In case there’s any doubt who’s the queen at Joel B. Sherburne Jewelers in downtown White Bear Lake, just look at the wall behind the counter. There you’ll find a larger-than-life poster of Emma, Joel and Dorothy Sherburne’s beloved English bulldog, adorned in diamonds and a sparking tiara. Emma and her counterparts at two other shops in the area provide a surprising benefit to owners and customers alike. Emma’s poster says “You are beautiful because you are loved,” and perhaps this message is from these gentle shop dogs to us.
LuLu & Luigi
If Emma could make it that far, she would lope down to LuLu & Luigi to meet up with one of the six shop dogs owned by store employees. This shop is Emma’s kind of place: It’s an upscale pet store featuring sweaters, dog collars and even custom-made frosted treats that look good enough for human consumption.
Zoey, a 4-year-old shih tzu-Yorkshire terrier mix, was working on a recent Saturday afternoon with her owner, sales associate Jessica Klow. Klow was laid off from her previous job about nine months ago. “I was hired here at a low point in my life,” she explains. “My other job was stressful; but here, I can bring my dog, and it’s been therapeutic. And, it’s fun to get to know everyone’s dogs and their personalities.”
Though she gets the run of the place, Zoey, a Craigslist rescue dog, prefers to lie in the counter area, peeking out from the safety of the corner of a half-door separating the register area from the retail space. “She likes to see everyone while she works,” Klow explains. Large or small, Zoey gets along with her dog customers just fine from her safe corner.
(Zoey, shown left with her owner Jessica Klow, makes herself at home at LuLu & Luigi.)
Lila and Claudine's
Then there’s Joy, a fleecy white shih tzu who spends most of her days at Lila and Claudine’s Yarn & Gifts, a a fantastic panoply of yarn, knitting supplies and whimsy in downtown Mahtomedi.
Co-owner Kirsten Skoglund has worked with her 3-year-old puppy for two years. “Joy has become the shop dog in many ways,” Skoglund says. “She has a fantastic temperament and seems to know how to be a therapy dog, even though she’s not trained.”
The shop includes a cozy knitting space downstairs where people can work on projects and enjoy each other’s company. Regulars come in and out, or even spend all day in this creative place. And Joy has a sixth sense for which of these yarn enthusiasts needs extra attention. “She has a way of knowing who needs to have a fluffy white dog in their lap,” Skoglund says. “And it makes them feel good.”
Though missing an eye and earflaps, Joy endears herself to these customers, who joyfully provide belly rubs and a warm lap. Skoglund had to cut back on the treats, though. “She was eating too much, and it was making her sick,” she says.
The shop owners even had a birthday-party sale for Joy. Unexpectedly, customers brought in presents like hair bows, balls and treats. “People felt strongly about honoring her,” Skoglund says. “The majority of my customers are overwhelmed by her temperament and how fun she is to have around. Most of them come to see her rather than me.”
And for good reason. Like Emma and Zoey, Joy provides a comforting presence to her owner and customers, making people feel comfortable and loved.
(Joy brings a whole lot of joy to her owner, Kristen Skoglund, and to the staff and customers at Lila and Claudine’s.)
Joel B. Sherburne Jewelers
Purchased from a breeder in Shakopee, Emma has worked at Sherburne’s her whole life. “What you see is what you get,” co-owner Dorothy Sherburne says. Emma’s docile breed stays content just watching customers as they come and go, lumbering up to visitors seeking custom-made jewelry or repairs. Some patrons are startled when Emma moves at all.
But one thing gets Emma excited: the arrival of the UPS driver and the postman, who sometimes bring treats. “Emma never forgets a face,” Dorothy says. “She tries to stay awake all day so she doesn’t miss out.” One time, Dorothy took the 6-year-old pooch for a walk down the Fourth Street sidewalk toward Lake Country Booksellers. A car had pulled up near the shop, and Emma started tugging on her leash. Turns out the woman who got out of the car had indulged Emma before, and she was hoping for a treat-peat.
But Emma’s biggest role? Just being herself, a pup who knows how to bring joy to shop visitors. “People see her and they feel happy, from little kids to moms,” Dorothy says. “She’s an icebreaker. People who have lost a dog will sometimes come in because they miss having a dog; it’s therapeutic for them.”
(Emma, bedecked in her trademark sparkling jewelry, with her owner Joel Sherburne.)
