Four-year-old Bobo knows that today is special. She is dressed in her finest ensemble — a light golden colour unicorn dress — and is moving around the 1,200 sq ft space with an anxious gait.
Guests begin pouring in as the clock strikes 6. She welcomes them with unmatched enthusiasm as does her family, two-and-a-half-year-old Simba, and seven-month-old, Mousse. Finally, a large four-kilogram cake is brought from the kitchen and set on a table. Their mother, Nayani Tandon, leads Bobo and Simba towards it. They follow her obediently. Mousse is unhappy. He has to stay with guests because apparently, he has been “naughty”. Tandon helps Bobo cut the cake and cheers break out as the 50-odd guests, sing ‘Happy Birthday’.
Sounds like just another birthday party? The only difference here is that the three main protagonists — Bobo, Simba and Mousse — are dogs: a Labrador, Husky and a Labrador, respectively. For canine lovers in New Delhi, the launch of Puppychino, a café dedicated to dogs, is a welcome initiative. From celebrating pet birthdays to sharing a meal with their pooches, Puppychino provides them the perfect space. Located in the upmarket Shahpur Jat, known for its impressive fashion boutiques and prominent cafés, this is the city’s first dog café. The décor is minimalist. The space is divided into two sections: dining and play. The dining area also doubles up as a coworking space. The space is a result of extensive research by Tandon and her co-founder Nitin Rana.
“I was working at a call centre when Nitin gifted me Bobo. She was demanding and needed full-time attention, so I quit my job and began looking after her. When I got Simba the husky in 2015, we wondered what was stopping us from creating a space for dogs in the city,” says Tandon.
The idea was that the space be inclusive for pets as well, with a separate menu for them. And the menu boasts some interestingly named dishes. From Snoopy Spaghetti (whole-wheat spaghetti cooked with fresh vegetables, in coconut oil, topped with Parmesan cheese) to Toothsome Pancakes (gluten-free wheat, cornmeal, coconut water, topped with an ice-cream), the menu definitely gives canines every reason to indulge.
“I created the menu keeping a lot of things in mind. For instance, some dogs are allergic to wheat, so we have gluten-free options. Also, we replace creams with yoghurt to give them a healthy option. Sugar and chocolate are a complete no for dogs, so we don’t use them. Vanilla ice-cream is allowed for that rare indulgence, so we use it in our pancakes,” says Tandon.
One of their recent additions is Dog’s Beer, which Tandon says, “is made of chicken stock and molasses”.
While most dogs usually get along, visitors are expected to inform the founders of their pets’ temperament and behaviour. Hygiene is of utmost importance, with dedicated staff to clean up after the pooches. Rana says that the dogs are allowed to eat anywhere, even at the table, if the owners want them to. “Every time this happens, we ensure the table is cleaned with sanitiser,” he adds.
The café also offers a day boarding facility when required. But the dog should have visited the space earlier and be familiar with it. While the place is open seven days a week, Bobo and Simba are entitled to two weekly offs — Saturday and Sunday. “There are so many visitors that it gets difficult to take care of them,” says Rana.
