Hometown Tourist: Ruff Life Pet Outfitters

Northern Michigan is a fantastic place to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors both for you – and for your pets.

And while we have stores that carry the gear to keep us protected from the elements, what about for our four-legged friends?

David Lyden and Erin Malone take us to in Petoskey in this week’s Hometown Tourist.

“Ruff Life didn’t come to me right away and after a while I took into account our outdoor culture up here, and how many people, and how many households own one or more dogs, and how they like to take their dogs everywhere with them,” said Owner Gary Albert.

A walk into Ruff Life and you’re most likely met with a wag of a tail and an excited face looking up at you.

Let’s face it, how could a pup and their best friend not be happy exploring this space?

“They love it we’ve had customers who have posted videos of their dogs outside our store after hours just crazy because they can’t come in,” said Albert.

Here you’ll find lots of leashes, collars and toys to choose from as well as sweaters and paw protection for your outdoor adventures.

But they also have what you need to keep man’s best friend healthy.

“Many people don’t realize this, but, in the summertime and the wintertime, their dogs can be prone to sunburn, especially if it is a shorthaired dog with skin that is exposed. So we carry a sunscreen specifically designed for dogs.

“We have alternative therapies for anxiety, for joint and hip care, and wellness so a lot of our wellness really focuses on alternative therapies,” said Albert.

A candy shop style setup lines the counters with treats for your dog.

There’s a whole gamut of flavors to leave your dog drooling and giving you puppy eyes

“We have chicken wrapped raw hides, we have chicken jerky bites, chicken and apple, chicken and carrot bites and a lot of our treats are made in Traverse City,” noted Albert.

In an appreciation for their canine customers, they take a photo of each one and put it on their wall to leave a memory of paws that come through their door.

“We want our customers to feel welcome and to bring in their dogs. There have been times where there are twelve dogs in the store which is very challenging, but fun nevertheless. My biggest joy is giving the dogs and the customers an incredible experience,” said Albert.