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Interview with Nikki Kapoor- Owner of Bark on Gourmet Doggie Bakery and Navarasas Aromatherapy

Now these days, pet lovers pamper their beloved pets like their own kid. They want to meet all their needs, whether it is tasty treats or a warm massage. Therefore, demand of these products is increasing day-by-day. To cater to the increasing demands of these products, many people are offering quite innovative pet pampering products and Nikki Kapoor is one of them. She has taken pet pampering to the whole new level by providing delicious pet bakery products and pet massaging essential oils. We got a chance to ask some questions related to her pet bakery products and essential oil business. Here is an excerpt of this interview:

nikki

1. Pet bakery products and essential oil blends are something new to India. Could you share with us the inspiration behind this business concept?

My dogs have always been my family members! To me, they are my children. When I was living in India for a few years in 1990’s, I would call for a sugar free birthday cake for my dogs’ birthday and have a party with all the furry guests from around the neighborhood. When I moved back to California, I saw that they had Bakeries for dogs where they made cakes, cup cakes and cookies for dogs. In 2009, I moved back to India and the concept of a Bakery for Dogs was a business plan I brought back. I did not see a lot of potential for a Bakery for Dogs at the time because, in India, people were still making the transition from being “Pet Owners” to becoming “Pet Parents”. Over the years I saw how the love and passion for dogs grew and how people started taking responsibility for their dogs as a part of their family and not just a pet. In 2014, I felt like Pet Parents in Delhi would enjoy and appreciate a Bakery for dogs and thus I start Bark On Gourmet Doggie Barkery! At the Barkery, I have designed “Barkday” Cake recipes that are All Natural, Wholesome and Healthy! They are also Human Grade so Pet Parents can take a ceremonial bite of the Barkday Cake and partake in the celebrations!

I got familiar with using Essential Oils for Dogs when one of my canine kids fell sick. She was 11 at the time and had arthritis and hip dysplasia. She lost mobility in her hind legs completely. The vet had suggested putting her down but I could not take that decision because her personality was still the same. I started looking for herbs and instead found essential oils for dogs. After reading through medical journals and studies published about the use of essential oils for dogs, i prepared a concoction for my Duchess. She got a massage twice a day along with heat compress and five days later she started walking again. From there on she gave me two more good years where she got a massage everyday. When I saw the effects on her I realized how beneficial essential oils can be for dogs. With the support of friends and family, I started a business not only for dogs but humans as well.

2. You also provide therapeutic essential oil blend massage service for dogs. Could you elaborate this service, so that our readers can get to know about this?

Safe-Essential-Oil-Usage-for-Pets

We do give Therapeutic Essential Oil Blend Massages at the Red Paws Pet Spa in Hauz Khas Village. We have a package of 6 massage sessions which can be used in two or three sittings per week. These massages are particularly for dogs who have suffered ailments like arthritis, his dysplasia, paralysis and other degenerative muscle, bone or nerve disorders. Even dogs with early onset of such diseases or those who are prone to the disorders because of their breed or genetics benefit from the massage by prolonging the onset of the condition.

3. Being owner of ‘Bark on Gourmet Doggie Barkery’, you interact with a lot of dog parents. Tell us something about their choices and also let us know the dishes that are the favorites among them.

The pet parents we get to interact with have alot of passion and love for their dogs. They understand the concept of a dog being a part of the family and not just a pet. The choices they make for their dog reflect their love and concern. Our clients are dog parents who understand how the use of chemicals, additives and preservatives can be harmful for dogs, just like it is for humans. They look towards making informed decisions that are in the best interest of their dog.

Our most popular Barkday Cake is the Apple Peanut Butter Drool Cake. But the Red Velvet Slurp doesnt fall behind. In the cookies, parents who feed their canine children non vegetarian foods prefer Saint’s Crunchy Liver Cookies and Zulu’s Meaty Bites. In vegetarian, our oat cookies: Pepper’s Crunchy Oats get the maximum votes!

4. A good pet bakery product needs perfect blend of taste and nutrition. How you manage to put both taste and nutrition in your bakery products.

To bridge the gap between taste and nutrition, I turned towards nature. All the recipes at Bark On Gourmet Doggie Barkery are all natural. Nature provides for all of us to be satiated. Thus we put in flavor using natural fruits or fresh cut meats. And we add nutrition with fresh vegetables and herbs.

5. No doubt, essential oils massage is highly beneficial for humans. Is it equally beneficial for pets?

Yes. Just like humans, pets also benefit from a massage. The therapeutic essential oil blend massage is for dogs who have suffered muscle, joint, bone or nerve degeneration because of injuries or old age. The massage helps relieve aching joints, reduces muscle tension, improves circulation and reactivates the nerves. Dogs who have suffered ailments like arthritis or paralysis benefit well from the massage because it encourages movement in an otherwise soar or stiff area of the body. Also essential oils absorb within seconds in the blood stream so the relief from the massage is almost instant. Small amounts of oil that stay in the fur seep through the hair follicles, into the blood stream over time, making the effect of the massage as well as the oil last longer. Massaging different parts of the body also stimulates different body systems, thus contributing to overall well being. Another advantage of a massage is that when a parent massages their canine child, it helps strengthen the bond between them and gives both of them an activity to enjoy while spending quality time with one another.

6. Now these days, challenges are associated with almost every business. Would you like to share the challenges you face while dealing with the pets.

The biggest challenge is the lack of knowledge. People are not aware of the use and benefits of Essential Oils, particularly for dogs. Some people who do know about essential oils are more familiar with single oils and do not know the benefits of essential oil blends and how their use can be therapeutic. Also there are many who are not aware of the benefits of natural foods or the disadvantages of feeding their dog packaged and processed food. There are people who do not know about gluten and lactose allergies in dogs and how prominent these two allergies are. This makes informing potential clients and reaching out to them the biggest challenge.

7. Please share with us any memorable moment that you had in the past with your pets. Our audiences are always looking for such personal stories that inspire them.

Memorable moments that I have had with my pets are countless. One of the stories that is closest to my heart though, is the one where my Dachshund Chihuahua mix, Makhan, came into my life. I was in california at the time. It had been exactly a year since I lost my first canine child, Shereshah. His sister Sultana was still with me and we both felt Shereshah’s absence more than ever. Sultana and I visited the dog shelter to look for a baby to bring home. A number of families had abandoned their pets at the time because recession had hit. We spent an entire day there, meeting all the medium and large size dogs but it dint seem to work out. I asked the volunteer to bring out the dog who had been at the shelter the longest. She told me that was a little dog. I had no experience with small sized dogs but I said yes to meeting him anyway. When he was brought out, he galloped his way from the door to the volunteer. In the blink of an eye he had jumped into my lap and a split second later he was on Sultana. He was named Mark at the shelter but for some reason the name Makhan slipped out of my mouth and he responded. The volunteer just stood there and said “he has already adopted you”. and so Sultana and I brought Makhan home. He had been found on the streets with a broken tail which they amputated. He was approximately 7 at the time. And now he is 15 plus. At first I had no idea how to deal with a small dog but now, he is my shadow. He follows me everywhere and if he could, he would surgically attach himself to me. Makhan slid into my life like a knife through butter and he has made every single day a glorious one from there on!

All your pet products and services have taken pet pampering to the whole new level. We wish you a bright future!


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With over 15 years of experience in dealing with pets, the PetsWorld Team is now a constant guide for thousands of pet owners in India. Their passion for improving the lives of pets can be seen in their featured blog posts dedicated to pet care.

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