her to discuss your options and she will be happy to explain the process and benefits.

5. Poetic Photo Professionals (https://www.poeticphotoprofessionals.com/)

Who doesn’t want beautiful photos of their pup all over the house? Most of us have tons of photos of our pets on our phones but there is something special about printed photos to display. I brought Flash and Josie to Sims Lake Park in Suwanee to have our photos taken by Eve Rothacker with Poetic Photo Professionals for Christmas last year. The pictures turned out exactly how I wanted and she was so patient with Josie who had never had much socialization before I adopted her. The park was a beautiful location for a photo shoot too!

Know of an awesome dog-loving spot I missed? Comment below or send me a quick message at diane@marypuppinsthepetnanny.com and let me know! I’m always looking for new places to check out and share with our community.