Let me tell you a little story about how Razzle Dazzle (the dog and subsequently the store) came to be. The irony of the name isn't lost on me. I am fully aware of it and chose the name on purpose. Those of you with far more literary skills than I have are probably wondering why in the heck a store that has a such a serious message to share about pets and their health got a name that literally means all fluff and no substance.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/razzle-dazzle
It all started when a little furball with all the confidence in the world came into our lives. I had been searching for a companion for Ripper my Shih Tzu who was spending long days at home alone. The actual search (my mistakes and what I have learned from the experience) will be left as topic for a later blog. From the minute I met the hillbilly princess, I could tell she had that special something that would match perfectly with what Ripper needed in a friend. All the other puppies in the litter were playing together or trying to get my attention, and there she was...the runt of the litter...crawling all over the food bowl filled with milk bone dog biscuits(ewww!). Two pounds of independence out on an adventure - oblivious to what her littermates were doing - girl after my own heart! Of course, seeing Razzle in the food bowl should have also been a heads up for me...a preview of her life-long love affair with food. I couldn't take her home that day since the puppies weren't completely weaned yet. Although I had plenty of time in the next week to think of a name for her, I was drawing a blank. I wanted a two syllable call name that would sound great with Ripper's name and suit the huge personality in that tiny body. After she came home, I was still unsure. So at a family party, I pulled out a dictionary and discovered the possibilities. I am not fond of human names for pets and wanted a name that was out of the norm. My nieces, Chrissy and Amanda agreed that the puppy was quite certainly full of razzle dazzle, so Razzle she became. Her "registered" name became A Little Razzle Dazzle. And she has always tried her best to live up to all the hype, as shoppers at the store are well aware.
Who better to be the mascot of a store that is all about dogs, than a dog that is all about herself? The hillbilly princess will greet you at the door (if she thinks you will feed her) and help you select wonderful nutritious food items that she hopes you might share. While we do have a lot of items in the store that are all about the glitz and dazzle, our mission is to educate customers so they can make healthy choices for their furry friends. So there is razzle dazzle here literally in many ways, but underneath all the fluff and glam we are on a mission. Our name may seem ironic, but our mission is clear. We do want to help you make informed decisions so your pet can live a long and happy life. Our Ms. Razzle Dazzle is living proof that you are what you eat, and believe me that girl can eat!
