They nap on antique rugs, greet you like kin, and keep a watchful eye on the UPS man. Some sprawl on cool tile. Others have a chair with their name on it. But all of them—every paw-shaking, tail-wagging one—know they’re the real reason folks stop by. Meet seven of Birmingham’s most beloved shop dogs.
Lucy, The Cook Store
Title: Mascot & Professional Greeter
Seven-year-old Lucy has been coming to The Cook Store since she was a seven-week-old pup. She’s been the main attraction ever since.
A goldendoodle with a cloudlike coat and the demeanor of a seasoned Southern hostess, Lucy spends her days greeting guests from her monogrammed front chair. (Don’t even think about sitting there—she truly doesn’t understand why anyone would put a purse, package, or person in her spot.) When she’s not overseeing foot traffic from the front, she’s stretched out on the cool tile by the pots and pans, supervising with restrained authority.
Lucy is not food-driven. She doesn’t work Saturdays. She prefers affection to treats and has never met a rule she couldn’t follow. “She can tell time,” says owner Wesley Lassen. “She knows when it’s time to walk, time to go home, and if my phone dings after 4:00, she knows her dad is probably on the way.”
She loves her people, especially the mailmen, John and Cedric, and is protective of the staff. She’s tolerant of visiting dogs, but make no mistake: this is her domain. If another pup needs to come in, Lucy will gladly step out for a stroll while they borrow her spotlight.
She walks the Village three times a day, popping into shops, turning heads, and prompting more “Aww!” than most babies in bonnets. “People always speak to her before they speak to me,” Wesley says. “She’s the most popular.”
Lucy is calm, loyal, gentle—and yes, famously soft. “People say all the time, ‘She looks like a stuffed animal,’” Wesley says. “Or they ask, ‘Can I pet her?’ She’s just that kind of dog.”
She doesn’t beg for attention. She just gets it.
CJ, Unless U & Post Place
Title: Chief Joy Officer & Director of Snuggles
CJ is a 2.5-year-old Standard Poodle from FIDOS Facility Dogs with a heart as fluffy as his fur. At Unless U and Post Place—a Vestavia campus for adults with developmental disabilities—he lives up to his very official titles: Chief Joy Officer and Director of Snuggles.
“He takes his job very seriously. And by ‘seriously,’ we mean he insists on greeting every student like they’re the most important person on earth,” says Marye Grace Sauermann, Marketing and Development Director at Unless U.
CJ has perfected the slow lean into your leg for maximum affection. He likes to perch on the cool floor tiles in the front office “like he owns the place (because he kind of does).” He’s a rule-follower through and through—“professionally trained and acts like he graduated with honors”—though he may occasionally bend the rules in exchange for belly rubs.
As for his diva behavior? CJ refuses to hop into any vehicle. “Oh no, that’s far too undignified for someone of his stature,” Marye Grace says. “He insists on using his own personalized step stool to enter and exit like the four-legged royalty he is. We’ve tried coaxing, bribing, even pep talks. He just stands there with those soulful eyes until the step stool appears. Only then will he gracefully ascend, like he’s stepping onto a tour bus before a big show. Total rockstar energy.”
One day on campus, CJ quietly made his way over to a student who was visibly upset. “Without any prompting, he gently laid his head on their lap and stayed there until they smiled again,” Marye Grace recalls.
At Unless U, CJ is more than a mascot. He’s a celebrity therapist with fur. “Everyone feels better after spending time with CJ.”
Dolly & Lucy, Lovell Pediatric Dentistry
Titles: Chief Smiles Officer (Dolly) & Director of Snuggles and Patient Relations (Lucy)
At Lovell Pediatric Dentistry, there’s no shortage of smiling faces—but none quite like Dolly and Lucy. These golden retrievers bring calm, charm, and canine comfort to kids (and parents) who might not be so excited about the dentist.
Lucy, six, is serene and steady. “She’s always in ‘I’m here, but I’m relaxing’ mode,” says Dr. Adrian Lovell. She lounges like a day-spa regular and makes Dr. Lovell’s office feel more like home. Dolly, two, is the blonde bundle of sunshine—greeting every visitor with uncontainable joy. “She’s our unofficial welcome committee,” Dr. Lovell says. “She specializes in tail wags and giggle-inducing greetings.”
If someone dares focus too long on Lucy, Dolly is quick to insert herself. Gently. Persistently. “She must be the center of attention,” Dr. Lovell laughs. “She’ll wedge herself right between you to redirect the spotlight.”
While Dolly treats rules like light suggestions—especially when treats are involved—Lucy plays the composed big sister, often trying (unsuccessfully) to keep Dolly in line. Their one shared obsession? “Crunching ice cubes like they’re gourmet snacks.”
They’re calm enough to make people pause and ask, “Do they always act like this?” (They do.) Their weekly spa appointments help them maintain just the right level of golden glamour.
Some families drop in just to see the dogs on days they don’t even have appointments. “It’s often the highlight of their day,” Dr. Lovell says. “Their calming presence brings comfort, smiles, and a little extra joy to the care we provide.”
Mattie, Arceneaux Gallery
Title: Director of First Impressions & Nap Coordination
Every gallery needs someone who understands the art of restraint. At Arceneaux Gallery in Birmingham, that role belongs to Mattie—an 11-year-old Havanese who greets visitors with a single bark, then retreats to her bed to resume her true calling: lounging.
“She’s kind of the doorbell,” says owner Tim Arceneaux. “She barks when someone walks in, then goes back to her spot.”
Prim, proper, and entirely uninterested in making a fuss, Mattie is the epitome of gallery grace. She’s sweet, well-behaved, and—unlike most of the art—not for sale. While some shop dogs bound from room to room, Mattie prefers to observe from her front post (or disappear entirely when she’s had enough socializing).
She’s not food-motivated, at least not by dog treats. “We have to search and search to find something she likes,” says Tim. “She’s finicky.” Her favorites? Ham, turkey, and—in a younger, wilder phase—Doritos and Skittles.
Outside the gallery, Mattie enjoys quiet walks by the bay and the occasional beach trip (but don’t expect her to get sandy—she’s there for the vibes). She sets the tone with effortless grace, even if the art on the walls doesn’t interest her one bit.
Buddy, Paige Albright Orientals
Title: Retired Head of Security & Full-Time Rug Connoisseur
Buddy has long since retired from his security post at Paige Albright Orientals, but don’t be fooled—he’s still running things. A 10-year-old rescue from Two by Two, Buddy is mostly Shih Tzu and entirely in charge.
Most days, he can be found atop a curated stack of antique rugs or perched on the front table, greeting visitors with a look that says, “You may approach.” If lunch arrives—especially from Lewis—he’s off the rugs and laser-focused on fries.
Buddy doesn’t do rules. He does presence. He’s expressive without barking, slightly royal in posture, and looks spectacular in photographs (a fact of which he is well aware). He once placed second in a Humane Society photo competition—but that doesn’t matter. In his mind, he won.
Ask anyone on staff and they’ll tell you: Buddy has strong opinions, impeccable taste, and no real plans to retire.
“He’s got his own hashtag,” says Paige. “#buddylovesrugs.” And everyone loves Buddy.
Bianca, Postmark Paris Antiques
Title: Self-Appointed Queen & Professional Mirror Critic
Bianca receives customers at Postmark Paris Antiques with a confidence that’s hard to teach. At seven years old, this standard poodle sweeps through the showroom like the whole thing was styled around her curls. She’ll allow pets, pose for photos, and occasionally bark at antique mirrors (“They’re haunted,” she insists).
She lounges on fine French rugs, never the floor. She shares space only on her terms. And if you ask if she loves her dad, she’ll leap into his lap and nuzzle under his chin, smiling as he presents her with a treat.
She follows most rules—unless someone failed to say “leave it,” in which case she claims plausible deniability. Her signature move? A full-tilt poodle sprint, ears flapping like satellite dishes, sneezing, grinning, and soaking in the attention.
“Some dogs have masters,” says owner Scott Renshaw. “Bianca has a staff.”
She snuggles like she’s wearing Chanel and carries herself like royalty—which, in this shop, she is. Just ask her. She’ll agree.